Curio: What's Up Doc?
Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 10:00AM by Nathaniel R
After Claudio's article about Madeline Kahn in What's Up Doc? I was inspired to rewatch it (it had been a gazillion years). The movie was even better than I had vaguely remembered from childhood. And as great as Kahn was I was all about the incredibly sexy chaos/chemistry of Ryan O'Neal's stuffy geologist and Babs' over-educated troublemaker. Then on Streisand's birthday this week one of our favourite illustrators, Glen Hanson, posted some in progress What's Up Doc? (1972) drawings that are just super and also sang to Babs on his Instagram.
This all led to missing the departed "Curio" column so let's revive it to celebrate movie-inspired art each week. After the jump more art inspired by What's Up Doc...
Here's another of Hanson's sketches above. We're excited to see the finished product but until then, here are a few other artists' takes on this classic.
Here's David Wain drawing Babs "live"
Illustration by Brianna Ashby
Illustration by Alejandro Mogollo
Scoured the internet but couldn't find a single illustration of Madeline Kahn as "Eunice" *sniffle*
And finally two pieces from legendary artists who've since passed away...
Illustration by Richard Amsel (RIP)This one is by the late Amsel who tragically died of AIDS at the heighth of his career. This was, I believe, intended for use on the movie poster but they went with photographs instead.
by Al Hirschfeld
And the New York Times commissioned the legendary Al Hirschfeld for this last image above, presumably for a review.
It's a pity that modern artists tend to stick to mostly genre films (horror/superhero/sci-fi) for their fan art. If they loved movies from all eras and rediscovered this perfect screwball imagine the MANY cartoon-erotic illustrations of Ryan O'Neal in just a bowtie that would erupt on social media. And Madeline Kahn would definitely get some love with that helmet of flipped hair.
Reader Comments (12)
The second illustration you posted makes me want to see a version of Titanic with young Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal as leads.
Hooray for all the artists, especially Glen Hanson, who did an admirable job of showing the pulchritude of Ryan O'Neal.
He got those finger nails just perfect.
We wish you would draw more.....
I used to love the Curio-column, a big YES to its return! :)
This is a film that I need to rewatch as I admit to not being overly fond of Barbra Streisand as a singer and personality but she is a damn good actress and a really good director as I really did like The Prince of Tides.
Love this move and love the artwork!
I really wish they made films like this still.
I kept thinking if they made this today who they would cast, thoughts below:
Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone
Lakeith Stanfield & Janelle Monae
Timothee Chalamet & Florence Pugh (in a few years)
Ryan Reynolds & Lady Gaga
Dear Nathaniel, thanks for featuring Alejandro Mollogo’s Art ! You guys should really have a look on his Instagram page - his pop-artwork tributes to old Hollywood & pop & tv-icons is an actresssexual feast of fun - from J.Crawford, B.Davis, N.Kidman, to even T.Ritter or C.Burnett in their iconic roles ! Since I discovered him and his shop on Redbubble I enjoy my coffee every morning out of my a different actress mugs depending on my mood 😉 ... today Tippi was my choice - the little things in this time ... 🙏 https://instagram.com/alejandromogolloart?igshid=gfrieyk8wmby
P.S. ... maybe his dedicated work deserves a special post here in times when not so many movies are out to review ?
I'm a HUGE fan of Barbara and this is one of her finest films. She and Ryan just sparkle in this classic comedy. The whole cast is great and Ryan O' Neal is just gorgeous. Love those glasses.
Martin -- i love Mogollo. And he knows us here at TFE (well, virtually I mean) He even drew me once!