On This Day...This Is The Night (1932).

 On 8th April 1932, Cary Grant made his film debut in the Paramount Picture...This Is The Night.
(see blog dated 8th April 2020).

Summary:

An affair is almost exposed when Claire's husband (Cary Grant) unexpectedly returns early from Summer Olympics.

"...a perfectly ordinary and unformalised farce. The plot hardly worth repeating, for it is occupied only with the ritual humours of infidelity and intoxocation."

- The Times (London)

Cast:

 Lili Damita ... Germaine
 Charles Ruggles ... Bunny West
 Roland Young ... Gerald Gray
 Thelma Todd ... Claire Mathewson
 Cary Grant ... Stephen Mathewson
 Irving Bacon ... Sparks

Did You Know?

Some prints of film have blue-tinted night scenes.

Film debut of Cary Grant.

Quotes:

Stephen Mathewson: Didn't you ever go in for athletics?
Bunny West: I used to jump at conclusions.

Claire Mathewson: [they are seated in the back of their car; Claire has had her dress torn by the car door] Gerald, aren't you going to do anything?
Gerald Gray: Here?
Claire Mathewson: No, no. I mean about discharging your chauffeur
Gerald Gray: Oh, oh let me keep him. I've let you keep your husband
Claire Mathewson: I haven't kept him
Gerald Gray: What?
Claire Mathewson: He left this morning
Gerald Gray: For good?
Claire Mathewson: No, no, for the Olympic Games at Los Angeles. He's in them, you know. Haven't you ever heard of Steve Mathewson, the javelin thrower?
Gerald Gray: Javelin thrower?
Claire Mathewson: ah ha
Gerald Gray: Do you mean those long, murderous harpoon things?
[she nods]
Gerald Gray: Claire, the moment you meet a man, right after you've said 'how do you do?' you should add 'my husband throws javelins'.

Lobby Cards:

Directed by Frank Tuttle.
Distributed by Paramount Publix.
Running time: 80 minutes.

Artwork by Rebekah Hawley of Studio 36.

On This Day... MY LIFE IN A YEAR WITH ARCHIE: One Year On!

So what has My Life In A Year With Archie been all about? Where to begin? How about at the beginning?

Well, simply….. it’s been about me, and him: Archie, Archie of course being none other than Archibald Alec Leach, better known as Cary Grant.

But why, you may ask? How did it start? Where is it going? Well…let’s start at the beginning...

The Start

I’ve been a lifelong fan of Cary Grant. He was the film star that both my grandparents adored and my parents grew up with.

There never was, and still hasn’t been, anyone on film quite like Cary Grant. Charlton Heston observed, “...he was without peer in films where he stood around in beautiful rooms, wearing beautiful clothes and saying beautiful things to beautiful women.”

Cary Grant famously admitted, “...everyone wants to be Cary Grant - even I want to be Cary Grant”.  And, I, like most males, wanted to be like Cary Grant. So, over the years, through film, we’ve stayed in touch.

Then, in late 2019, Archie became a more constant feature in my life.

Instagram

In September 2019, I began to post more regularly on my Instagram account. I was pretty sure that, although people may be mildly interested in what I was getting up to, they didn’t necessarily want to see me doing it.

I decided, therefore, to bring along Archie. He would be the face of my life and my various observations on life.

So, on 27th September 2019, I posted my formula for living, which is quite simple… “I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can” - well, it was Cary Grant’s formula for living, which I adopted.

Then, over the following weeks, observations about various things… smiling, being kind, the weather, and even lunch, were accompanied by pictures of Archie laughing, doing a double-take or simply being…well…Archie.

For example, on 15th October 2019, under a picture of Cary and Grace Kelly picnicking in the 1955 film, To Catch A Thief, the caption read, ‘Wet, dark and cold!!! Walking to work aint no picnic!’ So...you get the idea.

Then towards the back end of October, the posts became regular – there seemed to always be a different Cary Grant picture for every occasion.

So, when 2019 came to a close, I decided on 31st December, that I would challenge myself, to post a Cary Grant picture every day for the entire year, commencing on the 1st January 2020.

This officially was the start of My Life in A Year With Archie – little did we realise what 2020 was about to bring.

My Life In A Year With Archie Begins

January started off with the positive reminder, which was almost prophetic: to Keep Calm and Cary On!!

Then followed pictures of Archie, with captions again relating to life observations and key dates in both of our lives:

For example, on 8th January, I noted that I seemed to always work at Sheffield Odeon on the same day of the week. My post pictured Cary smiling through gritted teeth with the caption, ‘ In Sheffield today, must be Wednesday’.

Then, my post on 18th January, marked Cary Grant’s birth date with the caption of a reported exchange between Cary and a journalist who asked “How old Cary Grant?"  “Old Cary Grant fine, how are you?"

Notably, with all these early posts – January, February and March – I was getting 2 or 3 likes from friends who were sympathetically following my private account.

Then, as March came around, the decision was to go public. Timing was impeccable: the UK entered its first lockdown, on 23rd March, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.

My Life In A Year With Archie in Lockdown.

From March, my posts took on a new dimension: they were not only highlighting mine and Archie’s life events, film releases, etc; now they were also documenting life in lockdown.

By April 10th, life was already very different, days merged, so much so that, with a tuxedoed Cary holding his hand over his eyes, my caption read: ‘Don’t tell me, let me guess! It’s Saturday…no Wednesday…no, no, I give up! What day is it?’

Life certainly was different.

Posts were already playing a role in keeping my sanity intact whilst staying locked down, but, as I had more time on my hands, and I’d gotten into a good swing with posts, I decided to enter the world of the blogger.

The Blog and a Turning Point

On 5th April 2020, my Instagram posts were now being complemented with my My Life In A Year With Archie blog.

The blog posts went into more detail of the things I’d mentioned on Instagram, such as more information on film releases. I also began to use the blog as a form of scrapbooking of things relating to Cary Grant’s life and career, along with my ever-growing collection of Cary Grant memorabilia.

I have to say, at this point, the Instagram and blog posts were primarily for me: to entertain me, keep me busy and give me that 5 minutes of ‘Me-time’.

Then, on 11th April, came a turning point: after posting a picture of Cary complete with horsetail wig, from the 1949 film, I Was a Male War Bride, along with my caption ‘I’m beginning to regret the decision not to have a pre-lockdown haircut’, my Instagram posts began to record more and more likes. The fact that other people were also enjoying my posts was an added bonus.

 

By the end of December 2020, a full year of Instagram posts was completed – and, interestingly, the last post of the year was my most popular with currently over 260 likes.

My blog now has more than 27,000 views and on 5th April 2021, was 1 year old.

And here we are.

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who is a Cary Grant fan who would like to contribute their thoughts on Cary, his life and career – please get in touch at mylifeinayearwitharchie@gmail.com.

Don’t forget to check out my My Life In A Year With Archie Instagram account @mylifeinayearwitharchie.

So, keep well and happy thoughts...

If you would like to hear the Podcast version of this blog, check out the link below:

https://anchor.fm/mark-kirkham7/episodes/1--In-the-beginning---My-Life-In-A-Year-With-Archie-eu1i5e

On This Day...Big Brown Eyes (1936)

 Cary Grant's 22nd full length film was Big Brown Eyes, and was released on this date back in 1936. It was his first of two films starring alongside Joan Bennett.

Summary:

Sassy manicurist Eve Fallon (Joan Bennett) is recruited as an even more brassy reporter and she helps police detective boyfriend Danny Barr (Cary Grant) break a jewel theft ring and solve the murder of a baby.

"The one faint disappointment was the work of Cary Grant, who seemed slightly ill at ease as the two fisted detective. Grant has turned in one capable performance after another. In this, he somehow didn't click. Perhaps it is that his innate good breeding subconsciously rebels against the role of a good-natured plebian. But don't misunderstand. His portrayal offered no point of criticism; it simply had, with the exception of one scene, nothing to recommend it. But watch for his brief little impersonation of a girl friend on the make, a clever bit of pantomime."

- Paul Jacobs, Hollywood Spectator

Cast:

 Cary Grant ... Danny Barr
 Joan Bennett ... Eve Fallon
 Walter Pidgeon ... Richard Morey
 Lloyd Nolan ... Russ Cortig
Alan Baxter ... Cary Butler
 Marjorie Gateson ... Mrs. Cole
 Isabel Jewell ... Bessie Blair
Douglas Fowley ... Benny Battle
 Henry Brandon ... Don Butler (as Henry Kleinbach)
 Joe Sawyer ... Jack Sully
 Dolores Casey ... Cashier
 Doris Canfield ... Myrtle
 Edwin Maxwell ... Editor

Did You Know ?

Cary Grant's first of two films with Joan Bennett. The second was Wedding Present released in the same year ,1936.

Quotes:

Danny Barr: [stopping Eve from telephoning] Wait a minute, will you, honey?
[Eve smacks his hand from the phone]
Danny Barr: Oh, how I wish you were a man!
Eve Fallon: Same to you.

Danny Barr: Why don't you listen to reason?
Eve Fallon: I'm not in the listening mood. My ears are tired.

Eve Fallon: Where are you going?
Danny Barr: I don't know yet. I haven't made up my mind.
Eve Fallon: Can I go with you?
Danny Barr: Where?
Eve Fallon: Where you're going.
Danny Barr: Well, I just told ya. I don't know where I'm going.
Eve Fallon: Well, when do you leave?
Danny Barr: I don't know that either.
Eve Fallon: Well, why can't you take me along?
Danny Barr: Where?
Eve Fallon: That's what I'm asking you.
Danny Barr: I'm asking you that.
Eve Fallon: Say, who's going - you or me?
Danny Barr: Where?
Eve Fallon: I don't know. I'm not going - you are.
Danny Barr: Well look, what time is it?
Eve Fallon: What time does your train leave?
Danny Barr: How do you know I'm going by train? I might be going by boat.
Eve Fallon: What kind of a boat?
Danny Barr: I don't know. I haven't seen it yet.

Lobby Cards and Posters:

"Big Dark Eyes" - Italian.

"Miss Detective" - Swedish.

Directed by Raoul Walsh.

Distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Running time: 76 minutes.

Artwork by Rebekah Hawley of Studio 36.

On This Day...Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948).

Cary Grant's 52nd film and his third film with Myrna Loy was Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House. The film was released on this date in 1948.

Summary:

In Manhattan, the American middle class Jim Blandings (Cary Grant) lives with his wife Muriel (Myrna Loy) and two teenage daughters in a four bedroom and one bathroom only leased apartment. 

Jim works in an advertising agency raising US$ 15,000.00 a year and feels uncomfortable in his apartment due to the lack of space. 

When he sees an advertisement for a huge house for sale in the countryside of Connecticut for an affordable price, he drives with his wife and the real estate agent and decides to buy the old house without any technical advice. 

A family friend, lawyer Bill Cole, sends an acquaintance engineer to inspect the house, and the man tells him that he should knock down the house and build another one. 

Jim checks the information with other engineers and all of them condemn the place.  Soon he finds that he bought a "money pit" instead of a dream house.

"Cary Grant giving one of his best portrayals as the frustrated advertising man..."

- Philip T. Hartung, Commonweal.

Cast:

 Cary Grant ... Jim Blandings
 Myrna Loy ... Muriel Blandings
 Melvyn Douglas ... Bill Cole
 Reginald Denny ... Simms
 Sharyn Moffett ... Joan Blandings
 Connie Marshall ... Betsy Blandings
 Louise Beavers ... Gussie
 Ian Wolfe ... Smith
 Harry Shannon ... Tesander
 Tito Vuolo ... Mr. Zucca
 Nestor Paiva ... Joe Apollonio
 Jason Robards Sr. ... John Retch 
 Lurene Tuttle ... Mary
 Lex Barker ... Carpenter Foreman
 Emory Parnell ... Mr. PeDelford

Did You Know?

Third of three movies starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy, following Wings in the Dark (1935) and The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947).

At the end of the movie, Mr Blandings is reading the book that the movie is based on.

The house built for the movie still exists in Malibu, California at coordinates: 34 degrees 5' 41"N 118 degrees 42'43"W on the old 20th Century Fox Ranch.

As a promotional stunt, the studio had 73 replicas of the Blandings house built around the country. Many opened for house tours, with the proceeds going to charity, and some were raffled off. The stunt obviously worked, because the film was a box office hit.

In 1951, Cary Grant reprised his role as Jim Blandings for "Mr. and Mrs. Blandings," a weekly radio program. Betsy Drake, Grant's wife at the time, played Muriel Blandings while Gale Gordon played Bill Cole.

During production, the House Un-American Activity Committee began attacking the film industry. John Huston & William Wyler visited the set to ask Myrna Loy to help organize a committee of their own, which she did. She also donated $1,000 of her own money.

Quotes:

Muriel Blandings: I want it to be a soft green, not as blue-green as a robin's egg, but not as yellow-green as daffodil buds. Now, the only sample I could get is a little too yellow, but don't let whoever does it go to the other extreme and get it too blue. It should just be a sort of grayish-yellow-green. Now, the dining room. I'd like yellow. Not just yellow; a very gay yellow. Something bright and sunshine-y. I tell you, Mr. PeDelford, if you'll send one of your men to the grocer for a pound of their best butter, and match that exactly, you can't go wrong! Now, this is the paper we're going to use in the hall. It's flowered, but I don't want the ceiling to match any of the colors of the flowers. There's some little dots in the background, and it's these dots I want you to match. Not the little greenish dot near the hollyhock leaf, but the little bluish dot between the rosebud and the delphinium blossom. Is that clear? Now the kitchen is to be white. Not a cold, antiseptic hospital white. A little warmer, but still, not to suggest any other color but white. Now for the powder room - in here - I want you to match this thread, and don't lose it. It's the only spool I have and I had an awful time finding it! As you can see, it's practically an apple red. Somewhere between a healthy winesap and an unripened Jonathan. Oh, excuse me...
Mr. PeDelford: You got that Charlie?
Charlie, Painter: Red, green, blue, yellow, white.
Mr. PeDelford: Check.

Jim Blandings: What's with this kissing all of a sudden? I don't like it. Every time he goes out of this house, he shakes my hand and kisses you.
Muriel Blandings: Would you prefer it the other way around?

Jim Blandings: This little piggy went to market. A meek and as mild as a lamb. He smiled in his tracks. When they slipped him the axe. He KNEW he'd turn out to be Wham!

Jim Blandings: That's fine. For the rest of my life, I'll have to get up at 5 in the morning to catch the 6:15 train to get to my office at 8. It doesn't even open until 9, and I never get there until 10!
Muriel Blandings: Well, maybe if you start earlier, you can leave the office earlier.
Jim Blandings: To get home earlier, to get to bed earlier, to get up earlier, I suppose.
Bill Cole: Maybe you can get the railroad to push the train up to 4:15. Then you won't have to go to bed at all.

Muriel Blandings: Mr. Zucca explained he has to use dynamite to blast to get rid of the rock.
Mr. Zucca: That's no rock. That's a ledge.
Bill Cole: What Mr. Blandings means is, what precisely is a ledge?
Mr. Zucca: A ledge is like a big stone. Only it's bigger.
Jim Blandings: Like a boulder!
Mr. Zucca: No, like a ledge.

Cast.

Jim Blandings: Water, Mr. Tesander.
Tesander: Yep.
Jim Blandings: At six feet.
Tesander: Yep.
Jim Blandings: And just over there, you had to go down 227 feet to hit the same water.
Tesander: Yep.
Jim Blandings: Now, how do you account for that, Mr. Tesander?
Tesander: Well, the way it appears to me, Mr. Blandings... over here the water is down around six feet. And over there it's down around 227 feet.
[Bill Cole repeats the last line in unison with Tesander who looks over his should at Cole]
Bill Cole: Yep.

Lobby Cards:

"Just For the Sake of My Wife" - German Poster

Directed by H.C. Potter.

Distributed by RKO Radio Productions.

Running time: 94 minutes.

Artwork by Rebekah Hawley of Studio 36.