Room For One More (1952)

   "...witty, debonair but always real."

With Oliver Blake and Frank Ferguson.

Room For One More - Review is taken from 'The Films of Cary Grant' by Donald Deschner (1973):

"Room For One More is a delightful domestic comedy, stunningly produced by Henry Blanke, and warmly directed by Norman Taurog.  

As the father, Cary Grant offers a sock performance, witty, debonair but always real.  Betsy Drake is superb as the young matron; pretty, serious and with a heart that never falters."

 - Hollywood Reporter

New Artwork by Rebekah Hawley at Studio36 -
Number 57 - Room For One More (Lobby Card Style)

Part Of

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Quote From Today - January 26th 2023

On This Day - January 26th 2022

On This Day - January 26th 2021

Kiss Them For Me (1957)

   "...Cary Grant delivers some sardonic wisecracks very well..."

With Jayne Mansfield.

Kiss Them For Me - Review is taken from 'The Films of Cary Grant' by Donald Deschner (1973):

"Kiss Them For Me, coincidentally enough, is also about some military men intent on staging a party.  The party givers in this case are three naval aviators who arrive in wartime San Francisco determined to devote all their brief French leave from a carrier to wine, women and song.  

The color-and-CinemaScope movie is based on a novel written during World War II and made into a (not very successful) play soon after that.  

By 1957, its attitudes are curiously dated. For one example, the enemy seems to be the civilian population.  For another, the fliers behave alternately like post-adolescent Peck's Bad Boys and like swashbuckling heroes with equally juvenile motivation.  Though Cary Grant delivers some sardonic wisecracks very well,  he seems a little old to be acting so irresponsibly.  

The picture also has leading-woman trouble.  Fashion model Suzy Parker, who plays the enigmatic heroine, is lovely to look at but can't act; while director Stanley Donen has allowed Jayne Mansfield, in the role that was Judy Holliday's stepping stone to fame, to be broadly and unamusingly vulgar."

- Moira Walsh, America

New Artwork by Rebekah Hawley at Studio36 -
Number 63 - Kiss Them For Me (Lobby Card Style)

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Quote From Today - 10 December 2022

On This Day - 10 December 2021

On This Day - 10 December 2020

Operation Petticoat (1959)

   "... one of the trickiest acting jobs of [Cary Grant's] long and brilliant career."

With Tony Curtis.

Operation Petticoat - Review is taken from 'The Films of Cary Grant' by Donald Deschner (1973):

"Though he gets many laughs Cary Grant plays an essentially straight part and theatrical pros will recognize it as one of the trickiest acting jobs of his long and brilliant career.  Throughout every inch of it, he makes you feel that this is a dedicated captain determined to sail his ship again.  He makes all that follows seem funny instead of silly.  Curtis has an actor's field day with his flashy part, but under Blake Edwards' skilled direction, all the players make valuable contributions to the general hilarity." 

- Jack Moffitt, Hollywood Reporter

New Artwork by Rebekah Hawley at Studio36 -
Number 67 - Operation Petticoat (Lobby Card Style)

Part Of

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Quote From Today - 2 December 2022

On This Day - 2 December 2021

On This Day - 2 December 2020

My Favourite Film of the 1950's...North By Northwest (1959)

Not only is North By Northwest, my favourite film of the 1950's, but it is my favourite Cary Grant film...ever!

It has everything!

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, for the fourth and last time, Cary Grant set the tempo for stylish thrillers to follow, including James Bond.
(See:  "He's A Well Tailored One, Isn't He? Blog)

It took me numerous viewings to realise the point at which Roger Thornhill gets mistaken for George Kaplan.

The film is littered with classic scenes..the UN stabbing, Grand Central Station, drunk driving Lara's mercedes, climbing Mount Rushmore and one of the most memorable scenes..the crop duster chase.

With a great cast too....
James Mason, Eva Marie Saint, Martin Landau and Jessie Royce Landis.

"Calling Mr. Kaplan!"...so the drama begins! 

"You're a bit taller than I expected. A little more polished..."

"Something wrong with your eyes?"......"Yes, they're sensitive to questions!"

"Roger O. Thornhill. What does the O stand for?"......"Nothing!"

"That fella's dustin' crops, where there ain't no crops!"

The are a few interesting things that happened whilst filming.

In the scene where Cary Grant goes to find the real Mr. Townsend, at the United Nations, Hitchcock couldn't get permission to film on the Plaza. So he filmed Cary crossing the road from the back of a van parked opposite!

In the scene below, where Eva Marie Saint and Cary Grant's characters stage a shooting, notice the young boy, to the right of Eva Marie Saint, put his fingers in his ears, anticipating the noise of the gun.

Behind the Scenes:

Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint.

Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock.

James Mason, Eva Marie Saint, Cary Grant and the Presidents!