R.I.P. Buck Henry

As someone whose family can (and does) recite What’s Up, Doc? from beginning to end – “What happened to Fritz?” “There is only me. Franz.” “Oh, what a SHAME.” – this is sad news! (My old friend Trav has written up a tribute on his site.)

Here’s a story I came across just recently, which illuminates perfectly Buck Henry’s genius. It comes from an interview with Peter Bogdanovich at the AFI back in the 70s. Bogdanovich said he had the idea for this kooky story, of a dizzy dame, an absent-minded professor, and a hot to trot old lady, all having the same style bag. Hijinx ensue when the bags get mixed up.

So Bogdanovich brings the script or treatment as is to Buck Henry. Buck Henry sits there and reads it all the way through. He thinks a little bit. Then he says, “I think there needs to be one more bag.”

One more bag in play. Means one more level of confusion. Means more utter anarchy.

To me, that one small anecdote shows Buck Henry’s genius. And he didn’t need weeks to come up with it. He read the premise. He knew something wasn’t quite right.

“There needs to be one more bag.”