Becoming Cary Grant

Trailer—Becoming Cary Grant

source: Becoming Cary Grant

Interesting psychological and existentialist documentary on Hollywood star Cary Grant. There is some about his career, including the very begining as an acrobat in England and singing in Broadway. However, the great enphasis lies on the obscure man beging the glamourous Cary Grant: Archie Leach. Serious family problems, LSD treatment and other experiments and therapies, a bad "serial" husband, dubious sexuality and potential mysoginy... many issues are explored in varied depth in its less than one hour length. With lots of grrat footage, the film also highlights his roles in cinema in which Cary Grant faces somehow Archie Lech, the man behind the mirror.

I never thought anything could make Cary Grant boring, but these people certainly managed it! They took one of the all time Hollywood greats and created a snooze fest about him. I've seen many biographies about Cary, and enjoyed them all. I've seen almost all his movies, and thoroughly enjoyed them. So, I certainly thought I'd enjoy this. Nope! I wish I never saw it, because I will always have it in the back of my mind when thinking of Cary Grant. So, if you're a fan, stay away! Go watch a different biography of him. You'll learn just as much, but won't be left with a sour taste in your moth.

I agree with the other reviewer that it is perfectly extraordinary in 2017 that a documentary of Cary Grant should fail not only to discuss in any way his reltionship with Randolph Scott, with whom he lived, more or less as a couple, for more than ten years but does not even once mention Scott's name. While spotting "gay" tendencies in figures of the past can be a very tedious sport, there is not really any serious doubt about Grant's bisexuality and a biography that ignores it, while talking extensively of his difficulty in discovering who he was, is ridiculous. Had the film been made fifty years ago, one would understand, but in 2017 it is almost beyond belief. It is not as if any of it makes one jot of difference to the fact that he was a marvellous actor! or for that matter detracts in any way from his stature as a person. Even though one appreciates that the omission is out of respect for the views of Grant's daughter, who appears in the film, It is still crass dishonesty on the part of the film-maker and rather foolish jealous denial of the past on the part of the descendant.

If you are not compelled to keep watching, then the biography is a failure. This is a steaming pile of dung. I only stuck with it because it's freaking Cary Grant. They focus on the crappiest aspects of his life. The phony narration was very off-putting. God, what a torture chamber of missteps. Avoid at all costs. The sombre music really brought the story down. What a crappy biography of one of the most iconic actors in movie history. Made me sick to finish this.

Lets get the first thing out of the way. Cary Grant is one of the performers I admire greatly. I have not researched his career in depth but I was aware of his real name. Learning about his troubled childhood and his relationship with his mother and women was enlightening. I was shocked to find out he used LSD, under medical supervision, to better understand himself and was more shocked to find out about his weaknesses. He did turn those weaknesses into a strength though and became a better performer by understanding himself. Recommended viewing for his fans and amateur shrinks.

How can you do this "documentary" without discussing the years he lived with Randolph Scott. I heard not one reference to this part of his life. I don't know if they were gay or not, and I don't really care, but I've read they had a very close relationship. The film is incomplete without it.

Knowing little about Cary Grant - never having read or seen anything personal related to him, I found this documentary insightful and will now likely seek out more about him to fill in any gaps I'm sure we're left out of this short film.