When you think of Cary Grant you probably think of huge classical movie hearthrob Cary Grant, who starred in many romantic classic films. Cary Grant certainly stole many women’s hearts in some of his movies, where his charm was in need of no explanation. However, do you know all of his best movies? Have you seen some of the mysterious Cary Grant films, or any of the hilariously funny classical flics? Here are my choices for ten great Cary Grant films.
1. Charade (1963). Charade was one of Cary Grant’s later films, but my personal favorite. I think it has something to do with Audrey Hepburn being paired up as his romantic interest in the movie. I also find Cary Grant much more attractive during this time era than in some of his earlier films. He looks better with a little age. In this classic Cary Grant film, Cary plays Peter Joshua, who befriends Regina Lampert (Audrey Hepburn’s character). Her husband has been murdered, and she has to find out what happened. Can she trust Peter, or is he part of the whole scheme to get her late husband’s money? A mystery and romance movie all tied up on one.
2. Father Goose (1964). We keep the romance in this Cary Grant classic, but lose the mystery for some comedy instead. Imagine being a beachcomber and then all of a sudden getting forced into watching the coast for the Navy. Cary Grant’s character, Eckland, is transported to a deserted island, Matalava, to let them know if any Japanese planes fly by. During his ‘adventure,’ somehow a young woman and seven school children end up stranded on the island. When he finds them, chaos ensues as he and the woman try to safely leave the island and get the children home. Catherine Freneau plays the young woman, Caron. The two don’t hit it off at first, and argue about everything, but the disagreeability soon becomes attractability, and then everything changes…
3. Bringing Up Baby (1938). This Cary Grant film is much earlier than the first two by twenty five years. The younger Grant teams up with Katherine Hepburn. My favorite part of this movie is the live leopard who becomes part of the action. I really took to this movie because Katherine Hepburn’s character reminds me of myself. I end up getting in all kinds of messy, inadvertent situations that not only are hard to explain, but also not so easy figuring out. Kate’s character is a mess, and she drags Cary’s character along for the ride. He acts as if he is so frustrated he doesn’t even want to be around her, but somehow ends up falling for her. Funny thing, love!
4. Operation Petticoat (1959). Another great classic Cary Grant movie, Operation Petticoat is the story of a submarine, the USS Sea Tiger, from World War II. In this classic comedy, the cast works toward repairing the boat and getting it seaworthy again!
5. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944). Cary Grant’s character, Mortimer Brewster, has just gotten married. However, before he can officially take on his marital duties, he has to solve the mystery of why his two Aunts are murdering people and burying them in the basement. It doesn’t help that his Uncle thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt during the war, and keeps acting out his part. Add to this Mortimer’s brother, who has also just killed someone and needs to get rid of the body, showing up at the Aunt’s home, and you’ve got one screwed up situation! Of course, the new bride becomes frustrated when she can never even see her husband because he’s too busy solving murders! One of my favorite characters in the movie is Aunt Abby, played by Josephine Hull. I first saw Josephine in Briar Rabbit, starring James Stewart.
6. People Will Talk (1951). Not your average Cary Grant classic film, here Grant plays Dr. Noah Praetorius. He ends up marrying one of his patients, Deborah, played by Jeanne Crain. Dr. Praetorius is not your ordinary physician- he has unusual methods of treatment. So, of course, misconduct is alleged by a colleague. Meanwhile, Grant has to deal with a patient of his becoming pregnant to a husband that doesn’t even exist. Comedy ensues, as everything unfolds. Oh, and don’t forget the close friend Mr. Shunderson, who it turns out actually survived being hanged in prison and winds up on Praetorius’ examining table being thought to be a corpse.
7. North by Northwest (1959). Cary Grant stars in this Alfred Hitchcock directed thriller. Grant’s character, Roger Thornhill, is mistaken for a George Kaplan, who apparently is trying to foil the plans of some bad organization trying to get some microfilm with government secrets out of the country. The film costars Eva Marie Saint as Grant’s romantic interest, Eve Kendall.
8. An Affair to Remember (1957). Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr star in this classic flick where two already involved people fall for each other. Will they meet again, under better circumstances, or will fate get in the way?
9. She Done Him Wrong (1933). Mae West stars alongside Cary Grant in this very early one of his movies. This classic is one I enjoy. I like the infamous line “Why don’t you come sometime and see me?” Mae West just has a way of appearing seductive at all times. Maybe it’s some of her outfits or her low voice, but whatever it is, it certainly works for her capturing the males in her movies.
10. To Catch A Thief (1955). Alfred Hitchcock directs another Cary Grant classic romantic thriller. If you want to see Grace Kelly in action, here’s your chance. John Robie, played by Grant, is a famous jewel thief who has gone into retirement. Well, so he thought. But then, he is accused of some new robberies. He has to find the actual culprits, to get the police off his own back. During the adventures, he meets Francie (played by Grace Kelly), who happens to own some of the town’s most expensive jewels and is about to become the next victim of the jewel thieves. Well, you can guess who Francie blames. Now Robie really has to find out the true jewel thieves.
What are your favorite Cary Grant classic films?
