"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. 

My favorite movies: 1968-1973

My favorite moview from 1968-1973.  I got to 1974 and it's going to be another year where there are so many movies it is going to be hard to choose.

1968: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang starring Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes





1969: Hello, Dolly! starring Barbara Streisand and Walter Matthau



1970: Airport starring Dean Martin, Helen Hayes, George Kennedy and everybody else.




1971: Bedknobs and Broomsticks starring Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson



1972: The Poseidon Adventure starring Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons and everybody else.



1972 (runner-up): What's Up, Doc? starring Barbara Streisand and Ryan O'Neal.



1973: The Three Musketeers starring Michael York, Faye Dunaway, Charlton Heston and everybody else.



1973 (runner-up): Enter the Dragon starring Bruce Lee and John Saxon.

Happy birthday, Madeline Kahn!

This uber-talented actress came into this world September 29, 1942 in Boston.  She trained in opera while attending Hoffstra University on Long Island and she starred in several productions during her studies. 

She appeared in her first feature film "What's Up, Doc?" (one of my favorite slap-stick movies ever) with Barbara Streisand.  Her performance as Lili Von Shtupp in "Blazing Saddles" has been ranked by Premiere Magazine as #74 of the top 100 performances of all time.

One of my favorite scenes starring this wonderful actress, who left us way too soon, is the farewell scene at the train station in "Young Frankenstein".