Cary Grant, the Making of a Hollywood Legend
Archie Leach was a
poorly educated, working-class boy from a troubled family living in the
backstreets of Bristol. Cary Grant was Hollywood's most debonair film
star--the embodiment of worldly sophistication. Cary Grant: The Making of a Hollywood Legend
tells the incredible story of how a sad, neglected boy became the
suave, glamorous star many know and idolize. The first biography to be
based on Grant's own personal papers, this book takes us on a
fascinating journey from the actor's difficult childhood through years
of struggle in music halls and vaudeville, a hit-and-miss career in
Broadway musicals, and three decades of film stardom during Hollywood's
golden age.
Leaving no stone unturned, Cary Grant delves
into all aspects of Grant's life, from the bitter realities of his
impoverished childhood to his trailblazing role in Hollywood as a film
star who defied the studio system and took control of his own career.
Highlighting Grant's genius as an actor and a filmmaker, author Mark
Glancy examines the crucial contributions Grant made to such classic
films as Bringing Up Baby (1938), The Philadelphia Story (1940), Notorious (1946), An Affair to Remember (1957), North by Northwest (1959), Charade (1963) and Father Goose
(1964). Glancy also explores Grant's private life with new candor and
insight throughout the book's nine sections, illuminating how Grant's
search for happiness and fulfillment lead him to having his first child
at the age of 62 and embarking on his fifth marriage at the age of 77.
With this biography--complete with a chronological filmography of the
actor's work--Glancy provides a definitive account of the professional
and personal life of one of Hollywood's most unforgettable, influential
stars.
MY REVIEW: Author Mark Glancy had a unique advantage in researching "Cary Grant, the Making of a Hollywood Legend"--he was given full access to Grant's personal collection of diaries, scrapbooks, press clippings, correspondence, and memorabilia. Grant was his own archivist, and self-analysis was a lasting trait throughout his long career and lifetime. His troubled beginnings as Archie Leach from Bristol, England would affect him through every stage of his career and personal life. The transformation from Archie to Cary was lengthy and complex, and Grant worked tirelessly to reinvent himself and maintain his polished image. He was an incredibly gifted entertainer, able to handle broad physical comedy with his amazing athleticism, to captivate both leading ladies and audiences with his dazzling charm, to play dramatic roles with a darker edge, and to engage film-goers when roles called for thrilling action sequences. Grant and famed director Alfred Hitchcock made four fabulous films together and became close friends as well as favored film-making associates. Grace Kelly, Cary's costar in "To Catch a Thief", was his favorite leading lady, and she remained a dear friend until her untimely death. Grant celebrated two milestones at age 62--he retired from acting and became a first-time father. He found happiness later in life with his fifth wife, Barbara Harris, but it was his daughter Jennifer who brought him the greatest joy. There is much to explore in the storied life of screen icon Cary Grant, and author Mark Glancy has given the beloved star a deservedly respectful treatment. He offers a detailed and interesting biography which does not shy away from the controversies in Grant's life. However, the information is presented in a factual, non-salacious manner that is very readable. Glancy, a noted film historian, also contributed to the 2017 documentary, "Becoming Cary Grant". In preparation for writing the biography, he watched all 72 of Grant's films. He knows his subject well.
Book Copy Gratis Oxford University Press
Reviews
"[an] exemplary biography" -- David Thomson, London Review of Books
"A solid biography" -- David Pitt, Booklist
"A
thorough and thoughtful biography... An excellent portrait that
emphasizes the man more than the movie star." -- Peter Thornell, Library
Journal
"By contrast with some of his predecessors, Glancy
does a superb job of shining light on as much of Grant's life as can be
understood without bogging down in unnecessary detail." -- Dave
Luhrssen, Shepherd Express
"The definitive biography:
forensic, myth-busting, and psychologically fine-tuned. Both a
well-written work of scholarship and an entertaining ride through the
life and work of one of Hollywood's most fascinating stars."-- Mark
Kidel, filmmaker and writer
Mark Glancy
Mark Glancy is Reader in Film History at Queen Mary University of London. His media work includes appearances on the BBC Radio Four programmes Archive Hour, Back Row, and Great Lives, as well as many articles on film history for the magazines BBC History and History Revealed.
https://www.qmul.ac.uk/history/people/academic-staff/profiles/glancymark.html
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