Cary Grant: Taking the Lead

by Gene Popa

"Cary Grant is the only actor I ever loved in my whole life." - Alfred Hitchcock "He was a dream, as all works of art are." - Katharine Hepburn "Cary Grant was so far the best that there isn't anybody to be compared to him." - Howard Hawks "I acted like Cary Grant for so long that I became Cary Grant." - Cary Grant In 1937, it seemed as if Cary Grant had it the fame and fortune of being a leading man for one of Hollywood's biggest studios, with a life of luxury that was a world away from the hardship and misery he knew growing up in Bristol, England. But all that glitters is not gold. Grant felt that he had no say in the development of his own career, and he was seeing signs that the studio was losing interest in him...other than to just be a handsome face. He yearned for better roles to prove himself as an actor. And so, he did the inconceivable...he left the safety of his studio and struck out on his own as a freelance actor. Over the next four years, against tremendous odds and formidable opposition, he guided his own destiny. As amazing as the story of Archie Leach forging a new life for himself as Cary Grant is, the tale of these four crucible years, 1937 to 1940, is equally as important. For it was during these years that Cary Grant became more than a movie star...he became a timeless icon.

198 pages, Hardcover

Published June 29, 2022

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars mostly due to topic. I've read other books before about Archie, this was a different kind of feel. Beginning mostly talked about his youth, family, leaving home to travel with acrobatic troupe after being kicked out of school. Interesting stuff, his start on Broadway and his many, many romantic entanglements. Spoke a lot about him being shunned by big movie houses for refusing to be under contract, he really laid the footings of taking the power away from studios and he freelanced a ton. Found great success but also was held back from it. I absolutely adore him and I enjoyed the second half of the book where they went into great detail about the movies he was making. Some may find that boring but I enjoyed it. A bit dry but if you love the topic it's worth it.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Cary Grant and have read about him in other books, there is nothing new in this book.

[Jessica Fellows · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing, was like reading a dictionary of Cary Grant movies.

[jamie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This really just felt like a list of some of his movies with a way too long synopsis. Very few details about Cary Grant.