On This Day... Topper (1937)

 On today's date back in 1937, Cary Grant's 27th full length feature film, Topper, was released. 

Summary: 

The fun-loving Kerbys, stockholders in the bank of which henpecked, stuffy Cosmo Topper is president, drive recklessly once too often and find that they died and are now ghosts. In limbo because they've never done either good or bad deeds, they decide to try a good one now: rehabilitating Topper.

Cast:

Constance Bennett...Marion Kerby

Cary Grant...George Kerby

Roland Young...Mr. Cosmo Topper

Billie Burke...Mrs. Clara Topper

Alan Mowbray...Wilkins

Eugene Pallette...Casey

Arthur Lake...Elevator Boy

Hedda Hopper...Mrs. Grace Stuyvesant

Virginia Sale...Miss Johnson

Theodore von Eltz...Hotel Manager

J. Farrell MacDonald...Policeman (as J. Farrell McDonald)

Elaine Shepard...Secretary

Doodles Weaver...Rustic

Si Jenks...Rustic

Three Hits and a Miss...Three Hits and a Miss

Did You Know?

The easiest parts of the shoot for Cary Grant and Constance Bennett were the many special effects scenes, which only required them to record their lines while special effects artists made the various items they moved, from fountain pens to a pair of frilly lace panties, appear to move on their own.

Hal Roach immediately wanted Cary Grant to play George Kerby, but he had difficulty getting the actor to agree to play the part, since Grant was concerned about the supernatural aspects of the story. Assurance from Roach that the screwball aspects of the story would be played up - plus a fee of $50,000 - were sufficient to convince Grant to do the film.

This was the first black & white film to be "colorized" in 1985.

This was the second film appearance of Lana Turner; she was uncredited and had no lines.

Producer Hal Roach wanted W.C. Fields and Jean Harlow to star as, respectively, Cosmo Topper and Marion Kerby, but neither was available at the time.

This same material was later adapted into a 1953 sitcom which ran for two seasons. Anne Jeffreys played Marion, Robert Sterling was George and Leo G.Carroll played the title role of Topper.

One of Mrs. Topper's society matron friends is played by Hedda Hopper, who later "retired from acting" to become one of Hollywood's most influential gossip columnists, with a daily column syndicated in hundreds of newspapers.

Quotes:

Cosmo Topper: My wife objects to drinking.

George Kerby: Then she shouldn't drink.

Cosmo Topper: She doesn't.

George Kerby: What's her objection?

Marion Kerby: Oh, George, I can see right through you.

George Kerby: Say, that's funny. I can see through you, too.

Marion Kerby: [seeing her body lying next to George's beside the car, which has just crashed] George, look. You know something George? I think we're dead.

George Kerby: I think you're right. Funny; I don't *feel* any different.

[Topper reading annual report of his bank]

Cosmo Topper: Bullion abroad and in transit, thirteen million, two hundred and two thousand, eight hundred and fifty-four dollars and no cents.

George Kerby: No sense.

Cosmo Topper: I just said that, Mr. Kerby.

George Kerby: So did I.

George Kerby: My pet, resting's the sort of thing you've got to work up to gradually... very dangerous to rest all of a sudden.

Marion Kerby: Hey, George, is this 10:30 in the morning?

George Kerby: No, this is Topper's bank.

Marion Kerby: I'll be out before you can say Jack Robinson - only don't say it for a few minutes.

Posters and Lobby Cards:

Directed by Norman Z. McLeod

Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Produced by Hal Roach

Running time: 98 minutes

Artwork by Rebekah Hawley at Studio36.

On This Day... Walk, Don't Run (1966)

 Cary Grant's 72nd film, and his last, was Walk, Don't Run, released on today's date back in 1966. 

Summary: 

During the housing shortage of the Summer Olympic Games in 1964, two men and a woman share a small apartment in Tokyo, and the older man soon starts playing Cupid to the younger pair.

Cast:

Cary Grant...Sir William Rutland

Samantha Eggar...Christine Easton

Jim Hutton...Steve Davis

John Standing...Julius D. Haversack

Miiko Taka...Aiko Kurawa

Ted Hartley...Yuri Andreyovitch

Ben Astar...Dimitri

George Takei...Police Captain

Teru Shimada...Mr. Kurawa

Lois Kiuchi...Mrs. Kurawa

Did You Know?

Cary Grant (Sir William Rutland) retired from acting after this movie because, at sixty-one, he had become too old to play the romantic lead. Grant, furthermore, did not think his fans would want to see him playing supporting roles.

When Haversack is recounting his life story to Sir William in the hotel, two Victorian photographs can be seen on the desk. The portraits are of Elias and Elsie Leach who were Cary Grant's parents.

The film's three leading roles were originally intended for Spencer Tracy, Julie Andrews and Jack Lemmon.

In some scenes, Cary Grant whistles the theme music from Charade (1963) and An Affair to Remember (1957), two of his previous movies.

At the race, Julius says the fastest time for the 50 km race-walk is "four hours and fifty-three minutes." At the time of the 1964 Olympics, the men's 50 km race-walk world record was actually 4:00:50. (At the time of the film's release, the record was 3:55:36.)

Quotes:

Christine Easton: After 7:45, you can have the bathroom all day if you'd like.

Sir William Rutland: I wouldn't know what to do in the bathroom all day!

Aiko Kurawa: [Referring to bedlam at police headquarters] You say all you have to do is place an advertisement on the bulletin board?

Christine Easton: Uh-huh.

Christine Easton: I don't know why you wanted a room, you spend all of your time outside!

Posters:

Directed by Charles Walters.

Distributed by Columbia Picture.

Produced by Granley Company (Set up by Cary Grant)

Running time: 114 minutes.

Artwork by Rebekah Hawley at Studio36.

On This Day... Kiss and Make Up (1934)

 On this day in 1934, Kiss and Make Up, Cary Grant's 16th full length feature film, was released.

Summary:

A plastic surgeon runs a beauty clinic, where many a beautiful client falls in love with him. However, his unnoticed secretary is in love with him, too.

Cast:

Cary Grant...Dr. Maurice Lamar

Helen Mack...Anne

Genevieve Tobin...Eve Caron

Edward Everett Horton...Marcel Caron

Lucien Littlefield...Max Pascal

Mona Maris...Countess Rita

Katherine Williams ...Vilma

Lucille Lund...Magda

Rafael Alcayde...Rolando (as Rafael Storm)

Doris Lloyd...Mme. Durand

Sam Ash ...Plumber

Helena Phillips Evans...Landlady (as Helena Phillips)

Toby Wing...Consuelo of Claghorne

Henry Armetta...Banquet Chairman

George Beranger...Valet

Judith Arlen...Salon Worker

Joan Gale...Salon Worker

Hazel Hayes...Salon Worker

Lee Ann Meredith...Salon Worker

Helen Cohan...Radio Announcer

Jean Carmen...Maharajah's Wife

Gigi Parrish...Radio Listener (as Gi-Gi Parrish)

Ann Hovey...Lady Rummond-Dray

Betty Bryson...Salon Client

Julie Bishop...Salon Client (as Jacqueline Wells)

Ann Sheridan...Beautician (as Clara Lou Sheridan)

Rita Gould...Mme. Dupont

Bonita Weber...Mme. Severac

Did You Know?

Helen Mack replaced Carole Lombard, who refused to do the role.

A very rare example of Cary Grant singing a fully-orchestrated musical number, 'Love Divided By Two', with a later reprise.

Quotes:

Marcel Caron: Doctor, you've sinned with your scissors and other surgical instruments. You've lured her with lotions, corrupted her with... uh, what was the name of that goo? Crème Supreme.

Marcel Caron: In India, when a husband is about to divorce his wife, he puts a betel nut under her pillow. Therefore I say, madam, betel nuts to you.

Dr. Maurice Lamar: But sweet, this is our honeymoon.

Eve Caron: Yes, honey, but let's wait for the moon.

Marcel Caron: She's not a wife to me, she's an advertisement for you.

Press Kit:

Directed by Harlan Thompson

Distributed by Paramount Publix.

Running time: 80 minutes.

Artwork by Rebekah Hawley at Studio36.

On This Day... The Pride and the Passion (1957)

 Cary Grant's 61st full length feature film, The Pride and the Passion, was released today, back in 1957. 

Summary: 

During the Napoleonic Wars, a British captain is sent to Spain to help prevent the French from stealing a powerful cannon. The story follows the hardships and struggles of moving such a giant weapon across Spain and how it had to be hidden from the French.

Cast:

Cary Grant...Anthony

Frank Sinatra...Miguel

Sophia Loren...Juana

Theodore Bikel...Gen. Jouvet

John Wengraf...Sermaine

Jay Novello...Ballinger

José Nieto...Carlos (as Jose Nieto)

Carlos Larrañaga...Jose (as Carlos Larranaga)

Philip Van Zandt...Vidal

Paco El Laberinto...Manolo (as Paco el Laberinto)

Julián Ugarte...Enrique

Félix de Pomés...Bishop (as Felix de Pomes)

Carlos Casaravilla...Leonardo

Juan Olaguivel...Ramon

Nana DeHerrera...Maria (as Nana de Herrera)

Carlos De Mendoza...Francisco (as Carlos de Mendoza)

Luis Guedes...French Soldier

Did You Know?

Stanley Kramer originally wanted Marlon Brando and Ava Gardner as Grant's costars. Marlon Brando bowed out after reading the script, which he was not to his liking. He was replaced by Frank Sinatra.

Cary Grant had sworn never to make another historical film after The Howards of Virginia (1940) failed both critically and with audiences. He made an exception for this film, which ultimately failed to make a profit, though in this case, his performance was appreciated by audiences.

With seven weeks of shooting in Spain still left on the schedule, Frank Sinatra--who hated Spain--told director Stanley Kramer, "Hot or cold, Thursday I'm leaving the movie. So get a lawyer and sue me," according to Kramer biographer Donald Spoto. Kramer tried to solve the problem with two days of shooting in a Hollywood studio with potted palms.

Quotes:

Miguel: We cannot go up, we must go down.

Anthony: Brilliant.

Miguel: Up or down, it weighs what it weighs.

Juana: Miguel. Carlos will kill him.

Miguel: I will only let him kill him a little.

Miguel: I know peasants. I live with peasants. I do not need anybody to tell me about peasants.

Miguel: [to Anthony] Your face is dirty.

Anthony: [to Miguel] Your face is dirty.

Miguel: I do not ask you to die. Or even to bleed. Just to sweat a little

Posters:

Directed and Produced by Stanley Kramer

Distributed by United Artists

Based on the novel 'The Gun' by C.S. Forrester

Running time: 130 minutes.

Artwork by Rebekah Hawley at Studio36.

On This Day...Cary Grant Marries His Second Wife: Barbara Hutton.

Cary Grant and Barbara Hutton were married on July 8th, 1942.

The press dubbed the couple "Cash and Cary", but Grant never needed Barbara Hutton's money or her name. 

Cary Grant was Freddie Brisson's Best man at his wedding and Barbara Hutton was one of Rosalind Russell's bridesmaids.

They first met on the French liner "Normandie" and then encountered each other in various parts of the world. They managed to keep their relationship quiet and the wedding was planned as a top secret event. Even the local pastor, who was to conduct the six minute service in the Lake Arrowhead home of Frank Vincent, did not know the identity of the couple!

Cary took a day off filming Once Upon a Honeymoon for the wedding.

Hutton was one of the wealthiest women in the world. She married seven times, and had one son, Lance, with second husband, Count Kurt von Haugwitz-Reventlow.

Lance and Grant were fond of each other, Grant becoming a father figure, and Lance called Grant "General".

They were married for 3 years, and in the divorce settlement Cary Grant didn't request and money. 

 

On This Day... Crisis (1950)

On today's date back in 1950, Cary Grant's 55th full length feature film, Crisis, was released. 

Summary: 

Husband and wife Americans Dr. Eugene (Cary Grant) and Mrs. Helen Ferguson (Paula Raymond) - he a renowned neurosurgeon - are traveling through Latin America for a vacation. When they make the decision to return to New York earlier than expected, they are detained by the country's military. They learn the reason is that President Raoul Farrago (José Ferrer), the tyrannical military dictator of the country, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and will die without an operation to remove it, and has chosen Gene as the doctor to lead the surgical team. Because of the volatile politics within the country and for his own safety, as revolutionary forces would like to see him dead, Farrago refuses to go to a hospital for the operation, instead it to be done at his home. Despite not particularly liking Farrago or his ways, Gene agrees purely in his oath as a doctor. However, he ends up being caught in the middle between Farrago/his brutal regime and the revolutionaries, each side who is willing to use him and Helen to get what they want, namely the life or death of Farrago.

Cast:

Cary Grant... Dr Eugene Norland Ferguson

José Ferrer...Raoul Farrago (as Jose Ferrer)

Paula Raymond...Helen Ferguson

Signe Hasso...Senora Isabel Farrago

Ramon Novarro...Colonel Adragon

Gilbert Roland...Roland Gonzales

Leon Ames...Sam Proctor

Did You Know?

The film was originally banned in Mexico, Central and South America.

The South American dictator, Farrago, and his beautiful wife, seem clearly modeled on Argentine dictator Gen. Juan Domingo Perón and his wife Eva Perón, something writer-director Richard Brooks conceded in a 1965 interview.

Although great pains were used to disguise the name of the country in the film, Dr. Ferguson mentions that President Farrago should go to a neurological hospital (which he mentions is just across the border) in Chile--which narrows the country down to either Argentina, Bolivia or Peru. Other hints include: Peso/Dollar law, the blankets worn on the train, license plates on vehicles.

Directorial debut of Richard Brooks.  Brooks was at the Santa Anita race track where he met Cary Grant and struck up a conversation about this film; Brooks wrote the story but also wanted to direct; however, none of the studios would let him. Grant asked for a copy of the script and loved it... so much so that he went to MGM and said he would love to do the movie but only if Brooks was the director.

The original story was about the doctor's daughter getting kidnapped and there was no wife. However, once MGM had Cary Grant cast it insisted on a re-write so that Grant would have a love interest.

Quotes:

[Farrago is about to be operated by Eugene]

Raoul Farrago: Doctor, do many people die in an operation like this?

Dr. Eugene Norland Ferguson: Under the best conditions, about 12 percent. These are not the best conditions.

Raoul Farrago: You don't like me, do you?

Dr. Eugene Norland Ferguson: I try to regard my patients impersonally.

Raoul Farrago: Can you?

Dr. Eugene Norland Ferguson: No.

Raoul Farrago: Well, doctor, did the operation go well?

Dr. Eugene Norland Ferguson: Fine. You just died.

Raoul Farrago: At least permit me to thank you. You have done a great service not only to me but to the people of my country.

Dr. Eugene Norland Ferguson: I only saved your life I didn't vote for you.

Raoul Farrago: Neither did they.

Posters:

Directed by Richard Brooks.

Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Running time: 95 minutes

Artwork by Rebekah Hawley at Studio36.