Bringing Up Baby (NR, 1938)
common sense media says
Classic screwball comedy with loads of tame laughs.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that while there are a lot of physical misadventures in this madcap comedy there no injuries; and except for a few shots of a roaring, teeth-baring leopard nothing is frightening or threatening in a real way. Characters are clumsy -- fall, bump into walls, drive incompetently, and more. “Baby,” a tame leopard, is confused with a wild leopard which results in some chasing, erratic gun play, and more pratfalls. A character drinks to excess, also as a source of humor. There’s one throwaway reference to going "gay.”
Positive role models:
Despite being made and set in the late 1930s, Katherine Hepburn’s feisty, bright independence in this film celebrates women on equal footing with their male counterparts. Though she’s a non-working society “girl,” and occasionally plays helpless, she’s actually strong-willed, competent, and tenacious. As is common in many farcical movies of the era, law enforcement officers are depicted as dense, gullible, and inept.
Violence & scariness:
In this “screwball comedy” all action sequences are cartoonish and played for comic effect. A dog and a leopard scuffle on the grass with some growling and incidental biting. Two characters fall and slide down a short precipice. Lots of pratfalls –- slipping, falling, minor car accidents with dented bumpers and fenders, clothing gets torn, chickens escape and run rampant, a young woman hangs from a platform, and a museum dinosaur exhibit crashes to the ground. There’s a case of mistaken identity when a wild leopard is thought to be tame. The leopard bares his fangs, roars. Some non-threatening gun play as the characters try to catch the wild leopard.
Sexy stuff:
Flirting, some embracing, a few instances of gentle sexual innuendo. When the male lead is forced to wear a woman’s frilly robe, he ironically asks someone who is gawking at him: “You think I just went gay all of a sudden?”
Language:
Not applicable.
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
A family gardener drinks from a flask each time he appears; his constant tippling is played for humor. Some moderate alcohol consumption during dinner and at some social events.
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sbatt
educator and parent of 12 , 12 , and 14 year old
educator and parent of 12 , 12 , and 14 year old
Who knew old movies were this fun?
We love watching the misunderstandings build, and the fun snowball!
One mild caution - a handyman who drinks thinks he's seeing things.
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Classic Movie ...
parent
parent
A Classic Comedy for the whole family.
Our kids love this movie, and it’s difficult to find anything objectionable for any child aged 6+. This is a classic Cary Grant screwball comedy. Hepburn and Grant have electric chemistry.
(Disclaimer: We like classic movies because the material is generally suitable for the kids and it’s not dumbed down for them or us. Because much of the content is from a past era, some things need explanation. We prefer to use questionable content as teachable moments with which to reinforce our values.)
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who3697cares
teen, 18 years old
teen, 18 years old
The funniest movie ever made
I'll have to disagree with the website for once and say 8 is extreme.
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