“Everybody wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant.”
~ Cary Grant
This past month has been a whirlwind work wise and personally, and I have another month of craziness ahead. So it’s more important than ever that I take time out. One way I do that is to watch old movies. And so many of my faves star Cary Grant.
This past weekend I indulged in Houseboat starring Cary Grant and Sophia Loren. He’s so funny, charming, personable, you always feel like you know him. But I realized, we don’t, not really… just his characters. So I decided to look up some trivia about him and learned so much! Wanted to share:
10 THINGS I DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CARY GRANT
He was in the biz for 20 years before making it big, and almost gave up.
He joined a traveling troupe of comedic performers at 14. They eventually performed in the U.S., where he stayed at age 22. But he didn’t make it big until he was 34 with Bringing Up Baby (1938).
He was extremely charitable.
He donated his entire earnings from The Philadelphia Story (1940) to the British war effort, and his earnings from Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) to the U.S. War Relief Fund.
He was the inspiration behind Ian Fleming’s James Bond.
But when offered the role for Dr. No, he turned it down because he felt he was too old, at 53.
He maintained a year-round tan to avoid wearing makeup.
And, after his boyhood idol Douglas Fairbanks.
He turned down three roles opposite Audrey Hepburn.
Gregory Peck took the role in Roman Holiday (1953), Humphrey Bogart in Sabrina (1954), and for My Fair Lady (1964), Grant declined because he didn’t think anyone could play the role better than the star of the stage production, Rex Harrison (and Grant felt he would be accused of copying him anyway).
He initially refused another role opposite Audrey Hepburn in Charade (1963).
He was heavily criticized for the age difference between him and Grace Kelly (26 years) in To Catch A Thief (1955), so he had two stipulations before accepting: that Audrey Hepburn’s character pursue his, and that he include a few jokes in the script about the age difference.
His personal favorite movie was Indiscreet (1958) with Ingrid Bergman.
He and Bergman had starred together in Notorious (1946), and were close friends.
When he signed on for Houseboat (1958) opposite Sophia Loren, they had been in a romantic relationship — the most passionate, he would say. She broke it off before filming, and he was apparently so heartbroken he initially tried to back out.
His favorite leading lady was Grace Kelly.
He never won an Oscar or a Golden Globe for his work.
But was given an Honorary Oscar in 1970.
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Hope you get to take some time out this weekend and celebrate the leading men in your life! Have a wonderful Father’s Day.
Awww, love me some Cary Grant. I’ve seen Houseboat probably a dozen times, its a family favorite around here. Very cool facts about him, I had no idea. Such a cool era, I was born slightly too late.
If I ever have a boy, I’m definitely naming him Cary.
The Aestate
Cary Grant is my absolute favorite. Grace Kelly, my favorite leading lady. Thus, To Catch A Thief—- one of my absolute favorite movies because it stars both of them. Can’t get enough, and could watch it non-stop. Did you also know his real name was Archibald Leach?? He changed it entirely by simply choosing other names he liked.
I love Cary Grant and old movies! I worked in a video store in high school and I would bring home dozens of tapes (shows my age!) at a time – I have seen every movie Marilyn Monroe ever did as well as Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. Love love love! He reminds me of my grandaddy – I wish men were like that now!
xoxo -e (modern24seven)
He reminds me so much of George Clooney! I love this fact: He maintained a year-round tan to avoid wearing makeup.
i know about old movies from my mom, who made me watch them with her growing up. i know of cary grant but knew very little about him as a man–thanks for sharing this!
I LOVE Houseboat! I still remember seeing it the first time and not being able to take my eyes off Sophia Loren. Such stunners–both of them. You can feel the chemistry between them onscreen.
How did he never win an Oscar?! It’s supposed to rain this weekend so I’m going to curl up with wine and Cary!
Very cool, those are 10 things I didn’t know about Cary either! Now you’ve got me wanting to curl up with a classic old movie :) Perfect for the weekend that’s for sure!
Nancy xo
they don’t make them like him anymore!!!