On This Day...Houseboat (1958).

 Houseboat was Cary Grant's 65th full length feature film and was released on today's date back in 1958.

It was also Cary Grant's second film with Sophia Loren; the first being The Pride and The Passion (1957).

Synopsis:

Upon the sudden death of his estranged and nearly divorced wife, absentee father Tom Winston (Cary Grant) claims ownership of his three children, seemingly more out of spite against his in-laws than out of consideration for his kids. When youngest son Robert (Charles Herbert) runs off in reaction, he's returned by spoiled brat socialite Cinzia Zaccardi (Sophia Loren), itching to escape her orchestral conductor father's dictates. 

Being much a willful child herself, she harmonizes immediately with the kids and, needing a hideout, agrees to be hired on as their nanny. Finding their new house destroyed by a lustful, careless and irresponsible Italian handyman, the five decide to live on the man's neglected and dilapidated houseboat rather than rightfully sue him and take rooms at a hotel. 

With Sophia Loren.

As Cinzia bridges the gap between Tom and his kids, (while starting to learn how to cook and clean), Tom's newly divorced sister-in-law Carolyn (Martha Hyer) makes a play for him. He accepts her proposal but then, as Cinzia draws men in like a dog in heat, realizes he's more interested in Cinzia. When Tom and Cynzia decide to marry, the kids hate her for it.

With Martha Hyer.

"Grant's performance is just about flawless." - Jack Moffitt, Hollywood Reporter.

"Grant is always perfectly at home in these roles in which, with an exasperated look, head tilt or dryly stated irony, he can put his point across." - Dick Williams, Mirror News (Los Angeles)

"Houseboat is the zaniest comedy, and at the same time, it is real romance. It also has in it, beautifully enunciated by Cary Grant, an essay on life and death. Mr. Grant as you know, is just about the screen's smoothest, most worldly comedian." - Ruth Waterbury, Los Angeles Examiner.

Did You Know?

Original screenplay was written by Betsy Drake, Cary Grant's wife. Grant originally wanted it to star her but his extra-marital affair with Sophia Loren complicated the project. The script was drastically re-written by two other writers to accommodate Loren and bears little resemblance to Drake's concept.

Cary Grant initially accepted his role because he was dating Sophia Loren, with whom he was madly in love. After she married Carlo Ponti, a heartbroken Grant wanted to back out. He couldn't, but the director made sure the production was a smooth one.

Cary Grant was 54 when he made this film. His romantic lead, Sophia Loren, was 24.

In the French-dubbed version of the film, a mischievous translator replaced Sophia Loren's character name, "Cinzia", with "Gina". At the time Loren and Gina Lollobrigida were rivals for the "crown" of Italian sex symbols in film.

With the children and Harry Guardino and Sophia Loren.

With Sophia Loren.

Cast:

 Cary Grant ... Tom Winters
 Sophia Loren ... Cinzia Zaccardi
 Martha Hyer ... Carolyn Gibson
 Harry Guardino ... Angelo Donatello
 Eduardo Ciannelli ... Arturo Zaccardi
 Murray Hamilton ... Capt. Alan Wilson
 Mimi Gibson ... Elizabeth Winters
 Paul Petersen ... David Winters
 Charles Herbert ... Robert Winters
 Madge Kennedy ... Mrs. Farnsworth
 John Litel ... Mr. William Farnsworth
 Werner Klemperer ... Harold Messner

With Harry Guardino and Sophia Loren.

Lobby Cards:

Italian lobby card and poster - "A Husband for Cinzia."

Directed by Melville Shavelson.

Distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Running time: 112 minutes.

On This Day...Suspicion (1941)

Cary Grant's 40th full length feature film, Suspicion, was released today in 1941.

Synopsis:

After a chance meeting on a train, Johnnie Aysgarth (Cary Grant) and Lina McLaidlaw(Joan Fontaine) have a whirlwind romance and are married. Johnnie was well known in society circles while Lina is a shy sort. They return from a lengthy European honeymoon to a beautiful house Johnnie's arranged for them. She's a bit shocked to learn, however, that her new husband has no means of support, and seems to live off money he borrows from friends. 

She soon learns he has a darker side, however, and loves to gamble. Johnnie loves mystery novels, and Lina begins to suspect he would go to any lengths to keep his lifestyle secure. She's certain that a business deal he's dreamed up with his longtime friend Beaky (Nigel Bruce) is a scam on his part. When the police inform her that Beaky died in Paris, she's certain her husband is behind it all. Her main concern, however, is whether she will be the next victim.

"Miss Fontaine is beauteous, and Cary Grant finds a new field for himself - the field of crime, the smiling villain, without heart or conscience." - John Mosher, The New Yorker.

"The film is well cast all down the line. Cary Grant in particular is just right for that part..." - Otis Ferguson, The New Republic.

Did You Know?

Joan Fontaine liked the character of Lina in this movie so much, that she sent Alfred Hitchcock a note after she read the novel, "Before the Fact", by Francis Iles, offering to play the part for free, if necessary.

Cary Grant did not warm up to Joan Fontaine, finding her to be temperamental and unprofessional.

Cary Grant was paid $112,500 for his work in this film, while Joan Fontaine earned $69,750. At that time, Hitchcock was still being paid a weekly salary as director, and he was not happy about the amount his two stars were paid.

Cary Grant's first role in a Alfred Hitchcock movie. He also starred in three more: Notorious (1946), To Catch a Thief (1955), and North by Northwest (1959).

With Joan Fontaine and Nigel Bruce.

Cast:

 Cary Grant ... Johnnie Aysgarth
 Joan Fontaine ... Lina McLaidlaw
 Sir Cedric Hardwicke ... General McLaidlaw 
 Nigel Bruce ... Gordon Cochran Thwaite aka Beaky
 Dame May Whitty ... Mrs. McLaidlaw 
 Isabel Jeans ... Mrs. Newsham
 Heather Angel ... Ethel
 Auriol Lee ... Isobel Sedbusk
 Reginald Sheffield ... Reggie Wetherby
 Leo G. Carroll ... Captain Melbeck

With Joan Fontaine.

Lobby Cards:

International Posters:

Spanish.

French.

English.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Produced by RKO Radio.

Running time: 99 minutes.

With Joan Fontaine and Alfred Hitchcock on set.

On This Day...The Bishop's Wife(1947)

On this day, in 1947, The Bishop's Wife was released, and was Cary Grant's 51st full length feature film.

Synopsis:

An Episcopal Bishop, Henry Brougham (David Niven), has been working for months on the plans for an elaborate new cathedral which he hopes will be paid for primarily by a wealthy, stubborn widow. He is losing sight of his family and of why he became a churchman in the first place.

 Enter Dudley (Cary Grant), an angel sent to help him. Dudley does help everyone he meets, but not necessarily in the way they would have preferred. With the exception of Henry, everyone loves him, but Henry begins to believe that Dudley is there to replace him, both at work and in his family's affections, as Christmas approaches.

Official Trailer Non-Trailer!!!!

With David Niven.

"But it is Cary Grant's playing that rescues the role of the angel named Dudley from the ultimate peril of coyness.  With nothing more than a beaming countenance and an air of relaxation that is certainly not of this world, he achieves a celestial manner without so much as a hint of wings on his dark blue suit.  An expert cast is on hand to show by reflection what Cary Grant has refrained from making irksomely explicit.  David Niven's prelate is a wistful and absent-minded character who is scarcely a match for Dudley.  As the Bishop's wife, Loretta Young is sufficiently lovely to make even an angel fall; and in lesser roles Monty Woolley, James Gleason and Elsa Lanchester react to Dudley's miraculous passage with characteristic gaiety." - Hermine Rich Isaacs, Theatre Arts Magazine.

With Monty Woolley.

"After a talky start, Director Henry Koster weaves a picture that is at times quite lovely; and in the skating scene it gets as close to poetry as movies ever do.  The argument bogs down occasionally and can hardly be considered orthodox.  But as a sophisticated Christmas carol, The Bishop's Wife comes through nicely and should please adults who like their movies off the beaten track." - Philip T Hartung, Commonweal.

With David Niven and Loretta Young.

Did You Know?

Over Cary Grant's protests, a skating double wearing a mask with Grant's features was used in the long shots of the complex skating routine. A skating double was also used for Loretta Young on all long shots.

In Britain the film was selected for that year's Royal Command Film Performance screening. Princess Margaret and her sister, Queen Elizabeth, both attended the screening of 'The Bishop's Wife' on November 25 at the Odeon Theatre in Leicester Square. According to David Niven, "The audience loved every second of it, and the Queen and Princess Margaret told me afterwards and at great length how much they had enjoyed it." Although most of the critics at the time sneered when it was released in time for Christmas 1947, the public audiences loved it as well.

One scene shows Cary Grant and Loretta Young in a conversation. Director Henry Koster staged this with the two facing each other, but both complained that this showed the "wrong" side of their faces. In order to show the "right" side, they both had to be looking screen left, which made a face-to-face talk impossible to film. Koster had a window set piece brought in, and he filmed it from outside, with both looking out in the same direction, Grant behind Young. The next day, producer Samuel Goldwyn visited the set after seeing dailies and berated Koster for shooting the scene in that manner. Koster replied by asking Young and Grant to explain why the scene was shot that way. After both told Goldwyn about the "right" and "wrong" sides of their faces, Goldwyn said "Look, if I'm only getting half a face, you're only getting half a salary!" and stormed off the set. The subject of "right" and "wrong" sides never came up again.

With Loretta Young.

Cast:

 Cary Grant ... Dudley
 Loretta Young ... Julia Brougham
 David Niven ... Henry Brougham
 Monty Woolley ... Professor Wutheridge
 James Gleason ... Sylvester
 Gladys Cooper ... Mrs. Hamilton
 Elsa Lanchester ... Matilda
 Sara Haden ... Mildred Cassaway
 Karolyn Grimes ... Debby Brougham
 Tito Vuolo ... Maggenti
 Regis Toomey ... Mr. Miller
 Sarah Edwards ... Mrs. Duffy
 Margaret McWade ... Miss Trumbull
 Anne O'Neal ... Mrs. Ward (as Ann O'Neal)
 Ben Erway ... Mr. Perry

Lobby Cards:

International Artwork:

"Hate Whoever Thinks Badly About It" - Translation.

Directed by Henry Koster.

Produced by Samuel Goldwyn Productions.

Running time: 105 minutes.

With Loretta Young and David Niven.