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Haunted Idol: The Story of the Real Cary Grant
A study of the true story of the man behind the debonair image details the fears and obsessions that have haunted Grant's film career, his childhood, marriages, relationships with women and his only child, and his retreat into privacy.
- GenresBiographyNonfictionFilm
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
About the author
Geoffrey Wansell
21 books43 followersGeoffrey Wansell is a London based author and free-lance journalist, who now works principally for the Daily Mail.
He’s published twelve books, including biographies of the movie star Cary Grant, the business tycoon Sir James Goldsmith, and the playwright Sir Terence Rattigan, a book which was short-listed for the Whitbread Prize as book of the year.
Geoffrey Wansell is an experienced true crime author whose past books include The Bus Stop Killer, about the shocking murder of Milly Dowler, and An Evil Love, telling the story of Frederick West through exclusive access to tape recordings.
A member for more than 25 years, he is also the official historian of the Garrick Club in London, one of only four appointed during the Club’s 185 years of existence.
He’s published twelve books, including biographies of the movie star Cary Grant, the business tycoon Sir James Goldsmith, and the playwright Sir Terence Rattigan, a book which was short-listed for the Whitbread Prize as book of the year.
Geoffrey Wansell is an experienced true crime author whose past books include The Bus Stop Killer, about the shocking murder of Milly Dowler, and An Evil Love, telling the story of Frederick West through exclusive access to tape recordings.
A member for more than 25 years, he is also the official historian of the Garrick Club in London, one of only four appointed during the Club’s 185 years of existence.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 3, 2020
Somehow I have accrued a collection of biographies on Cary Grant. This is one of those events that happen slowly, until the bio shelf eventually becomes clogged with titles on just one person. Certainly, Grant was an oddball, at least that's what Hollywood thought about him.
"I see Hollywood as a precarious sort of streetcar. Call it Aspire. There's only room for so many, and every once in a while, if you look back, you'll see that someone has fallen off. When Tyrone Power got on, it meant someone was left sprawled out on the street. Gary Cooper is smart, he never gets up to give anybody his seat."
This is one of the most objective Grant books I've read, which means there really isn't anything sensational. No made up stories, just a recounting of his personality, which was a man who preferred his own company and who eschewed the craziness of the industry lifestyle. Instead, we get the many different sides of the greatest star of the cinematic Golden Age.
1.) The Lone Wolf...who didn't necessarily like being alone.
2.) The Simple Man...happy with minimal furnishings and dinner on a tv tray.
3.) The Perfectionist...who drove directors and co-stars to nervous breakdowns.
4.) The Evangelist...who espoused the use of LSD for wives and friends.
5.) The Tycoon...genius business mind which turned thousands into millions.
6.) The Tastemaker...set the standard for clothing and style to this day.
7.) The Charmer...the smile and the dimple turned him into velcro.
This is a good read for anyone interested in learning about the life of Grant, without the extra embellishments. I also appreciated the author's final sentence:
No one should be held responsible for my conclusions, however; those are mine alone.
Book Season = Summer (red tiles and azure swimming pools)
"I see Hollywood as a precarious sort of streetcar. Call it Aspire. There's only room for so many, and every once in a while, if you look back, you'll see that someone has fallen off. When Tyrone Power got on, it meant someone was left sprawled out on the street. Gary Cooper is smart, he never gets up to give anybody his seat."
This is one of the most objective Grant books I've read, which means there really isn't anything sensational. No made up stories, just a recounting of his personality, which was a man who preferred his own company and who eschewed the craziness of the industry lifestyle. Instead, we get the many different sides of the greatest star of the cinematic Golden Age.
1.) The Lone Wolf...who didn't necessarily like being alone.
2.) The Simple Man...happy with minimal furnishings and dinner on a tv tray.
3.) The Perfectionist...who drove directors and co-stars to nervous breakdowns.
4.) The Evangelist...who espoused the use of LSD for wives and friends.
5.) The Tycoon...genius business mind which turned thousands into millions.
6.) The Tastemaker...set the standard for clothing and style to this day.
7.) The Charmer...the smile and the dimple turned him into velcro.
This is a good read for anyone interested in learning about the life of Grant, without the extra embellishments. I also appreciated the author's final sentence:
No one should be held responsible for my conclusions, however; those are mine alone.
Book Season = Summer (red tiles and azure swimming pools)
March 26, 2025
The story of Cary Grant is worthwhile if you are interested in his films and career in Hollywood. As an alternative to watching the news since the most recent election, viewing vintage films has been a great pastime. Cary Grant caught my eye with his comic moves and bantor.
June 1, 2026
I didn't know anything about Cary Grant except that he was a famous actor during Hollywood's golden era and I had only seen one movie with him before reading the book (North by Northwest), which I don't remember anything about.
So I happened to read Grant's biography because I got the book for free and coincidentally, a Finnish streaming services was having two of his movies "Monkey business" and "Operation Petticoat", which I watched while reading the book.
The biography was well written and Grant is an interesting character. Besides Grant's life I found out quite a bit about showbusiness between the 1920s and 1960s. The only criticism I have is that I there were few resources provided and that there was no resources overview or further reading list.
I will look out for more movies with Grant and also for other biographies of actors of that time.
So I happened to read Grant's biography because I got the book for free and coincidentally, a Finnish streaming services was having two of his movies "Monkey business" and "Operation Petticoat", which I watched while reading the book.
The biography was well written and Grant is an interesting character. Besides Grant's life I found out quite a bit about showbusiness between the 1920s and 1960s. The only criticism I have is that I there were few resources provided and that there was no resources overview or further reading list.
I will look out for more movies with Grant and also for other biographies of actors of that time.
September 22, 2022
3.5/4
I really enjoyed this book which is surprising bcz I hate nonfiction and I think I only truly enjoyed it because it was about cary grant. im really glad I read this book;; it brought to light a lot of stuff i would have never guessed ab one of my favorite old hollywood actors and how human they really are.
I really enjoyed this book which is surprising bcz I hate nonfiction and I think I only truly enjoyed it because it was about cary grant. im really glad I read this book;; it brought to light a lot of stuff i would have never guessed ab one of my favorite old hollywood actors and how human they really are.
October 31, 2021
Interesting insight to the actor and Hollywood in general.
Unfortunately a tortured soul, feeling unloved but loved by many.
Unfortunately a tortured soul, feeling unloved but loved by many.
March 11, 2016
A fascinating insight into a very complex and troubled man. If treated today, he would almost certainly be treated for bipolar disorder. The irony of a life spent seeking approval and not really finding it.
January 26, 2008
Did not like this one too well either, found out he was a strange man.
May 8, 2008
This is a fairly positive biography of Cary Grant, the movie star that I swooned over as a teenager.
December 2, 2008
Why write a biography of someone when you can provide nothing beyond the common knowledge of that person?
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews