Development and writing thumb|upright=0.7|left|Director Howard Hawks began working on the film after plans to adapt Gunga Din were delayed. In March 1937, Howard Hawks signed a contract at RKO for an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's Gunga Din, which had been in pre-production since the previous fall. When RKO was unable to borrow Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Franchot Tone from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for the film and the adaptation of Gunga Din was delayed, Hawks began looking for a new project. In April 1937, he read a short story by Hagar Wilde in Collier's magazine called "Bringing Up Baby" and immediately wanted to make a film from it, remembering that it made him laugh out loud. RKO bought the screen rights in June for $1,004, and Hawks worked briefly with Wilde on the film's treatment. Wilde's short story differed significantly from the film: David and Susan are engaged, he is not a scientist and there is no dinosaur, intercostal clavicle or museum. However, Susan gets a pet panther from her brother Mark to give to their Aunt Elizabeth; David and Susan must capture the panther in the Connecticut wilderness with the help of Baby's favorite song, "I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby".
development and writing thumb|upright=07|left|director howard hawks began working on the film after plans to adapt gunga din were delayed in march 1937 howard hawks signed a contract at rko for an adaptation of rudyard kipling's gunga din which had been in pre-production since the previous fall when rko was unable to borrow clark gable spencer tracy and franchot tone from metro-goldwyn-mayer for the film and the adaptation of gunga din was delayed hawks began looking for a new project in april 1937 he read a short story by hagar wilde in collier's magazine called "bringing up baby" and immediately wanted to make a film from it remembering that it made him laugh out loud rko bought the screen rights in june for $1004 and hawks worked briefly with wilde on the film's treatment wilde's short story differed significantly from the film david and susan are engaged he is not a scientist and there is no dinosaur intercostal clavicle or museum however susan gets a pet panther from her brother mark to give to their aunt elizabeth; david and susan must capture the panther in the connecticut wilderness with the help of baby's favorite song "i can't give you anything but love baby"