THE WRITER’S EYE with Dean James

THE WRITER’S EYE with Dean James

Watching The Classics From A Different Point View

Recipe for a classic screwball comedy:

1 ditzy debutante

1 nerdy scientist

1 tame leopard named Baby

For seasoning, add in:

Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant

Grant is a paleontologist and Hepburn is the ditzy debutante. Her brother who is in South America has shipped a tame leopard to his sister as a gift for their wealthy aunt who has always wanted one. Grant is putting together a dinosaur and is hoping for a donation from said wealthy aunt. Hepburn takes one look at Grant and decides he’s the man of her dreams, and she’ll do anything to woo him away from his prim, stuffy fiancée.

The film is “Bringing Up Baby” directed by Howard Hawks. Katharine Hepburn doesn’t usually come to mind as a comic actor for most people, but she is exquisitely funny in this role. Grant was comedic genius. Paired together they created cinematic magic. I’ve watched this film at least a dozen times, and every time I watch it, I notice something new. It’s fast-paced, frothy, and admittedly frivolous, but if you want to see brilliance at work, give “Bringing Up Baby” a chance.

Now, what can a writer learn from watching this movie?

Whether you are writing a thriller or a cozier type of book, you can first of all learn pacing. This action in this film never stops. Things are changing all the time. It might seem random, but it’s all deliberate. If you want to keep a reader engaged, this is an excellent template. You can also learn how dialogue and behavior reveals character. Hepburn’s character turns out not to be so ditzy after all, and Grant’s paleontologist finally becomes the man of action he never dreamed he could be. These are classic tropes in various genres, and under Howard Hawks’s expert handling, it all works seamlessly.