MovieChat Forums > What's Up, Doc? (1972) Discussion > Isn't It Time for a Remake?? - Here's a ...

Isn't It Time for a Remake?? - Here's a 2006 Cast ...

posted 18 years ago by whickman1
82 replies | jump to latest

Barbra Streisand .... Judy Maxwell - Kathy Griffin
Ryan O'Neal .... Dr. Howard Bannister - Jim Carrey or Nicolas Cage
Madeline Kahn .... Eunice Burns - Lisa Kudrow
Kenneth Mars .... Hugh Simon - John Michael Higgins
Austin Pendleton .... Frederick Larrabee - Nathan Lane
Michael Murphy .... Mr. Smith - Will Ferrell
Philip Roth .... Mr. Jones (as Phil Roth) - Brad Garrett
Sorrell Booke .... Harry - Jason Alexander
Stefan Gierasch .... Fritz - Eugene Levy
Mabel Albertson .... Mrs. Van Hoskins - Catherine O'Hara
Liam Dunn .... Judge Maxwell - J.K. Simmons
John Hillerman .... Mr. Kaltenborn - Patrick Stewart
George Morfogen .... Rudy, the Headwaiter - Angela Kinsey
Graham Jarvis .... Bailiff - Colin Mochrie
Randy Quaid .... Professor Hosquith - Rainn Wilson

The remake wouldn't have to follow the 1972 plot exactly. Indeed, the 1972 production was a remake of "Bringing Up Baby" from 1938. It was 34 years from "Brining Up Baby" to "What's Up Doc?" and it will be exactly 34 years from "What's Up Doc?" to 2006. It is time.

[–] strangelove7 18 years ago

Barbra Streisand .... Judy Maxwell - Kathy Griffin

Hmm...in my opinion, I don't think Kathy Griffin will be a good "Judy Maxwell"....I donno that's just me.

[–] alveari2005 17 years ago

Nicolas Cage and Lisa Kudrow, wow, what a great way to destroy a movie.

Leave the 1972 movie (on the other hand, not-too-loosely based on "Bringing Up Baby") alone.

[–] gmoore44 10 years ago

I agree. I'm sick of all the ideas of remakes to great movies. They can stand the test of time, and remaking a movie, shows how out of ideas film makers are.
One of the worst remakes? The shot for shot copy of Psycho!

[–] whickman1 18 years ago

I'm the original poster ... all of these suggestions are good ones!

The problem is finding actors with the range to pull this off. It is tough when you are looking at Judy, Howard and Eunice.

I thought about Jennifer Aniston for Judy Maxwell ... she could do it!

Another prospect for Howard ... Ben Stiller.

For Eunice, I'd take a chance on Angela Kinsey, who plays the accountant, and Dwight Schrute's girlfriend, on "The Office." I had her listed as Rudy the Headwaiter. I've heard that she has had considerable improv experience in L.A., and I'd like to see what she could do when she lets it rip as Eunice.

I'd consider some of the "Who's Line Is It Anyway" crew, especially Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie, for other parts.

Sacha Baron Cohen, from "Da Ali G Show" and the new movie "Borat," could fit in this cast somewhere ...

[–] LadyCapulet-1 18 years ago

I dont think Ben Stiller would be right....you need some one who is very "stiff" and formal, someone you really wouldnt expect to play that kind of character. As for the Judy character, you really should have someone who can sing.........maybe Renee Zellwegger..remember her singing in Chicago?

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] cclark-12 18 years ago

My friend and I were watching this movie not long ago, and we realized how much Sarah Jessica Parker/Carrie Bradshaw's look borrowed from Barbra's in this movie. Sarah Jessica would be perfect in the role if a remake ever happened, I think.

[–] strangelove7 18 years ago

OMG Sarah Jessica Parker would be good for the role, actually.

[–] barbrastreisandfan1 18 years ago

I dont think we need a remake. It is perfect the way it is.

[–] Wootwootwoots 17 years ago

I couldn't agree more, and I hope this doesn't get remade anytime soon. It seems like screwball comedies can't be made these days without some watering-down of the jokes, plus further diluting via the inclusion of poorly-utilized bodily functions as a substitute for comedy.

[–] CarFish-jcbnyc 8 years ago

You're exactly right. It's an incredibly stupid idea. (But I guess that's normal for Kathy Griffith's fans.)

"Facts are stubborn things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] brkatifnys 15 years ago

I usually don't believe in remakes...but...

Jennifer Aniston - Judy
Jude Law (possibly a "nerdy" Brad Pitt) - Howard
Brittney Murphy - Eunice

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] sston255 18 years ago

Eeww. Please - don't even suggest a remake. How can anyone even compete with Madeline Kahn's brave yet un-balanced performance? Or Ryan O'Neal's cute nerdiness? Or Kenneth Mars' non-sexiness?

If you really feel the need to have a new movie like "What's Up, Doc?", then suggest a completely different plot. That's what Peter Bogdonovich did when he made "What's Up, Doc?": he looked at "Bringing Up Baby" and took the factors that made it a great movie: chemistry between the stars, particular comedic characters, ideal hilarious situtions, etc. and added those things to his own creative genius. His product was brilliant - not a copy of another successful movie.

[–] ralph_2ndedition 18 years ago

Amen to that!
This movie is just as hilarious now as it was then...so there is no need WHATSOEVER of a remake.

I think if a remake was ever made, I'd ignore the hell out of it and just pop the original in the dvd-player and watch that instead.

"Racoon, Rog?"

[–] AgentFalco 18 years ago

I totally agree with the last two posters. It is extraordinarily rare for a movie remake to be anywhere near as good as the original. Some disastrous ones in the past have proved that numerous times and they quite often bomb at the box office too. A good one that I can think of is To Be Or Not To Be originally done by Jack Benny and then remade by Mel Brooks. A good idea is to take a movie that wasn't particularly good such as Ocean's Eleven yes the movie had a great cast but the movie itself wasn't the best so when it was remade by George Clooney I thought it was very entertaining. Anyway just my opinion. Leave well alone.

[–] cuddlington2000-1 18 years ago

I couldn't agree more- what's the point in a remake of a great film, just enjoy it as it is...and if that doesn't convince you, I've got 3 words for you..... The Pink Panther. WOuld you want that to happen to What's up Doc?

[–] TedEBear 18 years ago

A REMAKE?!

*puts fingers in ears*

LA LA LA LA LA LALALALALLALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU LALALALA LA LA LA LA

[–] caprice1221 18 years ago

I agree with TedEBear. There is no way there can be a remake. The person is most differicult replace is Judy played by Barbra Streisand, Anyone else will fall flat on their face. The poor actress would be compare to her, it would be unfair for her. She would have strong person to take critics critism and cruel comparison.Unless is the movie is similar but not exactly the same and not word for word dialog, dialog would have different but the result are the same, put a modern twist.

You have better luck doing a remake of Foul Play with Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase.

If there is a remake Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal better have a cameo appearance.

[–] ralph_2ndedition 18 years ago

"You have better luck doing a remake of Foul Play with Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase."

NOOOOO!
Not that one, that's perfect just the way it is - nothing to be messed with. Besides, no one could ever be as cute as Hawn was in that movie. :)

"If there is a remake Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal better have a cameo appearance."
O'Neal, maybe. But I wouldn't count on Streisand having anything to do with it. As far as I heard she hated that movie and felt (or was told by her managers) that it was seriously damaging to her career...
I cannot fathom why.

"Racoon, Rog?"

[–] vanityfair_713 16 years ago

Or The Maltese Falcon from 1941. But other than that, remakes should be made only if something new is to be added to the plot...if it's going to be remade just for the sake of being remade, skip it. I just discovered this movie last year, so I think it'll be okay for a long time.

He said it's all in your head, and I said, so's everything--
But he didnt get it.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] au561 18 years ago

EVERY CLASSIC EVER MADE MUST BE REMADE! REMAKE CITIZEN KANE IMMEDIATELY!
GONE WITH THE WIND, THE LITTLE TRAMP, CASABLANCA, THE MALTESE FALCON, NO LONGER SHOULD WE BE FORCED TO WATCH THESE OLD B&W OR TECHNICOLOR OLD FASHIONED
FILMS STARRING ORDINARY OLD ACTORS LIKE HUMPHREY BOGART, CHARLIE CHAPLIN, VIVIAN LEIGH, AND, ORSON WELLES. IS THE SARCASM HEAVY ENOUGH? NNNNNNOOOOOO
MMMMMOOOOORRRRREEEEE RRRRREEEEEMMMMMAAAAAKKKKKEEEEESSSSS!!!!!!

[–] bobbyg48 18 years ago

It would be pretty hard to remake this movie, but I think if it WAS remade, it should star Lisa Kudrow as Judy, and not her fellow Friends alumnus, Jennifer Aniston. In order to play this part, the actress has to be willing to be really wacky!!!!

[–] 70shoe 18 years ago

As soon as I saw this subject I had to log in.

Please, let's NOT remake this film. That has been going on enough. I've said at other message boards here at the IMDB that the current generation of movie goers will have nothing of their own- just remakes, sequels, and movies based on TV shows.

I agree with previous replies: yeah make a movie like it, a screwball comedy. But let's not do this particular film over again.

C'mon Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston? We did that already.

As an actor, wouldn't you find it kind of demeaning to be asked to play a role that's already been done and well established by another actor?

[–] baskets 18 years ago

I also don't believe the movie should be remade, but since the question was posed....

I also think Jennifer Aniston would be good as Judy, and possibly Colin Firth as Howard.

Yes, I am an unabashed Firth Fan, but I do think he could play the cute nerdiness well.

[–] pdq_rose 18 years ago

I'm sorry, I just can't see Jennifer Anniston as Judy Maxwell. Having only seen the 1972 version, I can only see a Barbara Streisand as that character and Jennifer Anniston just isn't it. You would need a female with a really, really strong comedic character.... maybe a Rosie O'Donnell or Roseann Barr. As for Ryan O'neal's character... I could possibly see either a Dustin Hoffman (except he's a little old now) or maybe Russell Crowe (thinking of his role in A Beautiful Mind).

Actually, I think it's best just not to remake it.

[–] photoseller 18 years ago

whickman1, your cast looks pretty good (although Jim Carey may be to much of a comeadian to make it work, think you need more of a straight man for this part) also even though i like your choices in todays world, it would cost a fortune to have your cast for one film (75 to 100 mil maybe) but it would be nice!

[–] rob_hodges 18 years ago

I have to vote for no remake of this movie.

No one could ever take the place of Madeline Kahn. Ever.

This is one of those movies that's better off left alone. It's perfect.

[–] BeafyBear 18 years ago

i agree. completely.