Cary Grant

[weathergirl]

Great idea!! And, he was very underrated as an actor, btw...He was so polished and effortless in his roles everyone thought it was just him playing himself- never seeing the years of work that went into making it look so easy... I remember watching his actions in slow motion to learn things- even how he walked through a door (don't laugh, I had to practice his technique!!) Robert Wagner and George Hamilton said they used to go down when he was filming just to watch him walk when they were young actors, just to learn his tricks... In films like Penny Serenade and None But The Lonely Heart, both tearjerkers, he was so good at serious acting roles- he was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for Lonely Heart- something everyone forgets... B)

Wow. You sound more like an acolyte than an aficionado! That's quite a telling admission you just made! You actually survey his moves and practice his technique? Are you a seasoned actor or something? Colour me curious

 

[nel16]

Yes, it's really wonderful having such an expert here on TFS!

^^ Oh, try to see People Will Talk and Once Upon a Time...Absolutely dreadful....But Cary was good, of course...

And thanks for the North by Northwest pics, Kochie!! The legendary glen plaid suit!!

Hahaha I haven't heard of those, I knew there had to be at least one or to stinkers in that incredible filmography of his. And That Touch of Mink is one of my all-time favourites as well, just thinking about it makes me chuckle! Cary in Penny Serenade breaks my heart, too. Actors primarily known for comedy really can get the shaft from the acting honors and kudos, despite the fact that many consider comedy much harder to do than drama, so frustrating.

 

[Boomer]

I went through a period of really studying him- I think I had every book ever written about him at one time, and I have (or had on tape) 60 of his 72 films... I also spent a lot of time hunting down clothes like he wore- some of it is very rare, like white dress shirts with french cuffs and a button down collar!! Just try to find one of those!! But I wore suits every day when I was at the casinos so it was a good move to mirror his appearance. No, I never acted but I was a model in NY back when and I have worked on and off for Ralph Lauren so I was kind of around the biz...
Yes, I love That Touch of Mink, Cary was great and Doris day was very sexy I thought- I never thought she got credit for her comedy and she was a real babe when she was younger!!
And I love how you guys are so interested in him- His wife said before he died he was so happy when home video tape came out- he was afraid he and all of his work would be forgotten after he was gone...

 

[Boomer]

Cary and Doris Day in That Touch of Mink- in the back seat of his Rolls Royce...

ScreenCap from MGM

 

[Boomer]

Another from Mink...This is one of his Cardinale suits- I'm not sure how he got involved with them, no doubt being paid a ton of money to wear them; he had Quintino in Beverly Hills make all of his suits for many years, this was a step down as far as I can see...that horrid three button closure with the slim lapels- way to much like the Beatles for me!! But of course he could have worn a paper bag and looked good so...

 

[Boomer]

What can you say..Maybe the most beautiful people in the history of film!!?? Cary and Grace, To Catch a Thief.

AsAbove

 

[Boomer]

Another screencap from That Touch of Mink...Good looking couple, too! Doris was in shape..! B)

 

[kochie332]

Boomer we are lucky to have such a Cary Grant expert with us Cary Grant's presence on screen did seem so effortless, but like you said it was acting that took years to perfect. He was definitely one of those men that women wanted to be with and men wanted to be.

anyway thanks for the screencaps and the recommendations for movies to watch. I have only seen a handful of his movies, and I would love to see some more

 

[weathergirl]

^Indeed...Boomer's expertise on Grant is astonishing...

Thanks for sharing the screencaps with tFS

 

[Boomer]

Thanks! One of the great things about tFS is that we can find one another and share our interests!!
Cary and his third wife (out of five...) actress Betsy Drake...She is still around and became a psychologist in California. (IMD B)

 

[Boomer]

Betsy was an important woman in his life..They were married for quite some time, but only together for a few (he pretty much tried to run off with Sophia Loren at one point)...She was a free spirit, New Age kind of person, got him to quit smoking and drinking, into health food and meditation...he actually retired for several years and they took very non-luxury boat trips around the world for about a year, just drifting about...She also introduced him to the thing that became all the rage in the Timothy Leary hippie culture, if you know what I mean...Cary had very surprising parts to his personality- he was actually very ahead of his time in free spirit ways; wore caftans and such..very deep guy and a lot of it was brought out by Betsy. I saw her recently being interviewed, very interesting girl!
Rare photo from IMdb) - Ciro's Nightclub in Hollywood - Cary Grant, Betsy Drake, Bandleader Dick Stabile c. 1955

 

[Boomer]

What can you possibly say- The greatest romance ever filmed!! I doubt anyone ever got through the last scene without tears- "Oh, Nicky, if you can paint, I can walk"!! Just thinking about it gets me choked up! The classic of all classics!

With Deborah Kerr- An Affair To Remember

IMdb

 

[Boomer]

If you've never seen it, you owe it to yourself- one of the great films of all time- so very beautiful and touching!! I can't think of any other film that everyone goes, "Oh God, yeah" when you mention it!

AsAbove

 

[Boomer]

Filming in the Alps with Audrey Hepburn- Charade, 1963

(IMdb)

 

[weathergirl]

^Ahh, bless your heart, Boomer! Thanks for posting those, honey!

 

[kochie332]

i had no idea that he was married 5 times, that is quite a number

and i agree, an affair to remember is such an amazing movie

 

[Ziegfeld Girl]

Boomer, thanks for sharing all those pics and screencaps as well as your knowledge of Cary Grant. It's nice to know we have an expert among us.

What are everyone's favourite Cary Grant films? Mine are Charade, Arsenic and Old Lace and North by Northwestand To Catch a Thief.

I think as an actor Cary Grant was really underrated. I don't think it's easy to excel at both drama and comedy and Cary did so with such class and made it look effortless.

 

[Boomer]

You are welcome! And he was a fine actor, even his image that is so renowned, was a life long self creation...He grew up poor near the docks in working class England, his father was a tailor's assistant and his mother spent most of her life in a mental institution...He had very little education and no social advantages at all, no training as a actor and had to break into show business as a vaudeville acrobat- not exactly the background for one of the most respected men of elegance and class! For decades he was the number one box office star in Hollywood and was generally regarded as the wealthiest man in show business... His very life was an amazing creation!!

 

[kochie332]

To Catch a Thief, An Affair to Remember, and North by Northwest
those are my favorites

 

[Boomer]

^^ I agree Kochie, but I'll add ThatTouch of Mink and Indiscreet...