A modest musicologist arrives in San Francisco with nothing but a suitcase full of rocks and a dream of funding his research. A whirlwind named Judy Maxwell crashes into his life and with her, three identical plaid suitcases, each holding a different secret. What’s Up, Doc? (1972) doesn’t simply pay homage to classic screwball comedies. It lets their spirit loose on the steep hills of San Francisco. Streisand delivers chaos with a wink, O’Neal tries (and fails) to keep his dignity intact, and the city becomes a playground of falling glass, flying luggage, and collapsing pretenses. It's an hour and a half of poised razor-sharp chaos, unfolding like a cartoon and enchanting like a romantic faux pas. Influenced by Hawks and Capra, but unmistakably informed by the informality of New Hollywood, „What's Up, Doc?“ was one of the best-loved movies of the 1970s. Like a love letter to the past of cinema, it remains comfortably fresh.

Loan of the film print with kind support of HfG Karlsruhe.

This early work in the history of HfG film, in which even the filmmakers' first names have been retained, shows us a very personal approach to 14 classics of film history. The HfG DVD edition Animata (2015), which is dedicated to the publication of HfG animated films, has rediscovered this small but fine animated film from the 1990s, among others. Produced analogously with 16mm material on an animation table, the students “Julia and Patricia” give us their very own view of film history. If anyone can remember the filmmakers' full names, we would be happy to pay them this final tribute.

Loan of the film print with kind support of HfG Karlsruhe.