Dawn's Top 10 Favorite "Cary Grant" Films

That Touch of Mink(1962). Romantic/comedy starring: Cary Grant, Doris Day, baseball stars Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Yogi Berra make cameo appearances. The film was Grant's last role in a romantic lead. Although, in his next role he romanced Audrey Hepburn in Charade (1963), she was the pursuer at Grant's request, because of the 25-year age difference. In one of my favorite scenes in the classic film, That Touch of Mink, is when the couple go to an under-construction apartment building, Philip (Cary Grant) makes a proposal which is not quite what Cathy (Doris Day) was expecting...

Video: the surprise proposal....

North by Northwest(1959). Thriller, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason. North by Northwest, is a story of mistaken identity, with an innocent man pursued across the United States by secret agents, who want to smuggle out microfilm containing government secrets. In one of one my favorite scenes, is when Cary Grant's character Roger, is waiting alongside a deserted road in the middle of empty farm fields where a crop duster is flying over head. The crop duster turns towards Roger and makes several attacking passes at him. Roger hides in a corn field, but the plane dusts the field with a chemical powder, forcing Roger back into the open. Spotting an oncoming tanker truck, Roger flags it down and stands directly in its path, forcing the tanker to stop. The plane swoops down at him and smashes into the tanker. When passers-by stop at the scene, Roger steals a pickup and drives back to the hotel.

Video:
The aircraft seen flying in the scene is a Naval Aircraft Factory N3N Canary, a World War II Navy pilot trainer sometimes converted for crop-dusting. The aircraft that hits the truck and explodes is a wartime Stearman (Boeing Model 75) trainer. Like its N3N "look a like", many were used for agricultural purposes through the 1970's. The plane was piloted by Bob Coe, a local cropduster from Wasco. Hitchcock placed replicas of square Indiana highway signs in the scene.

The gray suit worn by Cary Grant throughout almost the entire film was considered the best suit in film history and the most influential on men's style, stating that it has since been copied for Tom Cruise's character in Collateral and Ben Affleck's character in Paycheck. Writer Todd McEwen, who called it "gorgeous," wrote a short story "Cary Grant's Suit" which tells the story from the viewpoint of the suit.

Houseboat (1958). Romantic/comedy starring Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Martha Hyer, Paul Petersen, Charles Herbert and Mimi Gibson. My favorite scene in the film, is when Grants character Tom begins to date Carolyn and buys her a dress for the country club dance. Just as Carolyn and her friends arrive and after one of them insults Cinzia, Tom orders them from the houseboat. He then takes Cinzia to the country club dance and as they kiss and then he realizes he is in love with her...

Video: With friends like these who needs enemies...

To Catch a Thief (1955). Romantic/thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The movie stars Cary Grant as   cat burglar, who has to save his reformed reputation by catching a new "cat" preying on the wealthy tourists of the French Riviera. Grace Kelly, is his romantic interest. My favorite scene in the film, is when Grace as Francie, greets Cary as John wearing a beautiful diamond necklace trying to taunt him with it. John knows the gems are fake and he and Francie kiss, as fireworks  light up the night sky...

Video: Fireworks...

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948). Comedy film starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy. The house built for the 1948 film still stands on the old Fox Ranch property in Malibu Creek State Park in the hills a few miles north of Malibu. It is used as an office for the Park. One of my favorites scenes is when, as soon as work gets underway, unforeseen construction problems and questionable workmen begin to work on the Blandings home. An embedded stone "ledge" requires blasting before the foundation can be laid and the water well cannot be built until costly drilling reveals a water source...

Video: That is no rock..

The Bishop's Wife (1947). Romantic/comedy starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven in a story about an angel who helps a bishop with his problems. In one of my favorite scenes, after retiring to his study, Henry prays for guidance and a few moments later, Dudley mysteriously arrives and informs Henry that he is an angel sent in answer to his prayer. Henry is skeptical and when Julia comes in a few moments later, Dudley introduces himself as Henry's assistant, which pleases her and upsets Henry....

Video: The first meeting..

Suspicion (1941). Romantic/psychological/thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine as a married couple dealing with strange events ...

Video: put on a happy face..

Only Angels Have Wings (1939). Starring Cary Grant and Jean Arthur. It is regarded as being among Hawks' finest films, particularly in its portrayal of the professionalism of the pilots, its atmosphere and the awesome flying scenes!

Video: All clear...

 

Topper (1937). Comedy, starring Constance Bennett and Cary Grant. The film was adapted by Eric Hatch, Jack Jevne and Eddie Moran from the novel by Thorne Smith. Directed by Norman Z. McLeod. The supporting cast includes: Roland Young, Billie Burke and Eugene Pallette.

New York banker Cosmo Topper's wife Clara, insists that they live a well-ordered life, the complete opposite of bank owners George and Marion Kerby, who live for fun and excitement.

After a board of directors meeting, the Kerbys try to convince Topper to stop doing what his wife says and "live." On the drive back to their country home, just after Marion says that she wants to make Topper over, George, loses control of their speeding car and they crash. Though they feel all right, George and Marian quickly realize that they are transparent and died in the crash.

As Topper thinks over the Kerbys' fate, he receives delivery of their newly repaired car and takes it for a drive, after the mechanic says that he is not the type for the car and Clara, forbids him to buy it. Speeding along, Topper, swerves off the road in the very spot where the Kerby's died. Although, shocked to see the Kerbys' spirits, Topper, likes Marion's ideas to make him a new man.

The Kerby's then take Topper to their New York apartment, where he dances, then passes out from drinking. Deciding that Topper needs a Bromo Seltzer, George and Marion de-materialize and help Topper to their car, then cause a near riot when some chauffeurs get into an altercation with Topper. A policeman hauls Topper, off to court where he is charged with drunken and disorderly conduct. Reporters, recognize his name and news hits the papers.

The next day, Clara, is certain that her dream of socializing with the prominent Mrs. Grace Stuyvesant is now impossible. To her shock, however, Mrs. Stuyvesant is dying to meet Clara's now notorious husband and invites them to a party.

At the bank, Topper's employees look at him with new respect and Marion, appears to get him to take her for a soda. Instead, she stops to shop at a lingerie store, where she sees a pair of  flying lace underpants. Topper, stuffs them in his pocket then accidentally drops them in front of Clara back at home.

When she accuses him of infidelity, Topper packs a bag and drives off. Marion, then appears in the car and suggests that they check into the Seabreeze hotel and have some fun. Meanwhile, George materializes and looks for Marion, at the Topper home, where he tells Clara, that she forced Topper away.

Back at the hotel, Marion's, constant appearing and disappearing gets Topper, into trouble with house detective Casey. When, George arrives, the situation worsens until Topper finally begs to leave. On the way home, George suddenly speeds up the car and says he can't stop and the care crashes at the same spot again.

Topper, is not dead, only unconscious. He says that he would rather be with George and Marion than back home, but they convince him to change his mind. Topper, awakens in his own bed and Clara goes to him, wearing the lace underpants. Knowing, that Topper, will now be all right, George and Marion, say goodbye as Clara and Topper embrace.

Video: Movie in full..



Some great sight gags made this a big hit for Cary Grant and Constance Bennett, who certainly are a handsome leading couple but it's Roland Young, as "Cosmo Topper," who steals the show. He's a stiff old man who quickly loosens up and the transformation is fun to watch. Bennett was a legitimate 1930's glamour girl who looks just great in here and pairs off well with the handsome Grant. The two of them also exhibit a good comedic touch. Even more handsome than those two was the automobile, what a great-looking sports car!

The fancy finned-back car driven by the Kerbys was custom built by the Bohman & Schwartz Co. using a 1936 Buick Roadmaster chassis. Originally the producers had in mind to use a coffin-nosed Cord, but it wasn't large enough. In the custom-made Buick there were special compartments for camera equipment, etc. The Buick resembles a Cord, but the supercharger pipes on the side were just decorations (a Cord comes with an actual supercharger). After filming the Buick was bought by the Gilmore Oil Co. and was used for promotional purposes for many years. It was updated in 1954 with a Chrysler Imperial chassis and drive train. The car driven by Cosmo Topper is a 1936 Lincoln Model K.

Dynamic Duos in Classic Film Blogathon: Cary Grant and Carole Lombard.

Who, does not love a classic movie Dynamic Duo? My personal pick for one of the most romantic movie couples of all time for this Blogathon, is Cary Grant and Carole Lombard. Their performance are realistic and believable and they made it look easy. The memory of their love stays with you long after the classic movie, In Name Only is over. The only movie that they were a romantic couple.

I fell in love with the performances of Lombard and Grant in the classic film, In Name Only(1939). Alec, who in a loveless marriage, still looking for a true love. Alec, is kind and trusting and Julie is patiently waiting for her man, dealing with the pressures of society and what other people might think. Will Julie and Alec ever get to be together? A wonderful drama directed by John Cromwell. Music by Roy Webb created the mood.

Video: A charming scene "gone fishing".



I would have also liked to see them as a Dynamic Duo in the classic films:

They co-starred early in their career in The Eagle and The Hawk(1933) with Fredric March, but they shared no scenes together. March is Grant's training officer and he washes him out as a pilot. Grant resents this and slugs him and becomes tail-gunner. Eventually, March becomes an air ace. But soon all the deaths of his comrades really takes it's toll on him. He's a sensitive soul and he starts to crack up. By then Grant is on the scene as his tail-gunner, but they're still not getting along. Cary Grant plays very much against type. Jack Oakie is around to do the comic relief. Carole Lombard is in this as well for about 10 minutes as a woman March encounters while on a 10 day leave. It's a good anti-war film and the ending will surprise you.

Cary had a small role in one of Carole's earlier films, Sinners in The Sun(1932). A beautifully written movie, where Chester Morris and Carole Lombard love each other, but she is terrified of the life of poverty. So they break up and they drift into lives as a kept woman and a gigolo. Cary Grant, in his second movie, but if you're not paying attention you could easily miss him, his voice was far more distinctive than his good looks at this stage of his career..

Participating Blogs

The Hollywood Revue – Greta Garbo and John Gilbert

Outspoken & Freckled - Nick and Nora Charles

Bogie Film Blog – Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre

Picture Spoilers – Dynamic Duos in Libeled Lady

Stardust – Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck

Caftan Woman – Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

Comet Over Hollywood – Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan

Thrilling Days of Yesteryear – Martin and Lewis

Silver Scenes – Walter Pidgeon and Greer Garson

Movies Silently - Vilma Banky & Ronald Colman in The Winning of Barbara Worth

Critica Retro – Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp film depictions

Shadows and Satin – Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake

The Joy and Agony of Movies – Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck

Greg McCambley on Citizen Screenings - Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles in The Third Man

Durnmoose Movie Musings – Abbott & Costello

Silver Screenings – Bob Hope & Bing Crosby in a “Road” picture

The Nitrate Diva – Josef von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich

Weird Flix - Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, 50th Anniversary of Beach Party

The Man on the Flying Trapeze — Clark Gable and Jean Harlow, focus on Hold Your Man

Viv and Larry — Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier (on-screen and off-screen)

The Baz – Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone

Lime Reviews - Charlie Chaplin and Claire Bloom in Limelight

Furious Cinema - Lemmon and Matthau in The Odd Couple

Vienna’s Classic Hollywood – Thelma Ritter and Connie Gilchrist

Cinematic Catharsis – Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in Horror of Dracula

Krell Laboratories - Special Japanese legends Pairings

Film Flare - Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren

Lindsay’s Movie Musings – Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda’s friendship

The Vintage Cameo – Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra

The Jeanette MacDonald Blog – Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy

The Great Katharine Hepburn – Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant

Classic Movie Man – Irene Dunne and Cary Grant

Virtual Virago – Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney

Be Careful! Your Hand! - Maleficent and her crow Diablo from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty

Noir and Chick Flicks – Carole Lombard and Cary Grant

The Motion Pictures – Cary Grant and Joan Bennett in Big Brown Eyes and Wedding Present

The Stop Button – Lon Chaney Jr and Bela Lugosi

She Blogged by Night – Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi

Hitless Wonder Movie Blog – Evelyn Ankers and Lon Chaney Jr.

Movie Classics – Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

Hero Histories – The Lone Ranger & Tonto – film incarnations – Part 1

Secret Sanctum of Captain Video – The Lone Ranger & Tonto – Part 2

Western Comics Adventures – The Lone Ranger & Tonto – Part 3

The Last Drive In – Bette vs. Joan, “Get Back in the Chair Blanche”

The Last Drive In – Bette vs. Joan, “I wouldn’t piss on Joan Crawford if she were on Fire”

Trocadero Baby – Farley Granger and Robert Walker in Strangers on a Train

Terrible Movies – Godzilla and Mothra

Frankly My Dear - Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in Too Many Girls, The Long Long Trailer and Forever Darling

We Recycle Movies – Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson

The World’s Funniest Dissertation – Laurel and Hardy

Cinemalacrum – Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo in Godard’s Breathless

Classic Movie Hub – Groucho Marx and Margaret Dumont

Citizen Screenings – Batman (1966)

Once Upon a Screen - Crawford and Gable

Topic TBD

Wide Screen World

Goosepimply Allover

Beep beep'm beep beep yeah.

Cary Grant with his 1941 Buick Century 90 Limited-V.2

Cary Grant, loved his cars and like many Hollywood stars of the era, owned many great cars. One of his favorites was the 1941 Buick Century 90 Limited-V.2 . The story goes... a Buick executive had just returned from a trip to the British isles and told the other executives, that the British referred to going 100 mph as.. "doing the century". The executives liked the Century name and it stuck.

Pre-Code: Hot Saturday(1932) with Cary Grant.

Hot Saturday(1932). A drama film directed by William A. Seiter. Cast: Nancy Carroll, Cary Grant and Randolph Scott. Based on the novel Hot Saturday by Harvey Fergusson.

The film was Cary Grant's first movie as leading man.

Carole Lombard was mentioned for the role eventually played by Nancy Carroll.

Hot Saturday was released on DVD as part of a three disc, six film set entitled Pre-Code Hollywood Collection on April 7, 2009.

Young people in small town America, enjoy spending their Hot Saturday nights at Willow Springs, a lakeside dance hall. Wealthy, Romer Sheffield, owns a summer home on the lake, sets his cap for Ruth Brock, who works at the town bank owned by Mr. Randolph.

To please Ruth, Romer hosts a party for her friends on Saturday evening. Although Ruth arrives at the party with Connie, she spends the evening with Romer, when she returns to the party she finds that everyone has left for Willow Springs.

When Ruth and Connie go for a boat ride, she refuses to neck with him and he leaves her stranded on the beach. Walking through the woods, Ruth finds Romer's house and innocently spends the night with him.

When evil Eva, the banker's daughter, sees Ruth arriving home in Romer's car, she starts a rumor that Ruth spent the night with Romer.

After arriving home, Ruth finds Bill Fadden, in her kitchen. Bill is about to leave on a geological survey.

Ruth's reputation is ruined by Monday morning and to make matters worse Mr. Randolph fires her. Although her father defends her, Ruth's mother believes the gossip and is more worried about the family's loss of income than Ruth.

Ruth runs away in a rain storm to Bill's camp, where they make plans to marry.

While at Willow Springs dance, Romer, asks Ruth to dance, but leaves when he learns she is to be married. Bill, overhears Connie talking about the scandal and is furious that Ruth did not tell him about Romer. Realizing Bill does not trust her, Ruth leaves with Romer. Who is Ruth going to decide to marry?

Nancy Carroll, (who looks a little like Claudette Colbert), does a wonderful job in her performance as an innocent young girl, who is almost destroyed by evil gossip. Cary Grant, is very charming cad and a joy to watch. The ending is a lie that turns into the truth..

Nancy Carroll (November 19, 1903 – August 6, 1965), she and her sister once performed a dancing act in a local contest of amateur talent. This led her to a stage career and then to the screen.

She began her acting career in Broadway musicals.

She became a successful actress in "talkies" because her musical background enabled her to play in the movie musicals of the 1930's.

Her film debut was in Ladies Must Dress in 1927.

In 1928 she made eight films. One of them, Easy Come, Easy Go, co-starring Richard Dix, made her a star.


In 1930 she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Devil's Holiday.

Among her other films:  Laughter (1930), Paramount on Parade (1930), Hot Saturday (1932) with Cary Grant and Randolph Scott, The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933) directed by James Whale, and Broken Lullaby aka The Man I Killed (1932).

Under contract to Paramount Pictures, Carroll often balked at the roles being offered to her and earned a reputation as a recalcitrant and uncooperative actress.

In spite of her ability to successfully tackle light comedies, tearful melodramas, and even musicals, and as well as garnering considerable praise by the critics and public (she received the most fan mail of any star in the early 1930's), she was released by the studio.

In the mid-1930's under a four-film contract with Columbia Pictures, she made four rather insignificant films and was no longer an A-list actress. Carroll retired from films in 1938, returned to the stage, and starred in the early television series The Aldrich Family in 1950.

In the following year, she guest starred in the television version of The Egg and I, starring her daughter, Patricia Kirkland.

On August 6, 1965, she was found dead after failing to arrive at the theater for a performance. The cause of her death was an aneurysm. She was 61 years old.

Pre-Code: Merrily We Go to Hell (1932) with Sylvia Sidney.

Merrily We Go to Hell(1932). Pre-Code. Cast: Fredric March, Sylvia Sidney and Cary Grant. Directed by Dorothy Arzner. The film's title is an example of the titles that were common in the Pre-Code era. Many newspapers refused to publicize the film because of its racy title.

A heavy drinking Chicago newspaper reporter and aspiring playwright Jerry Corbett and socialite Joan Prentice fall in love and become engaged. Because of Jerry's reputation Joan's father does his best to prevent the marriage, offering Jerry money to leave his daughter, but Jerry refuses.

When a drunk Jerry shows up late to their engagement party, everyone thinks Joan will back out of the marriage, but love is blind and she goes ahead with the marriage. Jerry works on his plays and remains sober even while receiving rejection notices from publishers.

One day, Jerry's play "When a Woman Says No" is bought, and he and Joan go to New York for the production. The play stars Jerry's former lover, Claire Hempstead. The night of the premiere, Jerry celebrates and when his friend Buck brings him home drunk, Jerry mistakes Joan for Claire. Although she realizes Jerry started drinking again, Joan continues to stay with him. When she finds him leaving to go to Claire's, she informs him that she has decided to find a lover herself.

So, while Jerry is making his "Merrily we go to hell" toast with Claire, Joan toasts the "holy state of matrimony single lives, single beds and triple bromides in the morning" with her new lover, Charlie Baxter.

On New Year's Eve, Joan finds out that she is pregnant and is warned by her doctor to take it easy. She tries to tell Jerry, but he refuses to listen. Jerry soon realizes that Claire means nothing to him. Jerry returns to Chicago, works again at the newspaper and remains sober, but Joan's father prevents him from contacting her. Will Jerry and Joan ever reunite and become husband and wife again ?

Fredric March, always seems to give a good performance as drunken characters and he would get Oscar nominations for A Star Is Born and Death Of A Salesman. For once Sylvia Sidney gets the opportunity to play a beautiful rich girl. (She reminds me of Drew Barrymore). You will not want to miss a very young Cary Grant playing a small role as Joan's lover .

Sylvia Sidney (born Sophia Kosow; August 8, 1910 – July 1, 1999), using the surname Sidney, she became an actress at the age of fifteen as a way of overcoming shyness.

 As a student of the Theater Guild's School for Acting, Sidney appeared in several of their productions during the 1920's and earned praise from theater critics.

In 1926, she was seen by a Hollywood talent scout and made her first film appearance later that year. During the Depression, Sidney appeared in a string of films, often playing the girlfriend or the sister of a gangster.

She appeared opposite such heavyweight screen idols as Spencer Tracy, Henry Fonda, Joel McCrea, Fredric March, George Raft (a frequent screen partner), and Cary Grant.

 Among her films from this period were: An American Tragedy, City Streets and Street Scene (all 1931), Alfred Hitchcock's Sabotage and Fritz Lang's Fury (both 1936), You Only Live Once, Dead End (both 1937) and The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, an early three-strip Technicolor film. It was during this period that she developed a reputation for being difficult to work with.

After what seemed to be a promising second phase of her career playing opposite the likes of James Cagney in films like Blood on the Sun (1945) with a considerably more glamorous screen persona, her career diminished somewhat during the 1940's. In 1949 exhibitors voted her "box office poison". In 1952, she played the role of Fantine in Les Miserables, and her performance was widely praised and allowed her opportunities to develop as a character actress.

Sidney appeared three times on CBS's Playhouse 90 anthology series. On May 16, 1957, she appeared as Lulu Morgan, mother of singer Helen Morgan in "The Helen Morgan Story." In that same presentation Polly Bergen was nominated for an Emmy award for her portrayal of Helen Morgan.

Four months later, Sidney joined Bergen, then twenty-seven, on the premiere of the short-lived NBC variety show, The Polly Bergen Show.

In 1973, Sidney received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams.

As an elderly woman Sidney continued to play supporting screen roles, and was identifiable by her husky voice, the result of a lifetime cigarette smoking habit. She was the formidable Miss Coral in the film version of I Never Promised You a Rose Garden and later was cast as Aidan Quinn's grandmother in the television production of An Early Frost for which she won a Golden Globe Award. She played Aunt Marion in Damien: Omen II and had key roles in Beetlejuice (directed by longtime Sidney fan Tim Burton), as Juno, for which she won a Saturn Award, and Used People (which co-starred Jessica Tandy, Marcello Mastroianni, Marcia Gay Harden, Kathy Bates and Shirley MacLaine).

Her final role was in another film by Burton, Mars Attacks!, in which she played a senile grandmother whose beloved Slim Whitman records stop an alien invasion from Mars when played over a loudspeaker.

On television, she appeared in the first episode as the imperious mother of Gordon Jump in WKRP in Cincinnati; as the troubled grandmother of Melanie Mayron in the comedy-drama Thirtysomething and, finally, as the crotchety travel clerk on the short-lived late-1990's revival of Fantasy Island with Malcolm McDowell, Fyvush Finkel and Mädchen Amick. She also appeared in an episode of Dear John.

Sidney's Broadway theatre career spanned five decades, from her debut performance as a graduate of the Theatre Guild School in the June 1926 3-act fantasy Prunella to the Tennessee Williams play Vieux Carré in 1977. Additional credits include The Fourposter, Enter Laughing, and Barefoot in the Park.

In 1982, Sidney was awarded The George Eastman Award, given by George Eastman House for distinguished contribution to the art of film.

 As a single woman, Sidney was involved in an affair with B.P. Schulberg at Paramount Pictures. When Schulberg's previous mistress, Clara Bow, began experiencing personal problems in 1931, Sidney replaced her in City Streets.

Sidney was married three times. She first married publisher Bennett Cerf on 1 October 1935, but the couple were divorced shortly after on April 9, 1936. She then was married to actor and acting teacher Luther Adler from 1938 until 1947, by whom she had a son, Jacob (Jody) (October 22, 1939 – 1987) who died of Lou Gehrig's disease. During her marriage to Luther Adler she was a sister-in-law to acclaimed stage actress and drama teacher Stella Adler. On March 5, 1947, she married radio producer and announcer Carlton Alsop. They were divorced on March 22, 1951.

Sidney died from throat cancer in New York City a month before her 89th birthday, after a career spanning more than 70 years. She bequeathed her black pug Malcolm to the National Arts Club, where the canine became a much loved mascot and noted attender of social events, celebrated in a short film by Carol Wilder.

She was skilled at needlepoint. She sold needlepoint kits featuring her designs, and she published two popular instruction books: Sylvia Sidney's Needlepoint Book (1968) and The Sylvia Sidney Question and Answer Book on Needlepoint (1975).

Sidney was also a staunch Republican and conservative.

Cary Grant performed in two films with Nancy Carrol.

Hot Saturday (1932). Drama film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Nancy Carroll, Cary Grant, and Randolph Scott. The film is about a small-town bank clerk who becomes the victim of a vicious rumor from a lover that she spent the night with. Hot Saturday was released on DVD as part of a three disc, six film set entitled Pre-Code Hollywood Collection on April 7, 2009. The film was Cary Grant's first movie as leading man.

Video: Having a good-time at the Willow Springs.

The Woman Accused (1933). Drama about a engaged couple on a sea cruise, starring Nancy Carroll and Cary Grant. The movie was directed by Paul Sloane.

Video: Movie Clip.

Nancy Carroll (November 19, 1903 – August 6, 1965), she and her sister once performed a dancing act in a local contest of amateur talent.

She became a successful actress in "talkies" because her musical background enabled her to play in the movie musicals of the 1930's.

Her film debut was in Ladies Must Dress in 1927.

In 1928 she made eight films, One of them, Easy Come, Easy Go, co-starring Richard Dix, made her a star.

In 1930 she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Devil's Holiday.

Among her other films are: Laughter (1930), Paramount on Parade (1930), Hot Saturday (1932) with Cary Grant and Randolph Scott, The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933) directed by James Whale, and Broken Lullaby aka The Man I Killed (1932) directed by Ernst Lubitsch.

In spite of her wonderful performances in comedies, melodramas and musicals and receiving reviews by the critics and public (she received the most fan mail of any star in the early 1930's), she was released by the studio.

In the mid-1930's she was no longer an A-list actress. Carroll retired from films in 1938, returned to the stage and starred in the early television series, The Aldrich Family in 1950.

In the following year, she guest starred in the television version of, The Egg and I, starring her daughter, Patricia Kirkland.

On August 6, 1965, she was found dead after failing to arrive at the theater for a performance. The cause of her death was an aneurysm. She was 61 years old.

"Drive it like you stole it".. Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant car scene from the film Monkey Business(1952).

Monkey Business (1952), a comedy film directed by Howard Hawks. Cast: Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, Charles Coburn and Marilyn Monroe. It is a story about a chemist, who's life is turned upside down after one of  the chimpanzees, mixes some chemicals together and pours the mix into the water cooler. After drinking the drink he feels like a new man... Barnaby leaves the laboratory.. getting a crew-cut and buying a wild, sportscoat.

Video:
In one of my favorite scenes in the film, is when Barnaby is at the car dealership, buying a new sports car and asks Miss Laurel (who has been sent to go out and find him) to go for a ride...

Houseboat(1958).

Houseboat (1958). Romantic/comedy starring Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Martha Hyer, Paul Petersen, Charles Herbert and Mimi Gibson. Directed by Melville Shavelson, who also directed the original 1968 version of Yours, Mine and Ours.

When Tom Winston, takes custody of his three children Elizabeth, David and Robert soon after their mother's death, he is surprised by their hostile feelings toward him. His sister-in-law, Carolyn Gibson, explains that after the loss of their mother, they are not doing well and little Robert seems to hate everyone and does nothing but play the harmonica.

Tom decides to take his children to Washington, D.C., where he rents a small apartment which turns out to be to small for all of them to live in.

After a concert, Robert takes off and hides in a rowboat on the Potomac River. Also attending the concert is Cinzia Zaccardi, who is traveling with her father, a famous Italian conductor, on a tour of the United States. Cinzia has a wild heart and wants a little fun, escapes by climbing out a window and into Robert's rowboat.

After realizing that the little boy is in the row boat,  Cinzia spends time with him at a Amusement Park and later takes him home. Tom threatens to spank the boy until Cinzia suggests he be "a parent, not a policeman." Seeing that all three children like Cinzia, Tom, offers her a job to take care of them.  At first Cinzia turns down the job and returns home but, after an argument with her father, she decides to accept the job.

When the guest house is accidentally demolished, Italian Angelo Donatello offers to sell Tom his rickety houseboat. Cinzia and the children work very hard to fix up the houseboat.

David, becomes tired his father's criticism and decides to run away one stormy night. When David's rowboat capsizes, Tom leaps into the river and saves him. When, Cinzia tells Tom to be more accepting of David, they realize that they are attracted to each other.

Tom begins to date Carolyn and buys her a dress for the country club dance. Just as, Carolyn and her friends arrive and after one of them insults Cinzia, Tom orders them from the houseboat. He then takes Cinzia to the country club dance and as they kiss, he realizes he is in love with her...

This is one of those feel good, funny, family films where Cary Grant's performance charms us right from the beginning. Sophia Loren, lights up the screen and she seems a natural with the children.

Video: Movie trailer.

Mimi Gibson (October 19, 1948). After the death of her father, her mother took her and her sister to Los Angeles. At only 18 months, she was a calendar model, posing with cute animals. By age two she was performing in movies.

During the 1950's and early 1960's she would appear in 35 movies and over 100 TV programs. Her last roles was playing teenage girlfriend in episodes of My Three Sons.

In 1957 she and child actress Evelyn Rudie played the daughters of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in, The Wings of Eagles. She and Rudie were not credited. The same year she was in the horror B-movie, The Monster That Challenged the World.

In 1958 she had a role as Cary Grant's daughter with Paul Petersen and Charles Herbert playing her brothers in the romantic comedy, Houseboat. Gibson said, "I'd like to be remembered for Houseboat." She said "Houseboat was fun, wonderful and I loved it". They filmed Houseboat for a month on location in Washington, D.C. The actual houseboat was on the Virginia (or south) side of the Potomac River. The scene at the amusement park was filmed at Glen Echo Amusement Park, on the northern side of the river. After the movie was finished, Loren gave Gibson a pendant with a houseboat on one side and "To Mimi from Sophia" on the other. Grant gave each of the kids a $50 savings bond.

In 1961 she performed in The Children's Hour. Gibson played a schoolgirl at a private school run by Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine.

On television, she appeared in eight Playhouse 90 dramas and many episodes of The Red Skelton Show, as well as some episodes of Whirlybirds.

In 1999 she testified before a California legislative panel on the need for statutory protection for child actors' earnings. She did this with Paul Petersen, who played her older brother in Houseboat. Petersen has remained a lifelong friend and is the founder in 1990 of A Minor Consideration, a non-profit group devoted to protecting and advancing the interests of child actors. Gibson has also been active in this group.

Today Gibson guards her privacy. She is happily married and  raises goats and lamas.