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Cary himself was very circumspect
about who and what he talked about in his life. His personal
life was just that ... personal.
This is perhaps the most difficult
page for me to include on my site. Several of the biographies written about Cary seem to relish the idea
of finding derogatory bits of his life, whether real or supposed,
and sensationalizing on them.
Cary did write his autobiography,
not in book form, but as a three-part installment in a
magazine. There seems to be very little that he's kept from
us, from his mother's 'death' to his use of LSD. From his
mischievous youth to his failed marriages, he is honest,
forthright. Since his own words are available, and since he
was such a private person, I prefer to honor him by skipping most
biographers and relying on Cary's own words to tell his life
story. -- Debbie Dunlap
Archie
Leach
by Cary Grant
Unless
otherwise noted, the following reviews are courtesy of
Zoë Shaw, beloved founder of the Cary Grant Mailing
list and original owner of "The Ultimate Cary Grant"
pages.
To
purchase these books, click on the book photo.
If you are
unable to click on the photo, then that book is out-of-print.
If the
book is out-of-print, here are some excellent sources for finding
books: (Bookfinder & Alibris are my favorites.)
Bookfinder
Alibris
ABE
Books
Bibliofind
Biblion
Half.com
Ebay
|
Cary
Grant: A Celebration of Style
|
 Richard
Torregrossa; forward by Giorgio Armani
New York: Bulfinch Press, 2006
ISBN: 0-8212-5760-9
Cary Grant fans have been waiting a long
time for such a worthwhile treatment of the man and his
work. Not his film work, but a piece of him that isn't just
gossip and hearsay. A Celebration of Style is born from bona
fide research and reporting on what set Cary Grant apart
from his peers. The book is interesting and easily read as
well. Congratulations and thanks to you, Mr. Torregrossa.
While Mr. Grant's style was only one
part of his personality and work, it was indeed the part
that provided the basis for all the rest. My father always
said that he'd take luck over skill any day. To quote his
favorite coach, "Luck is what happens when preparation
meets opportunity." That's what this book is about. The
painstaking, thorough, and never-ending preparation of one
Archie Leach. Preparation as an actor and as a gentleman.
While I understand one reviewer's
temptation to knock the rating down one notch for want of
more pictures and a lower price tag, I have to admit, I
haven't recently been more pleased with a book. The pictures
selected are appropriate for what the author is discussing
and are not only plentiful, but some are rare. The price to
publish these must be rather high.
Another reviewer is also correct in
pointing out that a picture that appears to be labeled as
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. is not either of the Fairbanks men.
The gentleman in the picture is actor Dan Tobin portraying
Grant's attorney in The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer.
Regrettable error, but not remotely offensive.
Overall Cary Grant: A Celebration of
Style is a delightfully professional work which tells us
about one extraordinary man's art and gives us ordinary folk
some practical tips and guidelines for improving our own
wardrobes without being preachy or condescending. -- Nancy
Bruce (cg.net's Trivia Queen)
|
Article by Richard Torregrossa
|
|
Hey, Deb
Thought I'd give you an
update on my CG doings. Contributed two CG blogs to
OntheFly.com's
"Modern Gentleman's Blog" about CG.
Eager to hear your opinion
and those of any others who would like to post on your site
or on "The Modern Gentleman's Blog."
http://www.onthefly.com/blog/gentleman/?page=1
Wednesday Apr 16, 2008
 Was
Cary Grant a "Modern Gentleman?" Part I
More than a year after my biography, “Cary Grant: A
Celebration of Style,” was published, and after writing
more than a few articles about him during that time, I
return again to the topic.
But I do so not because of
any obsession with the iconic movie star or lack of interest
in a new subject or even to shamelessly plug my book. I do
so because Cary Grant is of enduring interest to you, the
movie fan, the sartorialist, the connoisseur, the keen-eyed
shopper.
Rarely does a day go by that
I do not receive a question about him sent to my web site
email address. The appetite for information about him seems
insatiable, a testament to his timeless appeal and his
mystifying achievement as a man of style.
The questions are far
ranging, running the gamut from the arcane, such as, ““How
much starch did he like in his shirts” (very little), the
merely curious, “Which brand of watch did he wear?” (Cartier)
to those typical of film fans, such as, “Who was his
favorite actress?” (Grace Kelly).
But the question that
interests me now is one posed by On the Fly founder &
fellow blogger, Ami Arad: “Was Cary Grant a modern
gentleman?” For the answer, tune in next week...
Posted at 10:10AM Apr 16,
2008 by Richard Torregrossa in General | Comments[0]
Tuesday Apr 22, 2008
Cary Grant - Modern
Gentleman, Part II
 Last
week, we explored a question at the intersection of On The
Fly's point-of-view and my book: Was Cary Grant a
"modern gentleman"? It’s an intriguing question
because Ami would consider Mr. Grant an icon of "Old
School" style -- an actor who not only made movies
during Hollywood’s golden era but who epitomized it. And
that was a very long time ago.
But the arc of his life, from
Archibald Leach, a poor and awkward kid from the English
provinces, to the suave movie star at the top of Hollywood’s
A-list, is essentially a story about a very modern obsession—
the makeover.
By dint of a shrewd
understanding of the transformative power of style—and by
style I include not only how he wore his suits and ties, but
how he walked and talked, where he spent his days off, and
the quality of his mind and character—he became the man he
wanted to be, a change so profound it is, I believe, largely
the reason for the continuing interest in him as not only a
movie star but as an historical figure.
His journey is one from which
we all can learn—not as a dry academic exercise but as a
kind of entertaining guide that reflects our own interests
and goals. One of which is the quest for the best and most
tantalizingly unique products at the best value.
In Grant’s day finding the
best but not necessarily the most expensive objects was
truly a quest, an abiding passion that meant exploring the
shops and showrooms in cities all over the world.
Visiting Rome, he discovered
the luxurious bespoke suits of Caraceni. In Milan he
selected cashmere and silk sweaters by Pasquale Avon Celli,
a genius with fabric who made a splash in the 1920s with his
silk three-button polo shirt whose legendary quality was
achieved by the importation of looms with 36 needles that
were then only used to produce women’s stockings.
Grant, most notably, wears a
long-sleeved striped Avon Celli polo in “To Catch a Thief”
which he paired with a red foulard for one of the most
memorable looks in film history.
When in London he visited
Aquascutum for one of their signature rain coats, Hawes
& Curtis for a new glen-plaid suit, Lobb or Tuczek in
Mayfair for a fitting with the legendary George Cleverley
who might make him a new pair of benchmade tasseled loafers,
and then off for window-shopping in the Burlington Arcade,
searching its shops for the new and the novel, from
hand-crafted chocolates to a nifty new pair of cuff links.
His scents were selected from
Floris, Creed and Aqua di Parma. In New York he might make a
stop in Brooks Brothers for one of their off-the-wrack
button-down white shirts he liked so much. Then to Tiffany
and Verdura whose help he enlisted for the jewelry he
designed specially for his wife Barbara.
Later in his life he
discovered shirtmakers and tailors in Asia and his garments
would travel back and forth from Beverly Hills to Hong Kong
with alteration instructions until the garments met his
exacting standards. Adjustments of 1/8th of an inch on a
shirt sleeve were not unusual.
Accumulating a fine wardrobe
was far more perilous than it is for fans of On The Fly.
When the Andrea Doria sunk off the coast of Nantucket on
July 25, 1956, Grant’s third wife, Betsy Drake, was
onboard with a batch of his custom-made shirts that she was
transporting from Europe. Betsy was rescued but his shirts
went down with the ship.
There were far fewer luxury
brands then than there are today, so there were far fewer
choices, and of course they were not nearly as accessible
for him as they are for us, thanks to the wonders of
technology.
Perhaps the image we have of
Grant is one of staunch conservatism, a man dressed more
like a banker than a daring sartorialist. (It’s that damn
gray suit in “North by Northwest”!). But this is not
really accurate. He was very cutting-edge, very
forward-thinking in just about everything he did.
Was Cary Grant a modern
gentleman? Indeed he was. In fact, I think he had what I
would call the essential quality of the modern gentleman—a
passion for style, innovation, and quality that is shared by
fans of On the Fly who explore this site not as a chore but
as a joyful journey, though one without all the travel
expenses Mr. Grant no doubt incurred.
|
|
|
 Recently,
Richard Torregrossa graciously
offered to do an interview with cg.net. Richard's
respect for Cary Grant and his appreciation for Grant's
contribution and continuing influence is a breath of fresh
air.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE
INTERVIEW
>>>>>>>
|
|
|
Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style
Richard Torregrossa; forward by Giorgio Armani
It is simply fact that throughout his
lengthy career,
Cary Grant epitomized a suave elegance that
remains unparalleled today.
~ Amazon review |
Cary
Grant: A Life in Pictures
 |
 Jenny Curtis
New York: Friedman/Fairfax Publishers, 1998
ISBN: 1-56799-565-9
This book is special. Not least
because it was written by a true fan who is a member of the Email
Warbrides, but because it is one of the most original CG
books in a long time. The aim of this book is to show off as
many great pictures of CG as possible and use them to tell the
story of his life and career. And what pictures they are too -
many of these have not been seen in any CG publication
previously!! An absolute must have for CG fans. -- Zoë
This is one of the books I will
heartily recommend! Here is what I wrote in the comment section for
Amazon.com: Indeed, this book is one meant to be
displayed. I was immediately struck by the slick, high-quality
paper used to enhance the many, many photos of the dashing Cary
Grant. Ms. Curtis leads us through Grant's life with
comprehensive, yet concise captions beneath each photo. The
dignity and charm in her writing reflect the beloved
characteristics that personified Cary Grant. -- Debbie
 Beverly Bare Buehrer
New York: Greenwood Press, 1990
ISBN: 0-313-26443-0
This book contains a short
biography, but has the most comprehensive filmography and
details of other appearances (TV, stage and radio) available. In
addition to giving the cast, crew, plot and reviews of his
films, most are added to with comments. These comments include
information about the making of the film, choice of stars,
profitability, working relationships, and events that occurred in
Cary's life during the making of the film. A very useful
chronology of Cary's life and work is also included. While this
book does not contain many of those wonderful images we all like
to gaze at, it is an excellent Cary reference which
deserves to be on every Cary fans bookshelf. -- Zoë
"It is an excellent Cary reference which
deserves to be on every Cary fans bookshelf." I
whole-heartedly agree with this conclusion, Zoë. I'd call
Buehrer's book my Cary Grant encyclopedia. Probably the
book I turn to most often. If you want a comprehensive
guide to Cary's work, this is it. You won't find
better. -- Debbie
| The Complete Films of Cary Grant
|
 Donald Deschner
Citadel Press
ISBN: 0-8065-0376-9
A short but comprehensive biography, is followed by
complete details of all the films CG ever starred in -
including cast lists, a short synopsis of each film, and
reviews of the films written at the times of their
release. An excellent book - a serious must have. -- Zoë
This was the first book
given to me in my beginning days of Cary fandom. It
is quite dog-eared. Deschner lists all of Cary's
movies in chronological order, with a short description of
each film and a few pictures from each movie, as
well. I poured over this book, dreaming and hoping
for the day I'd have all of the movies listed. As
I'd find a movie, I'd check it off on the index
page. One day ... I checked off the last of the
movies! I still refer to this book often for bits of
movie info. It's a great resource book!
-- Debbie
| Evenings
With Cary Grant
|
 Nancy Nelson
Headline books
ISBN: 0-7472-0511-6
Subtitled "A portrait in his own words and by
those who knew him best" - says it all really. A
very....er....nice book. No nasty bits, and lots of good
CG quotes, and memories of CG by his friends and family.
Definitely worth having.
-- Zoë
The author was
someone Cary trusted and worked with. She was the
one who persuaded Cary to do "Conversations with Cary
Grant." This book has the approval of Barbara
and Jennifer Grant, so who am I to withhold my
approval?! Some nice photos and personal
anecdotes. -- Debbie
| Cary Grant Film Album
|
 Allen Eyles
London: Ian Allen, 1971
Only 52 pages in
this wonderful soft-cover book. But what those pages are
full of is PICTURES!! A mini bio of a few paragraphs is at
the beginning, but the rest is photos, photos and more photos,
with very short movie plots scattered throughout the
photos. Find it!
Gotta have it!! -- Debbie
| Cary
Grant - A Celebration |
 Richard Schickel
London: Bloomsbury Books, 1983
ISBN: 1-85471-497-X
London: Pavilion Books, 1983
ISBN: 1-86205-018-X (new edition)
An average biography, but mostly
a critical study of his films, with a short filmography at the
back. Really stands out for the pictures it has in it. An
abundance (maybe even an overload) of the best pictures I have
seen of the man. You should get this if you seriously rate his
looks.......
I recently purchased the new edition of this book - published in
the "Legends" series in 1998. The new version is a
paperback, and does not contain the abundance of pictures as the
first version - it concentrates more on the textual content. The
text is essentially the same, although the author has updated it
with his thoughts about Cary's work since he wrote the first
edition. -- Zoë
Again, I do own it, but I've not
read this book. Great bunch of photos, though. I do
love picture books of Cary! And this one has some
wonderful photos. -- Debbie
 Geoffrey Wansell
Bloomsbury Books
ISBN: 0-7475-2487-4
This is very pictorial, much like "A
Celebration" (see above). It is packed with
pictures, many of which I haven't seen in other books, but
the text is basically the same (arranged differently with
a few new bits added) as Wansell's other book. -- Zoë
| Cary Grant - A Class Apart |
 Graham McCann
Fourth Estate
ISBN: 1-85702-366-8
A very well researched, detailed
bio. The book is very
analytical and makes an interesting (if complicated) read.
I wouldn't recommend it as a first bio - purely because if
you have read some of the others first it will be easier
for you to follow some of the rather complicated analyses
of books/film reviews/marriages etc. -- Zoë
 Chuck Ashman & Pamela Trescott
W.H. Allen & Co
ISBN: 0-352-32130-X
Short and sweet, this is the first biography I bought
(after seeing most of the films, and reading books from
the library...) -- Zoë
Haven't read this one
yet. Just got it!
-- Debbie
| Cary Grant - The Light Touch |
 Lionel Godfrey
WH Smith/ Doubleday Book Club Edition
I got this one out of second hand bookshop in Brighton
in 1993, it provided me with some holiday reading - but
nothing particularly special. -- Zoë
| Cary Grant - Haunted Idol |
 Geoffrey Wansell
Collins
ISBN: 0-00-216371-3
A complete biography, nothing much more to say about
this one. -- Zoë
| Cary Grant -
An Unauthorized Biography |
 Albert
Govoni
Robert Hale & Co.
ISBN: 0-7091-4186-6
This is my earliest biography, written in 1971 (my
version printed in 1974 - the year after I was born!) it
probably isn't available any more. I got it at a jumble
sale....why would anyone want to throw out a book about
CG?!?!? -- Zoë
| Cary Grant - A Touch of Elegance |
 Warren G. Harris
Sphere Books
ISBN: 0-7474-0202-7
A goodie this one. Pocket sized (in paper back!) it
crams in as much as possible about the man by using tiny
writing.....try not to strain your eyes!!! -- Zoë
A Touch of
Elegance
| The Lives and Loves of Cary Grant |
 Lee Guthrie
New York: Drake Publishers Inc., 1977
ISBN: 0847316130
| Cary Grant: In the Spotlight |
 New York: Galley
Press, 1980
ISBN: 0-8317-3957-6
Biographical
behind-the-scenes tidbits highlight this book of photos.
The last third of the book is a filmography with photos and cast
listing. It had lots of pictures, so I had to have
it.
-- Debbie
Cary
Grant Stopped Me Smoking
(The
Hypnagogic Method) |
 Alistair
Campsie
The Piper's Press, 1991
ISBN: 1-872095-01-1
Excerpt from Alistair
Campsie's entry on the Recollections page"
"In those days Cary Grant was married to Betsy Drake
who, apart from looking lovely, had an intellect to match,
and I had discovered she was using hypnosis on him to calm
his nerves before filming. I wondered in turn if she had
used hypnosis on him to stop him smoking. Edinburgh
was just starting one of the first stop-smoking campaigns,
much to the outrage of the city's larcenist tobacconists,
and I was absolutely desperate to stop ciggies
myself and had tried every known method with a fatal lack
of success."
[Click here to read Alistair's
recollection.] or
[Click
here to contact Mr. Campsie about ordering Cary Grant Stopped Me
Smoking.]
|
To Catch a Spy: A Toby Peters Mystery |
 Stuart
M. Kaminsky
Carroll & Graf
ISBN: 0-786710233
Fiction, with Cary Grant as its
leading character:
This old-fashioned cliff-hanger
literally begins and ends with Cary Grant and Toby Peters, Hollywood
private eye, hanging from crevices on the cliff face of Laurel Canyon
as a man with a gun peers over the edge. The body of the book pulls
back from the precipice, explaining, in Kaminsky's comic fashion, how
the unlikely duo ended up there. This novel is worth reading even
without the stunner of a plot, complete with Cary Grant, widely
believed to be a special agent for the British Intelligence Services,
using charm and acrobatics to help the war effort and escape the
Nazis. It's worth it for the movie trivia, the details of life during
the war, for Mrs. Plaut's boardinghouse, for Toby's storage-room
office just off Shelley Minck's "dental chamber of mayhem,"
and, of course, for Kaminsky's jaunty way with dialogue and plot.
Grant seeks Peters out to deliver a bag containing money in exchange
for a package. The messenger is killed, but Peters uses his dying
words and discovered wallet as entree into the shadowy world of
espionage. Another Kaminsky winner. - from Booklist
Click
here for a
by Shelby
Peck
 Mary
Matthews
Xlibris
ISBN: 1-4010-9404-X
Waiting for Cary Grant is the story of Harlan Michaels, a powerful trial lawyer who usually flees romance as quickly as his
Gucci loafers can carry him. He's immersed in a deadly wheel case when he meets Lana Stewart, a therapist, who is treating his orphaned client. He's immediately intrigued by the long-legged blonde's
indifference to his wealth and stature. Lana longs for someone like Cary Grant and has a penchant for Cary Grant movies. To plead his case, Harlan will need the courage of David and the wisdom of
Solomon. -- back cover
 Sidney
Sheldon
Time Warner Book Group
ISBN: 0446532673
Bestselling novelist Sheldon's memoir
is reminiscent of his colorful novels, a rags-to-riches yarn replete
with struggle, an indomitable hero and eventual glamour. It opens
with a 17-year-old Sheldon preparing to commit suicide in Chicago in
1934. "[L]onely and trapped," he wanted to attend college
but couldn't afford it. Thankfully, his father intervened, and the
young man got a new lease on life. He went from being an RKO theater
usher to a struggling songwriter, then a top-flight Hollywood
screenwriter in a few short years. For the next 30-odd years,
Sheldon wrote and directed films, meeting studio honchos and stars
like Kirk Douglas, Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe. The author's
impressive achievements include a WWII flying stint, a screenwriting
Oscar for 1947's The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer, a Tony for
writing the 1959 Broadway hit Redhead, the creation of four
classic TV series (including I Dream of Jeannie) and several
bestsellers (Bloodline; The Sands of Time; etc.). Yet
these accomplishments came with bouts of depression and the death of
a child. While the book is long on Sheldon's Hollywood and
television days, it skimps on his domestic and publishing lives.
Still, that shouldn't stop Sheldon's legions of fans from lapping
this up. -- Amazon.com
 Gary Morecambe/Martin Sterling
Robson Books
ISBN: 1-86105-466-1
While it is very clear that this is a book written by
huge Cary Grant fans, it doesn't have a sense of idol worship,
nor is it fluffy or syrupy because the authors are afraid to
mention his human frailties. Gary & Martin are doing
quite a good job of making him seem like a real human being
instead of some Hollywood demi-god. Some writers, in an
effort to de-throne the idol seem to feel a need to 'bring him
down to size' by denigrating him.
I haven't felt a sense of that at all. It's as if he were a good friend that they're
writing about. A friend they've simply accepted,
and in that acceptance have recognized that there's a man
behind the screen persona. -- Debbie
Cary
Grant:
A Pyramid Illustrated
History of the Movies |
 Jerry Vermilye
New York: Pyramid Publications, 1973
ISBN: 0-88365-291-9
Another gem of a book. This book
(a small hardback) seems to be the one on which many other CG
bio's are based. Not only does it cover his life and career, it
has a fantastic selection of Cary pictures. Including an
extremely handsome Cary with a 'tache on p.47!! -- Zoë
I do own it, and though I've not
read this book, I do love looking at the pictures! Zoë's
right about that mustache photo. Since Cary only wore a
mustache in "The Last Outpost," it is a very rare
treat to see him with that bit of fur above his lip.
Better wear a drool bib when looking through this book.
Don't want to get the pages damp!
-- Debbie
Cary
Grant: Comedy and Male Desire 
|
 Andrew Britton
Tyneside Cinema (Tyneside Film Theatre Limited) ISBN: 0-946493-006
This slimline "book" is
not a biography. It is however, a very good essay
identifying elements of Cary's screen persona and analyzing his
movies. If you are a film studies student, or just want to gain
a greater insight into CG's movies, then this small, inexpensive
"book" could be the one for you! -- Zoë
Here, I must
vehemently disagree with Zoë. I see absolutely no merit
whatsoever in this essay. Not only does Britton analyze
the fun right out of Cary's comedies, he uses an extensive
vocabulary, e.g. his definition of screwball comedy -
"recovered infantile polymorphousness," to the point
of utter ridiculousness. My opinion: Britton is a
polysyllabic, phallic-obsessed, fatuous, essayist. --
Debbie
A film's a film.
As Hitch would say when someone would get all upset on the set,
"Come on, fellas, relax -- it's only a movie."
Now, if you want to bisect it and tri-sect it and cut it up into
little pieces, well, that's up to you. We made them.
We didn't know their intentions half the time, except to amuse
and attract people to the box office. -- Cary Grant
| The Private Cary Grant
|
 William Currie McIntosh & William Weaver
Sidgewick & Jackson
ISBN: 0-283-99511-4
I have two copies of this one - one hardback published
before his death, one softback published after. The latter
has an extra chapter...exciting stuff. Written by two men
who new CG personally it's an interesting read. -- Zoë
Bill Weaver, Cary's
secretary during the "Dyan" and post-"Dyan"
phase, does a good job at both elevating and demeaning
Cary. While
I do indeed give credence to the believability of this
book, it galls me that a personal friend would so demean
Cary's memory. To use Shunderson's words from "People
Will Talk": "You're little, in the mind and in
the heart. Tonight you tried to make a man little who's
boots you couldn't touch if you stood on tiptoe on top of
the highest mountain in the world. And as it turned out,
you're even littler than you were before."
William McIntosh and William Weaver ... you are very
little people.
-- Debbie
Marc Eliot
Harmony
ISBN: 140005026X
Another bio about our favorite fellow hits the shelves September 2004. After reading the reviews and at 448 pages, this book appears to be nothing
more than a whole lot of gossip - especially about Cary's relationship with Randolph Scott. Why is the homosexual camp so intent on including Cary in their agenda? This isn't a book that I'm
going to bother putting on my bookshelf.
| An Affair to Remember - My Life with Cary Grant
|
 Maureen Donaldson & William Royce
Futura Books
ISBN: 0517074184
No, this wasn't written by one of the five wives, this
is by one of the other women. Its not a biography, more a
love story. If you like trashy novels, you'll love this.
You could easily forget its about CG. If it all happened,
I'm amazed at the woman's memory for detail - its filled
with it. In spite of this though, this book does provide
you with a great insight into Cary's relationships with
women. -- Zoë
A kiss and
tell book that has a great deal of credibility.
Donaldson's and McIntosh's (see The Private Cary Grant)
accounts support each other. Again, though, why
trash a man you say you loved. Maureen Donaldson ...
like McIntosh & Weaver, you are a very small person.
-- Debbie
| Cary Grant - The
Lonely Heart
|
 Charles Higham & Roy Moseley
Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN: 0380710099
Full, frank and very good. A good biography - but you
shouldn't necessarily believe everything in it. A lot of
this book seems to be based on gossip rather than facts,
so you should try sift out fact from fiction where
possible!
-- Zoë
I have this book, but have
never read it. Why? I read Zoë's review and
didn't wish to read gossip. -- Debbie
| Cary
Grant: The Wizard of Beverly Grove
|
 Bill
Royce
Cool Titles, 2006
I'm not even going
to provide a link to purchase this book, because I don't want to
be responsible for one copy of it being sold. I didn't
even make it through the first four chapters. I couldn't
stomach reading one more page. Absolute refuse.
Trash.
-- Debbie
|
