Classic Film : Cary Grant

Cary Grant

What are your favorite Cary Grant movies and why?

North By Northwest
Grant at his classic best as a man forced to be heroic when he really doesn't want to be.

Charade
What a totally entertaining suspense thriller.

Re: Cary Grant

I'm quite the fan of Charade, too.

Also, I love both Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House and Walk Don't Run.

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Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen =

Re: Cary Grant

Yeah, Blandings is great.

To Catch a Thief
Great vehicle for him and Hitchcock.

The Bishop's Wife
Nice story which he's perfect in.

Arsenic and Old Lace
No other movie like it.

Re: Cary Grant

I didn't care for To Catch a Thief, but I loved both Suspicion and Notorious. Both deserve a rewatch.

I'm surprised that I didn't like Arsenic and Old Lace. It sure sounds like my kind of movie, but somehow it didn't appeal to me. I haven't seen The Bishop's Wife.

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Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen =

Re: Cary Grant

Everyone's tastes are different. I don't necessarily like all movies by a favorite director. I seem to in the case of Hitchcock, though.

Re: Cary Grant; Hitchcock

I like quite a few Hitchcock films. Rope is probably my favourite, followed by Blackmail and Dial M For Murder. Films like Suspicion, Notorious, The Paradine Case, Shadow of a Doubt, and several others would be high on my list.

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Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen =

Re: Cary Grant; Hitchcock

You're an unusual fan. Rope is not many fan's favorite. I feel akin to any Hitch fan.

Re: Cary Grant; Hitchcock

...and I doubt that too many Hitchcock fans really enjoy The Paradine Case. I've always liked this film. Here I should also say that I think that Psycho is overdone and overrated. When it comes to suspense, less is more, which is maybe why Rope and Dial M For Murder work for me.

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Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen =

Re: Cary Grant; Hitchcock

I've grown to love Psycho. The Paradine Case is different from most Hitchcock's, as are Topaz and Torn Curtain. I adore Dial M for Murder, always has been one of my favorites. Ray Milland is wonderful in it.

Re: Cary Grant; Hitchcock

I haven't seen Topaz and Torn Curtain.

Ray Milland was absolutely fantastic in Dial M For Murder. He seemed to play the entire part with his eyes. Excellent acting!

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Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen =

Re: Cary Grant; Hitchcock

Milland was a genius. Have you seen The Lost Weekend? If not, please do. He won the Oscar for it.

Re: Cary Grant; Hitchcock

I've seen parts of that movie. It seemed so...depressing. Maybe someday I'll see the entire movie. It did look extremely well acted.

~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen =

Re: Cary Grant; Hitchcock

I understand, I can't watch certain movies which I feel are depressing. The Lost Weekend I can tolerate because it's so well made. The depressing aspect isn't that depressing to me, the movie's so artistically done.

Re: Cary Grant; Hitchcock

Rope is probably my fav too (with Dial M for Murder and Strangers on a Train up there).

Although I still love them, Rear Window and Psycho rate lower on my Hitchcock favs than most people.

I love that while we all appreciate Hitchcock we appreciate films differently. He was one of the greats

Re: Cary Grant

I think Arsonic and Old Lace has a problem with pacing. Each of the characters is pretty frantic anyway and when the pace picks up it's just too loud and crazy.



It was a toss-up whether I go in for diamonds or sing in the choir. The choir lost.

Re: Cary Grant; Arsenic and Old Lace

Good point about Arsenic and Old Lace. I would probably have liked it better if it had been done in a more subtle style like Kind Hearts and Coronets.

Besides, wouldn't all those bodies (Arsenic and Old Lace) start to decompose/smell after a certain point? And wouldn't anyone be missing those dead folks? (I can't remember if this issue was addressed in the film.) Normally I'm all in favour of far-fetched thrillers, but somehow this one and its plot holes got on my nerves.

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Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen =

Re: Cary Grant; Arsenic and Old Lace

Thankfully tge smell issue never occurred to me;~} but since Teddy buried them in Panama as soon as possible hopefully that did the trick.

The issue of people looking for them Was dealt with. The aunts were careful to inquire about relations and friends and to assure that the gentlemen were all alone in the world.

It was a toss-up whether I go in for diamonds or sing in the choir. The choir lost.

Re: Cary Grant; Arsenic and Old Lace

Thanks for the reminder. I saw this movie about maybe 10 or 11 years ago and it was a bit too...high strung for me. Maybe a rewatch is in order. I don't know.

~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen =

Re: Cary Grant

Marsha

I've always felt that Cary Grant was really over-doing it in this one . He just seems to over-react to everything. But now that you've pointed it out, I realize that everyone was frantic. They all need to just s- llll- ooooo- w it down a tad and especially for Cary to not get all bug eyed and panic quite as much.



As an aside : I watched Boris Karloff on "This Is You Life" and would have loved to have seen him playing the Massey (playing Karloff) role in the movie.

Re: Cary Grant

When you are conducting , say , a choral piece, there is generally one passage that sets the tempo and one passage that sets the dynamic, how loud it can get and where. In Maria it's the first time Tony sings Maria. That passage has to be the right tempo. The introduction can be a bit slower, and the last Maria can slow down, but how much is controlled by the tempo of the first Maria. In the song Oklahoma the O always gets louder , then breaks before the rest of the word is sung . But you kniw that the last two lines should be the loudest You're doing fine Oklahoma Oklahoma Okay. So you need tg either Oklahomas to be a little less loud so that the end of the song has somewhere to go.

In pacing Arsenic and Old lace, you gave Teddy, who is loud and crazy all the time , and he's in screen quite a bit. The aunts, Priscilla Lane and Cary Grant needed to cue their frantic behavior so that it was under Teddy's. Instead Grant, Lane, Edward Everett Horton , and the cab driver were on full tilt all the time.


The Aunts really should have been as calm as Massey and Lirre, and for the same reason, they didn't think there was anything crazy about their choices. I suspect that on stage the aunts would not have seemed frantic, but the timbre of their voices made them just part of the mouse


With all this I really love this film and find it very funny. Josephine hull doing her little run, and that beautiful room, and the aunts wondering if they should take care of Elaine's father hiw that Elaine was going away.

It was a toss-up whether I go in for diamonds or sing in the choir. The choir lost.

Re: Cary Grant

1. Arsenic And Old Lace: I like his pop-eyed expressions in reaction to his macabre dotty aunts.

2. Suspicion: His impertinence at calling Joan Fontaine 'Monkey Face.'

3. North West By Northwest: His insistence on being believed against the odds.

Re: Cary Grant

That's North by Northwest btw.



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Re: Cary Grant

You know, this is the third Cary Grant thread on this board in the past six weeks. (One of them is on this very page as I write.)

No offense, but I think we've kind of exhausted this topic.

Re: Cary Grant

Look, if there's a way to search thread titles that I knew of I would've done that before starting the thread. Any suggestions since you obviously mean to be so helpful how a person knows what I was supposed to know?

Meanwhile, *beep* off.

Re: Cary Grant

Look, I made an observation. It wasn't a criticism. Your telling me to *beep* off wasn't necessary and your rude and classless reply isn't very Cary-Grant-like.

As for other threads, one of them was right on the same page when you first posted (called "Favourite Cary Grant films", so it's hardly obscure). Obviously you didn't notice it, or maybe you just don't come to this board often enough to see what's being discussed. There are ways to see if the same topic has been listed recently -- you can scroll though a few pages to look if nothing else. I don't expect you or anyone necessarily to do that. But I'm perfectly within my rights to point out that yours is the third thread on Cary in the past month or so.

Like I said, an observation, nothing more. I didn't attack you for it or call you names. There was no need to respond the way you did.

Re: Cary Grant threads

Don't worry about it.

It's easy to miss threads on busy boards. Nothing wrong with having two threads about Cary Grant, anyway. I also see that someone started one about the film North by Northwest (also starring Cary Grant). If folks are interested in discussing him these days, so be it. Better than nonstop threads about politics or call-out threads. At least a thread about Cary Grant is on-topic here.

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Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen =

Re: Cary Grant threads

Thanx. I appreciate it. I'm still getting used to the format here.

Re: Cary Grant threads and replies

No worries! Hey, you seem to be getting your share of replies here....

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Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen =

Re: Cary Grant threads and replies


No worries! Hey, you seem to be getting your share of replies here....


I'm having fun! 😃

Re: Cary Grant threads and replies

Welcome to this board! Hey, feel free to start threads on any classic film-related topics you like!



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Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen =

Re: Cary Grant threads and replies

Thanx! I appreciate the welcome!

Backatcha.

Re: Cary Grant



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Re: Cary Grant

Notorious.
To Catch A Thief
Charade


Life can be arbitrary and comes without a warranty.

Re: Cary Grant

Father Goose. Grant hilarious as a loner for ed to cope with the unwelcome presence of Leslie Carron and a bevy of schoolgirls - very funny.

To catch a Thief. Grant very dashing in a very glamorous location.

Charade. Great story, funny and exciting, Grant and audrey Hepburn go well together.

Re: Cary Grant

I saw Houseboat last night and found it a little strange.

Re: Cary Grant

Other than ones already mentioned, The Bachelor And The Bobby-Soxer.

What might have been, if Hitchcock had been allowed to use his ending to Suspicion.

But throughout it all, my motto was "Dignity! Always dignity!".

Re: Cary Grant

he is overrated in my view doing mainly only comedic roles in his career. Never understood his popularity especially coz he played the same archtetypes not as versatile as say someone like Holden, Lancaster, Robinson who all had their own types but pushed the bar so often and they were all during the sametime in the 40's and 50's so you cant say product of his times.

I must say I loved him in both his oscar nominated work none but lonely heart and especially Penny Seranade. I think his Hitchcock work is decent but pales in front of Stewart-Hitch films (irrespective of what Hitch felt about the two). He should have done more serious roles while still doing comedy. He was just too commercial in his choices. Sorry dont intend to ruffle feathers. Its my view and hope people will still be nice.

Re: Cary Grant



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Re: Cary Grant

He made a fair number of films I'm lukewarm about, and a few I really don't like.

His early stuff mostly just has curiosity value for me although it's fun to see the Cary Grant persona evolving.

From Awful truth and Topper on, he was Whang in the gold.

Walk Don't Run (1966)* ugh. ( sorry Mrs E ;~})
Father Goose (1964) *** I think I would have liked this better with John Wayne

Charade (1963) ***** it's taken me a long time but I love it now.

That Touch of Mink (1962) *** sweet

The Grass IsAlways Greener **** I love this one . I wish he had made more films with Deborah Kerr

Operation Petticoat *** another one I wanted to like and didn't

North by Northwest (1959) like a lot of Hitchcocks 50's work it's a little distant but such brilliant set pieces it's irresistable. I like Eva Marie Saint as the new woman

Houseboat (1958) his fascination with Sophia Loren really messed with him and this film just doesn't work

Indiscreet (1958)*** I want to like this sophisticated comedy but there is something cold at the center of this.

Kiss Them for Me (1957) ** not so much

The Pride and the Passion (1957)* just a mess

An Affair to Remember (1957)**** my favorite Grant Rom com again no wasted film. I like the corny musical numbers sue me.

To Catch a Thief (1955)**** a little labored but these are the two most beautiful people on the planet, beautifully filmed in a clever script with some good French touches.

Dream Wife (1953) ***

Monkey Business (1952)*** screwball comedy that remains good fun

Room for One More (1952) *** he's really fun with those kids.

People Will Talk (1951)***** my favorite Grant comedy

Crisis (1950) uh uh

I Was a Male War Bride (1949) *** liked this as a child. One of the rare films I liked as a child that I don't like now.

Every Girl Should Be Married (1948) *** enjoy him with Betsy but I like Room for one more better

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)*** funny but I don't enjoy Grant at the mercy of A bossy dame ,even Myrna Loy ( edited)

The Bishop's Wife (1947) **** So quirky but Niven, Young, Grant, Wooley and Gladys Cooper all fighting their corner . Strangely well balanced

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947)** just meh

Notorious (1946)****** my favorite Hitchcock and one of my favorite Cary Grants . Not a wasted frome or a misstep anywhere.

Night and Day (1946)** sadly I've never warmed up to this

Without Reservations (1946)** or this

None But the Lonely Heart (1944) ** or this

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)*** everyone too frantic and Grant worst of all

The Road to Victory (1944)NA
Once Upon a Time (1944) NA
Destination Tokyo (1943) NA

Mr. Lucky nice and Larraine Day is sweet and fluffy, letting Grant Shine.

Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942)*** for some reason the film was thrown to Ginger Rogers and she had lots of showy scenes with Grant giving her great support. But he was very good and Walter Slezack was terrific.

The Talk of the Town (1942)*** doesn't get much notice but Grant us very good in an odd ( for him ) part

Suspicion (1941)*** flawed by the forced ending but Grant was terrific, keeping us guessing about Johnny's motives without any forced hanky panky, very hard to do.

Penny Serenade (1941)**** wonderful blend of comedy and heartfelt drama. Great dramatic performance.

The Philadelphia Story (1940)***** great cast in terrific script . By me Grant holds it together

The Howards of Virginia (1940)** huh?

My Favorite Wife (1940) **** anther great comedy with Dunne

His Girl Friday (1940) **** brilliant reworking of The Front Page, great teaming with Roz Russell

In Name Only (1939)*** nice dramatic role , pretty average story but he is moving

Only Angels Have Wings*** nice

Gunga Din (1939)*** Grant seemed to be having a ball

Holiday (1938)***** delightful script , top cast! Grant right at home.

Bringing Up Baby *** for me the same problem as Arsenic and Old Lace , too frantic

The Awful Truth (1937)***** ending kind of falls apart but full if brilliant physical comedy and a clever script? Grant and Dunne are a hit.

The Toast of New York ** meh

Topper **** funny script and very smart




It was a toss-up whether I go in for diamonds or sing in the choir. The choir lost.

Re: Cary Grant

A suggestion intended to be helpful: it might be time for a rewatch of one or both of these two:

I Was a Male War Bride (1949) *** liked this as a child. One of the rare films I liked as a child that I don't like now.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)*** funny but I don't enjoy Grant at the mercy of Ann Sheridan
War Bride's the one in which he's at Sheridan's mercy (boy, is he ever); Blandings is with a rather reserved Myrna Loy (and a very droll Melvyn Douglas).


Poe! You are...avenged!

Re: Cary Grant

You are right. Maybe I should watch mr Blandings again.

I like Ann Sheridan so much in her Cagney films. Her tough neighborhood girl is so great. Then she is great fun in Man who came to dinner but when she starts being haughty and bossy full time .....ugh.


It was a toss-up whether I go in for diamonds or sing in the choir. The choir lost.

Re: Cary Grant

Although it's got some funny stuff, I don't enjoy War Bride as much as I might, and for the same reason that interferes with my enjoyment of The Awful Truth and, to a lesser extent, His Girl Friday.

Grant's character in each of those last two behaves like such a swine, but I get no more enjoyment from the shoe being on the other foot, with Sheridan taking such glee in his tribulations and discomfort.

It's that way in a number of those battle-of-the-sexes screwballs, but only a minor gripe which keeps me from embracing them fully. Friday, at least, compensates with so much else going on, and with Rosalind Russell mostly giving as good as she gets.


Poe! You are...avenged!

Re: Cary Grant

probably:
North By Northwest
Arsenic and Old Lace
His Girl Friday
The Bishop's Wife
To Cath a Thief

I like Charade, but far more because of Hepburn's than Grant's contribution; and some of the slapstick stuff in it, like the coffin scene and Coburn's scene just don't work for me.

I love that giants like Grant made so many films. He's one of my all-time favorite actors, yet I am still seeing some of his work for the first time. Just watched Crisis (1950) a week or two ago for the first time. Not one of Grant's or Jose Ferrer's major performances, but a compelling story and watching it made for an enjoyable experience overall.

Re: Cary Grant

I noticed Crisis which I'd not heard of before looking into the Grant movies here at IMDb. Yes, I didn't get into him till recent years. I started becoming interesting in "classic" movies when Universal re-released the five Hitchcocks to theaters back in I think it was the 80s: Vertigo, Rear Window, The Trouble With Harry, Rope, and The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) and remembered that I'd seen Vertigo and Rear Window as a child with my parents. This memory was endearing, but also there's no doubt that Hitchcock's excellence had had a positive impact on me even as a child.

So, I decided to follow Hitchcock and discovered Cary Grant and the rest is history. I like Grant as much as any actor and more than 99% of them.

Re: Cary Grant

No one ever seems ro mention the 1942 film, "The Talk of the Town." It is a marvelous film with Jean Arthur and Ronald Colman. It is a comedy with some very serious messages in it.

All the world is a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.

Re: Cary Grant

There are a number of Grant's I haven't seen, mostly older ones.

Re: Cary Grant

I have several films of Grants I conider favorites, but I really almost wish he had been born a few years later so that he would have been a few years younger when he made classics like North By Northwest.

Recently, I realized Grant did an early film with Mae West -I'm No Angel - where he is able to stand up quite capably with her in her best movie. Not a lot of actors could have done that, and it shows how great an actor he was.

A Smile is priceless and Can Be Addicting

Re: Cary Grant

I've personally never had a problem with Grant's age in any movie, he always looked so suave and perfect. He was always perfectly charming.

Re: Cary Grant

Charade
Bringing Up Baby
North By Northwest
Arsenic and Old Lace

Re: Cary Grant

Bump

suck it.
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