Cary Grant, gentleman acteur

Cary Grant: A Class Apart (2004)

**** (out of 4)

Terrific, well-detailed documentary taking a look at the life and career of Cary Grant. The film talks about the early dark spot in his life that would haunt him and that's when his mother walked out on him as a child. We hear how Grant began acting, striking out in Hollywood at first and then the amazing career that would follow. Throughout the documentary we get interviews with the likes of Peter Bogdanovich, Martin Landau, Barbara Grant (his final wife), Roderick Mann (friend), Betsy Drake (his 3rd wife), Eva Marie Saint, Elvis Mitchell, Mel Shavelson and Ernest Lehman. We also get archival interviews with Ralph Bellamy, Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, George Kennedy and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.. Fans of Grant are really going to enjoy this documentary because just about every aspect of his life is covered. We get to hear and see why he became such a huge movie star but the documentary doesn't shy away from his personal life, which contained a few demons that would haunt the actor. There's discussion of his failed marriages, his affair with Sophia Loren and the controversial friendship with Randolph Scott. The documentary really does give you a great idea of what Grant was like, his beliefs and what really made him tick. One really comes away from the film feeling as if you understand Grant and especially when it came time for him to walk away from acting because he felt he was too old to be a leading man. He was still popular as an older leading man and hearing his thoughts on why it was best to walk away was certainly interesting. With great film clips, wonderful interviews and even a few comments from Grant, this is a wonderful documentary that covers just about every aspect of his life.

Barbara Grant Jaynes stands out here, in this documentary not only because she is the undisputed love of Cary Grant's life, but mainly because she, so superbly and elegantly, gives us the real Cary Grant. After all who can better "sail Cary Grant ship" if not this beautiful, inside and out lady with a healthy approach to life.I would like to see her again in a full blown documentary on Cary Grant. She carries herself so intelligently and elegantly. Millions of Cary Grant fans, who see his genius mind at work in his movies would truly appreciate her input. For posterity, it is very important that this REAL WOMAN reminiscences and talks about beauty, brilliance and unique person she once called her husband.

I caught this documentary when it first aired on Turner Classic Movies, and it impressed me with its examination of both Cary Grant the person and Cary Grant the personality.

Most bios I've seen on Cary Grant all focus on the screen persona and laud this cultivated image of the perfect movie star, but 'A Class Apart' brought humanity to Cary Grant. I was also impressed by the documentary's willingness to deal with issues glossed over in most other treatments (his LSD usage, for instance). Great documentary, and if for nothing else, worth watching for Betsy Drake's quote about whether or not Cary Grant was homosexual. God bless TCM.

This interesting documentary that TMC produced, under the direction of Robert Trachtenberg, is about as close we get to the myth that was Cary Grant. The film is helped a great deal by the elegant style in which the narrators, Helen Mirren and Jeremy Northam tell us about this man.

Nothing is spared. There are things in the documentary that other producers would have stayed away from, like Cary Grant's use of the drug LSD and his possible gay life. In a way, the only thing that makes a stronger statement about Mr. Grant being gay is the declaration of his former wife, actress Betsy Drake, about the star's sexual prowess. If Mr. Grant was so good in bed with her, why bother to tell us?

Mr. Grant was a luminous presence on the screen. He had such elegance, such sophistication that he was a natural for the medium. We made him an idol and he gave us back films that will live forever. This film is a perfect tribute to a man that endeared himself to all that ever went to see a Cary Grant film.

This film is an insightful look at an incredibly complex and talented man. Cary Grant was a mass of contradictions: a tremendously talented artist who nevertheless viewed his craft as a means to make a living, not as a means of self expression. There were rumors that he was a homosexual but he was a womanizer of epic proportions -- for example he had an affair (which ended badly) with Sopia Loren early in her career and while he was still married to Betsy Drake. There is much to be learned here about a very interesting fellow.

This one of the best Hollywood biograpies I have seen. Highly, highly recommended. 9 out of 10.