On This Day...Holiday (1938)

Today in 1938, saw the release of Cary Grant's 31st full length feature film, Holiday.

This was his 3rd film with leading lady Katharine Hepburn, playing the role of Linda Seton.

The title of the film when released in Great Britain was  Free to Live, Unconventional Linda.

The story is about a restless Johnny Case (Grant), wanting to take time out and see the world

He becomes engaged to Julia Seton(Doris Nolan) who tries to make him conform, unlike her sister Linda (Hepburn), who falls in love with him.

Based on a Broadway play by Philip Barry.

Newsweek wrote - "Cary Grant again turns in a smooth performance of the type that has made him one of Hollywood's most-sought-after leading men.

It is more to the point that Katharine Hepburn gives one of her most successful characterizations of her film career."

Cary Grant's acrobatics seemed to have rubbed off on Katharine Hepburn.

They were both known for doing their own stunts. Hepburn thought her double didn't have the correct deportment.

With Jean Dixon, Katharine Hepburn, Lew Ayres and Edward Everett Horton.

Lobby Cards:

Directed by George Cukor

Distributed by Columbia Pictures

Running time: 94 minutes

On This Day in 1932....Merrily We Go to Hell and Singapore Sue.

So on this day in 1932, Cary Grant featured in his 3rd full length feature film but also in his film debut.

Singapore Sue:

So this short film is considered to be Cary Grant's film debut. 

The film runs for approx 10 minutes and was filmed in New York.

Cary Grant takes the main role as a sailor on shore leave.

The short film didn't get released until the same time as his 3rd full length feature (see below)

Apparently for this short he is credited as Archie Leach!!

With Anna Chang and Joe Wong.

Written and Directed by Casey Robinson

Running time: 10 minutes

Merrily We Go to Hell:

Cary Grant plays the leading man on stage of the play written by its main character, played by Fredric March.

With Adrienne Allen

With main stars Sylvia Sidney and Fredric March.

With Sylvia Sidney.

Directed by Dorothy Arzner

Produced and Distributed by Paramount Publix

Running time: 88 minutes

"We should all just smell well and enjoy ourselves more!"

Cary Grant had a point. Not only should we enjoy ourselves more, but at the same time, smell well!

So how did Mr. Grant set the lead in smelling well?

It's well documented that he used three particular colognes...

...Creed Green Irish Tweed, Guerlain Imperiale Eau De Cologne and Acqua Di Parma Colonia.

Creed Green Irish Tweed:

Green Irish Tweed by Creed is a classic Fougere fragrance.

One of the signature scents of the house of Creed, like a walk through the Irish countryside.

The fragrance is rich, fresh, sporty and unforgettable. 

It opens with top notes of iris and lemon verbena.

Guerlain Imperiale Eau De Cologne:

A unisex perfume, the scent was launched in 1853 and created by perfumer Pierre-Francois-Pascal Guerlain.

Top notes are of Bergamot, Neroli, Verbena, Lemon and Orange.

Acqua Di Parma Colonia:

Contains Sicilian citrus, lavender, rosemary and verbena. Also Bulgarian rose, sandalwood, vetiver, cedar and ylang-ylang.

It starts off with sharp top notes of citrus and verbena.

Testing and sharing with Roger Moore?

"Lights, camera...action!" - The Directors - Part 3

The next director, who worked with Cary Grant on four films, was Stanley Donen.

Stanley Donen:

13th April 1924 - 21st February 2019

On Grant - "Cary was lavish in his giving to me. He gave me lots of gifts, always thoughtful ones. Something was always arriving."

Kiss Them For Me (1957)

With Ray Walston and Jayne Mansfield

Indiscreet (1958)

On set with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman.

The Grass is Greener (1961)

With Deborah Kerr and Robert Mitchum

Charade (1963)

With Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn

Stanley Donen was behind many hit musicals including On The Town, Singing in the Rain and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Cary Grant, Stanley Fox and Stanley Donen set up Grandon Productions, Ltd in 1957.

Four directors worked on three films each with Cary Grant...

..."Lights, camera...action!" - The Directors - Part 4...

On this Day...Mr. Lucky (1943)

Cary Grant's 43rd full length feature film was released on this date...Mr Lucky.

The story of Joe Adams, the owner of a gambling ship and a draft dodger, who in order to raise funds for a South Atlantic enterprise, turns his con-man's gaze on the ladies of the War Relief Inc.

Laraine Day stars along side Cary Grant.

Although critics enjoyed some of the visual techniques of the film most were left unimpressed by the theme of film; gambling and draft dodging. Remember this was 1943!

Philip T. Hartung of The Commonweal reported: "...Mr Lucky depends on Grant's ability to hold you. Perhaps this is just wherein the picture is dangerous; the first thing you know, you like this loose-moraled chiseler because of the way he tilts his hat or kids you so delightfully before he cheats you".

Manny Fabber of The New Republic commented that it was a "...disgusting story.." but praised the supporting cast, and concluded by saying, "Admirers of Cary Grant will be shocked: but after they have hardened themselves against the indecent exploitation of him, they will at least find Mr. Lucky interesting, like a bad salad with an intelligent dressing."

One of the lighter, funnier moments (one of my favourites) is the knitting scene within the War Relief's HQ.

"Knit one...."

Lobby Card:

Directed by H.C. Potter

Produced and distributed by RKO Radio

Running time: 100 minutes

Original Story: Bundles for Freedom by Milton Holmes

"Lights, Camera...Action!" - The Directors - Part 2

After Howard Hawks' five films with Cary Grant, there were two directors who completed four films each with Grant...Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Donen.

Alfred Hitchcock:

13th August 1899 - 29th April 1990

"Hitch and I had a rapport and understanding deeper than words. He was a very agreeable human being, and we were very compatible. I always went to work whistling when I worked with him because everything on the set was just as you envisioned it would be. Nothing ever went wrong. He was so incredibly well prepared. I never knew anyone as capable. He was a tasteful, intelligent, decent, and patient man who knew the actor's business as well as he knew his own." 

- Grant on Hitchcock

Suspicion (1941)

On set with Joan Fontaine.

His appearance in the film.

Notorious (1946)

Hitchcock's appearance in a scene with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman.

To Catch A Thief (1955)

 

On film with Grant.

On set with Grace Kelly and Cary Grant.

North By Northwest (1959)

An early appearance in the film.

                                                           

On set and behind the scenes with Cary Grant, Eve Marie Saint and James Mason.

"Cary is marvelous, you see. One doesn't direct Cary Grant, one simply puts him in front of a camera. 

And, you see, he enables the audience to identify with the main character. I mean by that, Cary Grant represents a man we know. He's not a stranger."

- Hitchcock on Grant

To be continued...The Directors - Part 3 - Stanley Donen.

"Light, Camera...Action!" - The Directors - Part 1

When Cary Grant received his Academy Award for his unique mastery of the art of screen acting, in 1970, he thanked all those who had assisted in his career.

He thanked by name, six directors, Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, Leo McCarey, George Stevens, George Cukor and Stanley Donen.

So, that made me think about which directors he worked with and how often?

Howard Hawks:

30th May 1896 - 26th December 1977

Hawks and Grant worked on a total of six films together:

Bringing Up Baby (1938) with Katharine Hepburn

Only Angels Have Wings (1939) with Rita Haywood

His Girl Friday (1940) with Rosalind Russell

I Was a Male War Bride (1949) with Ann Sheridan

Monkey Business (1952)

Hawks on Grant - "He was so far the best that there isn't anybody to be compared to him."

Howard Hawks directed many films include those from the silent era, but as well as his first three films with Cary Grant he is probably most remembered for Scarface (1932), Twentieth Century (1934), Sergeant York (1941), To Have and Have Not (1944), The Big Sleep (1946), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and Rio Bravo (1959).

Cary Grant Quote No.4