Cary Grant: A Brilliant DisguiseFilm historian and acclaimed New York Times bestselling biographer Scott Eyman has written the definitive, “captivating” (Associated Press) biography of Hollywood legend Cary Grant, one of the most accomplished—and beloved—actors of his generation, who remains as popular as ever today. Born Archibald Leach in 1904, he came to America as a teenaged acrobat to find fame and fortune, but he was always haunted by his past. His father was a feckless alcoholic, and his mother was committed to an asylum when Archie was eleven years old. He believed her to be dead until he was informed she was alive when he was thirty-one years old. Because of this experience, Grant would have difficulty forming close attachments throughout his life. He married five times and had numerous affairs. Despite a remarkable degree of success, Grant remained deeply conflicted about his past, his present, his basic identity, and even the public that worshipped him in movies such as Gunga Din, Notorious, and North by Northwest. This “estimable and empathetic biography” (The Washington Post) draws on Grant’s own papers, extensive archival research, and interviews with family and friends making it a definitive and “complex portrait of Hollywood’s original leading man” (Entertainment Weekly). |
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acting actor Affair AMPAS Archie Archie Leach asked audience Barbara became began believe Betsy Bristol called Cannon Carole Lombard Cary Grant cast character close comedy deal didn’t directed director don’t fact father feel felt film finally gave George girl give going hand happened happy Hepburn Hitchcock Hollywood interested Irene It’s Jennifer John kind knew later letter living look married McCarey million months mother moved movie needed never night Odets offered once Orry-Kelly Paramount party performance person picture play problem production remembered scene Scott script seemed shooting star story studio talk tell thing thought told took trying turned walked wanted Warner Bros weeks wife woman write wrote York young