"What's Up, Doc?" released 1972

A day after its world premiere, What's Up, Doc?, starring Ryan O'Neal and Barbara Streisand, opened in theatres across the US, March 10, 1972.  It is full of slapstick humor, invoking the likes of Buster Keaton, and is one of my favorite movies of all time.

Madeline Kahn made her movie debut.  It also starred Kenneth Mars, Sorrel Booke (Boss Hogg from the Dukes of Hazard), Mabel Albertson (Samantha Steven's mother-in-law in Bewitched), and John Hillerman (Magnum P.I.).

The movie revolves around four identical, plaid, overnight bags. One contains a bag of "musical" rocks, one contains stolen, top-secret, government papers, one a collection of jewels, and the last clothes and a dictionary.  Confusion and slapstick comedy ensue.

It was the third highest-grossing movie of the year behind The Godfather and The Poseidon Adventure. Madeline Kahn was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance for Most Promising Newcomer - Female. 

What's Up, Doc? is recognized by the American Film Institute for AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs, and 100 Years...100 Passions. 

Remembering John Hurt (1940-2017)

2017 seems to be off in a sprint to catch up or outdo 2016 with celebrity deaths.  Just two days after we lose Mary Tyler Moore, outstanding actor John Hurt passed away yesterday from pancreatic cancer.  I was first introduced to John Hurt in the movie Alien, in which he starred with Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerrit, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and Ian Holm, a stellar cast.

He played a gay policeman in Partners with Ryan O'Neal.  It's interesting to watch this trailer after 35 years, seeing the gay stereotypes all in one 2 1/2 minute clip.  Hurt played his role with a touching vulnerability that was probably alien to most audiences at that time.