Archie Leach was born in Bristol, UK in 1904. He joined a stage troupe after being expelled from school at 14. The group would perform various acts (mime, dancing, tumbling and stilt-walking), and in 1920 (at the age of 16) he travelled with them to perform in the USA (first New York, before Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston etc). In 1922, after a final performance in New York, the The Bob Pender Comedy Troupe returned to Britain, with Archie opting to stay in America to seek his fortune. Over the next 10 years or so, he performed with various outfits, on Broadway and throughout the country, perfecting his comedic skills & timing with acrobatics and juggling etc.
In 1931 he found himself in impressing the studios of Hollywood, CA, and at the insistence of Paramount Pictures, renamed himself Cary Grant shortly before his debut picture This Is The Night. He particularly disliked his role and it left him disillusioned with the film industry and ready to quit the business before a friend intervened. During his first few films, he was given supporting roles to many successful actors, such as Fredric March, Sylvia Sidney, Carole Lombard, Tallulah Bankhead, Gary Cooper and Charles Laughton, before his first lead role in 1932's Blonde Venus opposite Marlene Dietrich. This was followed by Mae West's successful She Done Him Wrong, which she would claim discovered Cary despite it being his 3rd year in film. His lead performances got off to a good start, as 1933 produced a further 2 notable movies (I'm No Angel, again with Mae West, and The Eagle and the Hawk).
The decade would see Cary appear in up to 4 films per year, but his next real success didn't come until '37, with Topper. With the great response to the film, Cary proved himself as box-office gold (quite literally), as his contract also allowed him a percentage of the profits. This was immediately followed up by an impressive string of major successes (The Awful Truth, Bringing Up Baby, Holiday, Gunga Din, Only Angels Have Wings, His Girl Friday, My Favorite Wife, The Philadelphia Story).
1941 marked his first of four collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock, Suspicion. He would later star in the fantastic Notorious (1946) and the equally awesome North By Northwest (1959), as well as To Catch A Thief with Grace Kelly.
By now, Cary had limited himself to just 1 or 2 movies per year, but that didn't stop his continuing success. CG was nominated for his first oscar, for his performance in Penny Serenade, but lost out to a 'GC', one Gary Cooper who won for Sergeant York. His second (and last) oscar nomination was for None But the Lonely Heart in 1945 (which he this time lost out to Bing Crosby). From 1942, the next 10 years would see him maintain an average of a 'hit' per year (The Talk of the Town, Mr. Lucky, Destination Tokyo, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Bishop's Wife, Bachelor Knight, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, You Can't Sleep Here, People Will Talk, Monkey Business).
In 1953, it was a different kind of 'hit' that would impact Cary Grant's life. The research for this post provided me with some unbelievable, but fascinating information regarding Mr. Grant's experiences with LSD. There's some really good reading out there, readily available if googled. Certainly recommended for anyone interested.
"You know, we are all unconsciously holding our anus. Inone LSD dream ..... I imagined myself as a giant penis
launching off from earth like a spaceship." - Cary Grant
His final dozen movies were all successful enough, and included the popular An Affair to Remember, Operation Petticoat, Charade, and Father Goose. His final film Walk, Don't Run was released in 1966, whilst still at the height of his career, but he retired at 62, as he felt his audience would not want to see him drop down to supporting roles. His only child, Jennifer, was also born this year, and he remained a devoted father for the remainder of his life. He died, at the age of 82, in November 1986.
I remember Cary Grant being a bit of a hero for me as a kid. I think it was my dad who first introduced me to his work (as he was also a hero to him as a child too). I've only ever seen about 15 of his movies, and I would assume they are his most popular, but I'm looking forward to seeking out the other great ones I've not yet seen.
"Good morning, darling. I trust you slept well.I hope I wasn't too much of an animal."
04BirthOfALegend: CARY GRANT of BringingUpBaby, HisGirlFriday, ThePhiladelphiaStory, Arsenic&OldLace, NorthByNorthwest alturl.com/jc3fn
— Through the darkness (@120Yrs120Months) November 12, 2011
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