Favorite Cary movie: Arsenic And Old Lace (1944) and Bringing Up Baby (1938)
I've often been accused by critics of being myself on-screen. But being oneself is more difficult than you'd suppose.~Cary
Favorite Cary movie: Arsenic And Old Lace (1944) and Bringing Up Baby (1938)
I've often been accused by critics of being myself on-screen. But being oneself is more difficult than you'd suppose.~Cary
Cary Grant was born Archibald Leach on January 18th 1904 in Bristol, England.
Cary's breakthrough roll was in She Done Him Wrong opposite Mae West. He is the actor in which West says her famous line, Why don't you come up and see me sometime? West also said the she was responsible for Cary becoming famous. Hogwash it was and Cary didn't appreciate it.
Cary then starred in a series of screwball comedies. He was really the first male star of screwball comedies, seeing how the genre was dominated by females. And like a pretty woman, Cary had to prove that he was an actor and not just a pretty face. Some of these films were His Girl Friday, Arsenic And Old Lace, Bringing Up Baby and Holiday. He was a great physical comedian and just had perfect comedic timing with his lines.
There wasn't a role he couldn't play. Comedy to drama. He never seemed out of place in a role and always seemed to just be himself. One of the reasons why I like him so much is that he always seemed to just be himself in a film. It's like he just went from talking to someone off-screen, then went in front of the camera, did his thing, and went back talking to the same person. It never seemed like he had to try that hard. He just had 'it.'
What amazes me is that he never won an Oscar during his career. Only in 1969 did he get an honorary one. My take is that he was just too real for the Academy. He was just too damn good.
Some tidbits you may find interesting (because I know I did) is that Christopher Reeve based the character of Clark Kent after Cary early in his career. Also, creator Ian Fleming modeled the character of James Bond after him, as well. John Cleese's character in A Fish Called Wanda was named "Archie Leach" which was Cary's real name. Another place his real name pops up is in the movie His Girl Friday in a line spoken by Cary himself: The last man who messed with me was Archie Leach.
Cary passed away November 29th 1986 in Davenport, Iowa from a stroke.
And like I said about Gregory Peck: Why don't they make guys like him anymore?
1941 (14th) ACTOR -- Penny Serenade {"Roger Adams"}
1944 (17th) ACTOR -- None but the Lonely Heart {"Ernie Mott"}
1969 (42nd) * HONORARY AWARD To Cary Grant for his unique mastery of the art of screen acting with the respect and affection of his colleagues.
