Happy Birthday, Archie!

On this day in 1904, Archibald Alec Leach was born. You know him better as Cary Grant. I inherited a love of old films from my mother who would always point out to me her favorites when they aired on broadcast TV (to supplement my steady diet of cable-tv).

Grant was - IMO - one of the very best actors ever to appear on screen. Whether comedy or drama, Grant commanded every scene he was in and made the performances of other actors even better. Contrast this to the...ehem...fella in the post below.

cary-grant.jpg

Truly a legend.

Yips! from Robbo: In a truly felicitous coincidence, Netflix sent me a copy of Holiday today. This is my single favorite Grant/Hepburn movie, a delightful little comedy complete with snappy banter and even some acrobatics.

And speaking of such things, here's an interesting little thesis for you: I happen to believe that Will Smith, of all people, is the closest thing going to a modern day Cary Grant. Discuss.

Posted by: Gary at 11:26 AM

Comments

1 I love him in The Philadelphia Story.

Posted by: GroovyVic at January 18, 2008 12:25 PM (DVkb2)

2 I just re-watched Charade. Don't make 'em like that anymore.

Posted by: tdp at January 18, 2008 12:41 PM (7CsBg)

3 He's still the dreamiest actor to watch on screen too. I spent my high school nerd years (as opposed to my later nerd years) watching every Cary Grant movie I could get my hands on. I think I need to start again.

Posted by: Jordana at January 18, 2008 12:43 PM (QeLuW)

4 Grant was one of the first actors in Hollywood that men universally wanted to be and women universally wanted to be with.

Truly a class act. For me, Jimmy Stewart only barely edges him out as my all-time favorite.

Posted by: Gary at January 18, 2008 01:40 PM (QoxB+)

5 I'd never made the comparison before, but Will Smith does have quite a number of characteristics that would put him close, if not in quite the same category as Cary Grant. Both men are good-looking, do comedy AND drama well, are well-spoken in their dialogue, create performances with their fellow actors that keep you interested. Yes, both men have been in dogs of movies, but what actor does not at some point.

I like the way you think on this one Robert.

Posted by: keysunset at January 18, 2008 09:00 PM (et6My)

6 I think Will Smith is great, but elegant style is a pretty big part of Cary Grant's appeal, and I just don't get that from Will Smith. I do think Will Smith is one of the few modern day movie stars who are real stars, as opposed to being just popular actors.

Posted by: dorkafork at January 19, 2008 08:32 PM (kErJj)






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