Reviews of movies with Cary Grant.
Tuesday, July 1st 2008
Grade: C+
Synopsis: On a deserted Pacific island during World War II, a crusty hermit (Cary Grant) paid in booze to spot enemy planes, finds himself stranded with a French schoolteacher (Leslie Caron) and a slew of little girls.
Father Goose starts well enough, with Grant playing against type as a somewhat cantankerous beachcomber roped into service in the Pacific. His interactions with Trevor Howard are great fun, and Grant clearly seems to enjoy the role, which he claimed was the closest to his true personality of all his performances.
Unfortunately, Leslie Caron and the brat army soon show up and the film stumbles. Lacking Grant’s innate charisma, Caron and the children fail to generate any sympathy and nearly sink the picture. Caron’s failure highlights just how impressive Grant’s performance is, since on paper, his is a much more unlikable character, yet, on screen, it’s quite the opposite. Interestingly, Grant wanted Audrey Hepburn for Caron’s role, but she had already committed to My Fair Lady (1964), a film Grant had already turned down. Considering their chemistry in the previous year’s Charade (1963), it’s clear she would have been a better choice. MORE »
Posted at 9:24 AM in Movie Reviews and Cary Grant.
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Tuesday, May 20th 2008
Grade: C-
Synopsis: While trying to navigate dangerous waters in a beat-up submarine, a captain (Cary Grant) contends with an unconventional executive officer (Tony Curtis) and a group of stranded army nurses.
Operation Petticoat is a charming little comedy that runs a bit too long.
Leads Cary Grant and Tony Curtis are a joy. They simply exude charisma, and their early interactions are the film’s highlight. Their performances, combined with the breezy plot make this a very easy movie to like. Toss in some great one-liners and you’ve got the makings of a classic.
Which is exactly what this movie would have been, had it only been 30 minutes shorter. MORE »
Posted at 12:56 PM in Movie Reviews and Cary Grant.
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Monday, May 19th 2008
Grade: C-
Synopsis: During the Napoleonic Wars, a British navel officer (Cary Grant) and a Spanish guerrilla (Frank Sinatra) salvage a huge cannon to use against the French.
The Pride and the Passion is spectacularly produced epic featuring hundreds of extras, beautiful Spanish scenery, and several awesome sequences: including an attempt to transport massive cannon up and down a mountain, and the climactic assault on the fortified city of Avila.
That said, the film also suffers from some of the worst miscasting in history. Cary Grant’s last period piece was 1940’s The Howards of Virginia, after which he wisely swore off the genre. Admittedly, he acquits himself far better here, but he’s still ill suited for costume dramas and it shows. Even worse is Frank Sinatra, who’s just ridiculous as a Spanish guerrilla. At least Sophia Loren is passable as object of both men’s desires. MORE »
Posted at 4:39 PM in Movie Reviews, Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra.
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Thursday, May 15th 2008
Grade: A-
Synopsis: A man (Cary Grant) pretends to be married while romancing an actress (Ingrid Bergman) in London.
Okay, here’s the thing: there’s not much to Indiscreet, but I love it anyway. If ever there was a movie that worked purely on the charisma of its two leads; Indiscreet is it.
Director Stanley Donen wisely gives as much screen time as possible to his stars, indeed there’s hardly a moment one of them isn’t on screen, and that’s why this breezy movie works. The artful sets, designer costumes, and charismatic leads simply hypnotize you for 100 minutes and before you know it, the end credits are rolling and you’ve got a smile on your face. MORE »
Posted at 3:41 PM in Movie Reviews and Cary Grant.
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Wednesday, May 14th 2008
Grade: C-
Synopsis: A schoolteacher (Jean Arthur) hides a wanted man (Cary Grant) who poses as a gardener around her other tenant, a stuffy law professor (Ronald Colman).
The Talk of the Town is an uneven comedy-drama that benefits greatly from the presences of Cary Grant and Ronald Colman.
The film’s biggest problem is that it works far better as a drama than as a comedy. Whereas someone like Billy Wilder can blend the two genres seamlessly, The Talk of the Town often stutters and grinds when it attempts to change gears from drama to comedy. And that’s frustrating because it’s clear these hiccups aren’t insurmountable, and that simple rewrite or two by someone with Wilder’s talents could have overcome them, but, as is, the film is frustratingly uneven. MORE »
Posted at 1:01 PM in Movie Reviews and Cary Grant.
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