Tag Archives: Cary Grant

Actors that Turned Down Iconic Roles – Part One

Actors that Turned Down Iconic Roles – Part One Yesterday, I was reading at MSNBC how Nicholas Cage was once considered for the role of Randy “The Ram” Robinson in The Wrestler. In case you’ve been living in a cave, this was a role that went to ourke and resurrected his career, despite his losing the Best Actor Oscar this year to Sean Penn. Apparently, there had been rumors circulating that Cage was “let go” from the movie, but he cleared that up at the premiere of his newest movie Knowing. “I wasn’t quote “dropped” from the movie,” Cage told … Continue reading →

Wedding Present (1936)

In the black and white film “Wedding Present,” Cary Grant stars as Charlie Mason, an irresponsible, happy-go-lucky newspaper reporter who’s head over heels in love with fellow reporter, Rusty Fleming (Joan Bennett). When plans to get a marriage license go awry, Rusty takes it as a sign that their marriage isn’t meant to be, and she calls it off. Not to be deterred so easily, Charlie sets out on a plan to get her back. Meanwhile, the two of them are sent out to interview the Archduke (Gene Lockhart), in town to celebrate his engagement. They take him out on … Continue reading →

The Howards of Virginia (1940)

You’re about to see something rare – I’m going to criticize Cary Grant. Not in a huge way; how could one hugely criticize Cary Grant? But there will be some words said, by me, about him, that aren’t entirely complimentary. “The Howards of Virginia” is set during the Revolutionary War. Grant plays Matt Howard, a man who as a young boy lost his father to war with the Indians. When Matt grows up, he wants to go out to Ohio and start life anew as a frontiersman, but then something happens that changes all his plans – he meets a … Continue reading →

Only Angels Have Wings (1939)

Geoff Carter (Cary Grant) is co-owner and operator of an airline whose business it is to deliver the mail high in the mountains in Chile. The route is treacherous and only the most skilled aviators can go through the mountain pass, and only if the fog has lifted. A man serving as a lookout lives in a hut in the mountains, and keeps in contact by radio. His word is law—when he tells them not to come, they don’t come. One day a young woman wanders into their airport while waiting for the next boat to leave the harbor. She’s … Continue reading →

Suspicion (1941)

Joan Fontaine won an Oscar for her role in “Suspicion” as Lina, a young woman who is given to reading books, riding horses, and living a quiet life with her parents on their country estate. She is traveling home by train when she meets up with Johnny (Cary Grant) a charming rascal who manages to “borrow” some of his train fare from her. He comes to a fox hunt on her estate and manages to schmooze her, breaking down her natural walls. When he doesn’t return as promised, she realizes how much she likes him, so much so that when … Continue reading →

The Awful Truth (1937)

The Oscar-winning film “The Awful Truth,” starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, is a remarkable film in many ways. First, much of it was unscripted. The director was an eccentric sort of personality who believed in doing things spur of the moment, so much of what you see on the screen was ad-libbed by Grant and Dunne, who do a superb job. Second, while this was not Grant’s first film, it was the one in which he hits upon that “Cary Grant” persona we are so familiar with today. It’s also downright hysterical. Cary Grant plays Jerry Warriner, a bit … Continue reading →