American actor Cary Grant: biography, filmography and interesting facts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

Cary Grant is a talented Hollywood actor who was twice nominated for an Oscar. During his lifetime, he was considered the epitome of equanimity, composure and wit. The concept of "gentleman" was inseparable from Carey. He was also considered one of the most handsome men of all time. Grant performed his most famous roles in pre-war comedies and films by Alfred Hitchcock. What can you tell about the work and personal life of the star?

Cary Grant's difficult childhood

The hero of this article was born in the UK, or rather, in Bristol. It happened in January 1904. The origin of Cary Grant is still a mystery. It is impossible even to say with certainty whether the boy was raised by his own parents or adoptive ones. Biographers admit the possibility that the British, in whose house the future actor grew up, adopted him.

At the age of ten, Carey was forced to endure the first serious tragedy. The boy lost his mother. Until the age of 31, he had no doubt thatthe woman died, that's what he heard from his father. By chance, Grant found out that she suffered from a mental disorder and was sent to an insane asylum. Carey's father soon married another woman, the child felt unwanted.

The path to success

As a teenager, Cary Grant spent his time on the streets of Bristol. Once he joined a troupe of wandering acrobats and went with them to conquer the United States.

Grant's path to fame began with performances in Broadway musicals. Soon he had a peculiar manner of pronunciation, which became his hallmark. Critics later dubbed it "Mid-Atlantic reprimand". In 1932, the aspiring actor first came to Hollywood. He signed a contract with Paramount Pictures.

From obscurity to fame

Cary Grant made his film debut in 1932. The aspiring actor played a supporting role in the comedy "This Night". She did not bring him fame, but a start was made. In 1932, several more films with Grant's participation were released: "Sinners under the Sun", "Merry We Roll to Hell", "Blond Venus", "The Devil and the Deep", "Madama Butterfly", "Hot Saturday". They were mostly melodramas.

Fame came to the handsome actor already in 1933. Carey made such a strong impression on star Mae West that she insisted that he play her lover in She Treated Him Unfairly and I'm No Angel. After the release of these paintings, Grant first tastedreal glory. A charming smile, a cheeky look - the audience could not remain indifferent.

The heyday of a film career

Cary Grant's biography shows that the first contract he signed with Paramount Pictures expired in 1935. The actor immediately signed a new agreement, having managed to achieve unheard of conditions. Grant negotiated for himself the right to participate in the projects of competing companies. Consequently, Carey was able to independently control the selection of roles for himself. This independence turned all the studios against him. No one undertook to lobby Grant's interests at the Oscars, so the actor never received the award. Carey achieved not only independence. Grant also insisted that he be paid a percentage of the fees from the films he starred in.

In the late 30s, the actor played mainly in comedies, or rather, in farces. Interestingly, it was this genre that Grant considered the most difficult for an actor. In the 1930s, he took part in the filming of the films listed below.

• "The Accused".
• Eagle and Falcon.
• "Ship of Players".
• "Alice in Wonderland".
• "Princess for thirty days".
• "Born to be bad".
• "Kiss and put on lips."
• "Ladies should listen."
• "Come in madam."
• Wings in the Dark.
• "Last Outpost".
• "Sylvia Scarlett".
• "Big brown eyes".
• "Suzie".
• "Amazing Adventures".
• "Wedding Gift".
• "Whenyou are in love.”
• "Topper".
• New York Darling.
• "Raising a Baby"
• The Terrible Truth.
• "Holiday".
• Ganga Din.
• "Only angels have wings."
• "Only in words."

Films of the 40s

In the 40s, Cary Grant remained in demand. His filmography was still actively replenished.

• "His girlfriend Friday."
• "My beloved wife."
• The Howards of Virginia.
• Philadelphia Story.
• "Penny Serenade".
• "Suspicion".
• "The whole town is talking."
• "Once Upon a Honeymoon".
• "Mr. Lucky".
• "Destination Tokyo".
• Once Upon a Time.
• "Arsenic and old lace."
• "Only a lonely heart."
• "Night and Day".
• "Notorious".
• "A bachelor and a girl".
• "The Bishop's Wife".
• "Mr Blandings is building his dream home."
• "Every girl should get married."
• Soldier in a skirt.

It was in the 40s that Grant's collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock began. However, the actor, as before, gave preference to comedies. This man managed to add the necessary share of humor even to Hitchcock's thrillers. The famous director, who never hid his dislike for actors, made an exception only for Grant. He considered Cary a worthy person, treated him with respect.

Bright roles

Name Carey's best filmsGrant is very difficult. The talented actor responsibly treated each of his roles. He put his soul into all his characters. Carey played one of his most famous roles in The Philadelphia Story with Katharine Hepburn. The picture tells the story of the beautiful Tracy (Hepburn), who is divorced and is preparing to remarry. Her chosen one is the manager of her father's oil company. However, on the eve of the wedding, Tracy's ex-husband (Grant) is announced. He brings with him two journalists who supposedly have to cover the high society event in the "yellow" press.

It is impossible not to mention the picture "Only a Lonely Heart", for the role in which Grant was nominated for an Oscar. He created a vivid image of the son of the owner of the store, who gets into an unpleasant story out of love for his mother.

In the comedy "Arsenic and Old Lace" Grant brilliantly played theater critic Mortimer. His hero is the only reasonable member of a crazy family. His aunts, who have a crystal clear reputation, actually kill lonely people and hide the corpses in the basement of their own house. Mortimer's crazy brother, who thinks he is President Roosevelt, helps them in this.

Of course, Alfred Hitchcock's films, in which the actor starred, cannot be ignored. "Suspicion", "Notoriety", "Catch a Thief", "North by Northwest" - all these pictures cannot be included in the list of the best tapes with his participation. In the film To Catch a Thief, Carey brilliantly played the former thief John Robie, nicknamed the Cat. The character is suspected of a series of jewel thefts,however, he manages to justify himself.

Positive roles

What else can you say about Cary Grant's films? Surprisingly, the actor tried to play only positive characters. From the negative images that the directors offered him, he flatly refused. Even suspense master Hitchcock failed to turn Grant into an anti-hero.

The film "Suspicion" is perhaps the only exception. It was in this picture that Hitchcock managed to add a drop of doubt to Grant's impeccable film image. The actor is assigned the role of a rake and loafer Johnny, with whom the modest daughter of a retired General Lin escapes. Gradually, the heroine begins to understand that her husband suffers from gambling and is deeply in debt. He married her for a dowry that turned out to be less than he bargained for. Initially, Hitchcock wanted to make a killer out of Grant's hero. However, he was not allowed to do this by the producers, who did not want the impeccable image of the actor to suffer.

Marriages and divorces

Of course, fans are interested not only in creative achievements, but also in the personal life of Cary Grant (children, wives). It is known that the actor entered into legal marriage five times. His first wife was actress Virginia Cherrill, who became famous for her role as a blind flower girl in City Lights. The marriage broke up a year later. Virginia left Carey and charged him with domestic violence. The actor fell into a prolonged depression, but managed to get out of it.

Grant's second wife was millionaire Barbara Hutton, known for her frivolousway of life. The press accused Carey of having contacted this woman for money. In fact, the actor never put his hand into his wife's wallet. He loved Barbara, took care of her child from her previous husband. The second wife left Carey because she was tired of his moralizing. He tried to separate her from her friends, whom he considered inappropriate company.

Grant's third wife was actress Betsy Drake, whom he met while working on the film Every Girl Should Get Married. With this woman, the actor lived for about 13 years. Then he married the beautiful Dian Cannon, who was significantly younger than him. Two years later, this union broke up.

The fifth wife of Cary Grant is Barbara Harris. This woman was 47 years younger than her famous husband. When they met, she worked as an advertising manager. The wedding ceremony was modest, only the closest friends and relatives received invitations.

Children

Cary Grant's only daughter was given to him by his fourth wife, Dian Cannon. The girl was named Jennifer Diane Grant. She was born in February 1966 in Burbank. Jennifer followed in her father's footsteps, connected her fate with the acting profession. She first made her name when she played Susie Knight in Moon Over Miami.

Death

The decision to "retire" Cary Grant made in 1966. He felt that he was already too old to act in films. Grant focused on the cosmetics business, in which he was quite successful. Last film withtalented actor was released in 1966. It was a comedy melodrama "Go, don't run", in which he played the main role.

Grant passed away in November 1986. The talented actor lived to be 82 years old. His inheritance was equally divided between fifth wife Barbara Harris and daughter Jennifer Grant. In his will, Carey insisted that he be cremated. Grant's ashes, as he wished, were scattered over the ocean.

Interesting fact

Carey could have been the first actor to portray James Bond on screen. Superspy 007 was largely written off from him. However, Grant refused the flattering offer, as he considered his age unsuitable for such a role.