Roberta Aguirre
The 1972 film What's Up, Doc? is an affectionate homage to the classic screwball comedy of the 1930s. The film's opening scene, set at the San Francisco airport, introduces the central plot device of four identical plaid overnight bags and their owners, setting off a series of increasingly wild and wacky situations. The scene also introduces the character of Mr. Smith, who collects his suitcase full of stolen top-secret government documents, and the mysterious Mr. Jones, who is stalking him. The film's final scene is also set in an airplane, bringing the story full circle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film Name | What's Up, Doc? |
| Genre | Comedy, Romance |
| Year | 1972 |
| Director | Peter Bogdanovich |
| Screenwriter | Robert Benton, David Newman, Buck Henry |
| Cast | Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, Madeline Kahn, Austin Pendleton, Liam Dunn, Kenneth Mars, M. Emmet Walsh |
| Filming Locations | San Francisco Airport, Nob Hill, San Francisco Hilton Hotel, Sacramento Street, Pacific Heights, Alta Plaza Park Steps, Steiner Street, Bush Street, Jones Street |
| Plot | The plot revolves around four identical plaid overnight cases, a fortune in jewellery, top-secret government documents, and a collection of pre-Paleozoic igneous rocks. |
| Airport Scene | The opening scene takes place at the San Francisco airport baggage claim, where Mr. Smith retrieves his plaid overnight case containing secret documents. This scene is followed by a chase scene through San Francisco's Chinatown, with Howard and Judy inside a parade dragon. |
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What You'll Learn
The opening scene
The suitcase belongs to a mysterious character named Mr. Smith, who retrieves his plaid overnight case containing stolen top-secret government documents. As he leaves with his suitcase, the airport employee who handed him the case phones "Mr. Jones", who picks up a bag of golf clubs. Mr. Smith is then shown proceeding to the Bristol Hotel, followed by the furtive Mr. Jones.
Also travelling from the airport to the Bristol Hotel is Howard Bannister, an absent-minded music professor from Iowa, who is in town for a musicology convention. Howard has a plaid overnight case similar to Mr. Smith's, but his case contains pre-Paleozoic igneous rocks crucial to his research project. Accompanying Howard is his domineering fiancée, Eunice Burns, who manages his life and plans to check into a separate hotel room due to concerns about "propriety."
As they exit the airport, their cab and several other cars almost hit Judy Maxwell, a starving college student carrying a plaid case similar to the others. Judy is on her way to the same hotel, and her arrival sets off a madcap chain of events involving jewel thieves, spies, mistaken identities, and the four identical plaid overnight bags.
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Mr. Smith's suitcase
The suitcase is first introduced in the film's opening credits, where a cartoon drawing of a suitcase appears with the words: "Once upon a time, there was a plaid overnight case…". This drawing then dissolves into the opening scene, where the suitcase is sitting on a shelf at the airport baggage claim.
Mr. Smith retrieves his suitcase and proceeds to the Bristol Hotel, where he is stalked by the mysterious Mr. Jones. The accidental mix-up of the four identical plaid suitcases leads to a series of wild and wacky situations throughout the film. The other owners of the suitcases include absent-minded music professor Howard Bannister, his fiancée Eunice Burns, and freewheeling college student Judy Maxwell.
The suitcase's contents of secret documents are revealed when Mr. Smith takes advantage of a chaotic situation to steal what he believes are the documents from a burning room. He crawls into the room as it fills with smoke and grabs the case, only to find that it is the wrong one. This scene highlights the importance of the suitcase and its contents in driving the plot of the film.
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Mr. Jones' bag
The 1972 film What's Up, Doc? opens with a cartoon drawing of a suitcase, accompanied by the words: "Once upon a time, there was a plaid overnight case…". This drawing then transitions to a live-action scene at the San Francisco airport baggage claim, where a man named Mr. Smith retrieves his plaid suitcase, which is full of stolen top-secret government documents. Mr. Jones is another mysterious character in the film, who is often associated with Mr. Smith and his bag. Mr. Jones is first seen picking up a bag of golf clubs at the airport, and he proceeds to stalk Mr. Smith as he travels from the airport to the Bristol Hotel.
Throughout the film, Mr. Jones' bag becomes a symbol of deception and intrigue. It represents the hidden agendas and covert operations that unfold amidst the comedic chaos of the plot. The bag of golf clubs is also a clever misdirection tactic, as it diverts attention from Mr. Jones' true objective, which is to recover the sensitive information in Mr. Smith's possession.
The presence of Mr. Jones and his bag adds a layer of suspense and mystery to the film. It introduces elements of espionage and intrigue, creating a contrast between the light-hearted comedy and the underlying tension of secret operations. The bag of golf clubs becomes a prop that contributes to the overall narrative arc, as it fuels the pursuit and heightens the stakes for the characters involved.
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Judy disappears
The 1972 film What's Up, Doc? is a madcap comedy of errors, with a convoluted plot that revolves around four identical plaid overnight cases, a fortune in jewellery, top-secret government documents, and a collection of pre-Paleozoic igneous rocks. The film opens with a cartoon drawing of a suitcase, which transforms into a live-action scene at the San Francisco airport baggage claim, where a mysterious Mr Smith retrieves his plaid overnight case, full of stolen top-secret government documents.
The film's heroine, Judy Maxwell, played by Barbra Streisand, is introduced as a freewheeling, starving college student, who arrives at the Hotel Bristol in San Francisco, where she encounters Howard Bannister, an absent-minded music professor from Iowa, and his domineering fiancée, Eunice Burns. Judy's mischievous and kooky personality is established early on when she approaches Howard, flirting by asking, "What's up, Doc?" and pretending to be knowledgeable about geology.
The exact circumstances of Judy's disappearance are not described in the sources, but it seems to occur during the final airport scene, where Eunice ends her engagement with Howard after their chaotic visit to San Francisco. Eunice finds comfort in the company of Mr Larrabee, and the two of them are last seen together at the airport. Howard is left alone, calling out for Judy, only to realise sadly that she is gone.
The original ending of the film, according to a 1979 Time article, was intended for Howard and Judy to part ways at the airport. However, this ending was changed, and the final airport scene includes a paper-thin disguise by Fritz, who appears with an upside-down moustache, inquiring about flights to Rio de Janeiro.
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Final airport scene
In the final airport scene of What's Up, Doc?, the characters' paths intersect one last time. The scene takes place in the San Francisco airport, specifically at the baggage claim area.
The scene begins with Mr. Smith, who was first seen in the opening scene, retrieving his distinctive plaid overnight case, which contains stolen top-secret government documents. He is being stalked by the mysterious Mr. Jones, who also has a similar-looking bag. At the same time, Howard Bannister, an absent-minded music professor, arrives at the airport with his domineering fiancée, Eunice Burns. Howard also has a plaid case, which contains pre-Paleozoic igneous rocks important to his research. As they make their way to the Bristol Hotel, Howard and Eunice's cab almost hits Judy Maxwell, a freewheeling college student who is also carrying a plaid case.
The mix-up of the four identical plaid overnight bags sets off a series of wild and comedic events, including jewel thieves, spies, and mistaken identities. In the final airport scene, Eunice ends her engagement with Howard after their chaotic visit to San Francisco. However, she is not left alone as she and Mr. Larrabee, who was also seeking the grant that Howard was after, take a liking to each other and depart together.
The scene is filled with comedic moments, physical comedy, and brilliant performances by the cast, including Barbra Streisand as Judy Maxwell, Ryan O'Neal as Howard Bannister, and Madeline Kahn as Eunice Burns. The airport setting, with its nostalgic 1970s terminal design, adds to the chaos and whimsy of the film's conclusion.
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Frequently asked questions
The film's opening scene is set in an airport, where Mr. Smith collects his suitcase, which is full of stolen top-secret government documents. The scene then cuts to an airport baggage claim, where Mr. Smith retrieves his plaid overnight case, which contains secret documents.
In the final airport scene, Eunice ends her engagement with Howard and leaves with Mr. Larrabee. Fritz also appears at the airport with an upside-down moustache, asking about flights to Rio de Janeiro.
The airport scenes in 'What's Up, Doc' were filmed in San Francisco Airport.
