The fact that Cary Grant never won an Oscar proves once and for all how meaningless those awards really are. Billy Wilder once said something like : I'd rather watch Cary Grant take out a handkerchief than watch most actors play Hamlet
I like Cary Grant -- a lot -- but something about him always seems a bit too superhuman for a mere mortal like me. When it comes to romantic/screwball comedy leading men, I more identify with William Powell. It's probably that magnificent voice of his; as Roger Ebert once wrote, "Powell is to diction what Astaire is to dance." And Powell's skills as a physical comedian are terribly underrated -- check out the fishing scene in "Libeled Lady" or the elevator scene in "Love Crazy" for proof.
Thank you, Ken. Wonderful video. I commit to Cary Grant being the coolest guy ever. As a kid, I used to imitate the shocked, exasperated noises he did in Arsenic And Old Lace. Said it before, I'll say it again, I saw him at Fox many many years ago and was stunned by his sculpted, handsome beauty. No movie star I've seen since has come even close. Though I did stand behind Audrey Hepburn buying popcorn at a theater. She was older, but still unbelievably, naturally beautiful.
Great video! My favorite Cary Grant movie is HIS GIRL FRIDAY with Rosalind Russell; they were amazing. However, Gregory Peck is still my number one favorite male actor from the first half of the 20th century; Morgan Freeman from the second half.
Regarding great actors who never got Oscars, there are actually dozens and dozens in that category. Since only one is given out each year, it can easily happen. To name just a few---Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton, John Malkovich, Ralph Fiennes, Samuel Jackson. As disappointed as I have been many times (never more than last year), I still respect the award shows. Even if my favorite loses, I usually agree that the winner gave an award worthy performance. The biggest disappointment I ever had was Julia Roberts winning for Pretty Woman--her performance was self-conscious and forced and it was a sappy movie, IMHO.
The incredible singer Madeleine Peyroux did a cover of that song and for my money, it's better than the original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch6h278GEpA Other people's mileage may vary, and that's fine. (Original comment deleted for a spelling error, how awful!)
To Diane D. - According to IMDB, Roberts was nominated for Pretty Woman but won for Erin Brockovich. I'm happy someone shares my opinion of Pretty Woman and her performance in it. IMHO Erin Brockovich is far and away the best performance of her career to date, and I give all credit to director Steven Soderbergh for her success in that role.
I am an avid blog reader and a huge fan of your work. I also go to a video production school on the east coast and I am in charge of a club dedicated to finding professionals within the industry who might be able to help us to provide more education and guidance within our field. I know you are very good about this sort of thing, and this blog is proof of that. This is the only way I knew how to contact you, but I was hoping there was some other way I could contact you to possibly set up a time that our students here might be able to interact with you in some capacity and learn from someone who has found considerable success within the industry, or, at the very least, that you could point me in the direction of somebody who's involvement with our school is more feasible. I know that you want to keep your contact info private, so I'm not sure of the best way to go about this, but please let me know in some way if you are interested in helping out. I would be forever grateful.
16 comments :
The fact that Cary Grant never won an Oscar proves once and for all how meaningless those awards really are. Billy Wilder once said something like : I'd rather watch Cary Grant take out a handkerchief than watch most actors play Hamlet
Funny, my mom's not a huge fan of his. I can't understand why.
Anyway, here's a Leonard Cohen cover that I'm extremely fond of.
I like Cary Grant -- a lot -- but something about him always seems a bit too superhuman for a mere mortal like me. When it comes to romantic/screwball comedy leading men, I more identify with William Powell. It's probably that magnificent voice of his; as Roger Ebert once wrote, "Powell is to diction what Astaire is to dance." And Powell's skills as a physical comedian are terribly underrated -- check out the fishing scene in "Libeled Lady" or the elevator scene in "Love Crazy" for proof.
Thank you, Ken. Wonderful video. I commit to Cary Grant being the coolest guy ever. As a kid, I used to imitate the shocked, exasperated noises he did in Arsenic And Old Lace. Said it before, I'll say it again, I saw him at Fox many many years ago and was stunned by his sculpted, handsome beauty. No movie star I've seen since has come even close. Though I did stand behind Audrey Hepburn buying popcorn at a theater. She was older, but still unbelievably, naturally beautiful.
Cary - #1 Coolest
By "Coolest guy ever" did you mean Cary Grant or Leonard Cohen. I think both are in the running.
Great video! My favorite Cary Grant movie is HIS GIRL FRIDAY with Rosalind Russell; they were amazing. However, Gregory Peck is still my number one favorite male actor from the first half of the 20th century; Morgan Freeman from the second half.
Regarding great actors who never got Oscars, there are actually dozens and dozens in that category. Since only one is given out each year, it can easily happen. To name just a few---Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton, John Malkovich, Ralph Fiennes, Samuel Jackson. As disappointed as I have been many times (never more than last year), I still respect the award shows. Even if my favorite loses, I usually agree that the winner gave an award worthy performance. The biggest disappointment I ever had was Julia Roberts winning for Pretty Woman--her performance was self-conscious and forced and it was a sappy movie, IMHO.
Reinforces my belief that movies should still only be in black & white.
There never has been and never will be someone like him on the silver screen. The essence of suave charm and appeal.
And yes, he could act.
The incredible singer Madeleine Peyroux did a cover of that song and for my money, it's better than the original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch6h278GEpA
Other people's mileage may vary, and that's fine. (Original comment deleted for a spelling error, how awful!)
To Diane D. - According to IMDB, Roberts was nominated for Pretty Woman but won for Erin Brockovich. I'm happy someone shares my opinion of Pretty Woman and her performance in it. IMHO Erin Brockovich is far and away the best performance of her career to date, and I give all credit to director Steven Soderbergh for her success in that role.
Cary is certainly among the coolest actors, just as Leonard is a very cool writer/performer. Hallelujah!
Thank you, Lorimartian, you're absolutely right. I guess I was just so disappointed in the nomination that I remembered it as a win.
For the record, the year Julia Roberts was nominated for Pretty Woman-1990-Kathy Bates actually won for Misery.
Ken,
I am an avid blog reader and a huge fan of your work. I also go to a video production school on the east coast and I am in charge of a club dedicated to finding professionals within the industry who might be able to help us to provide more education and guidance within our field. I know you are very good about this sort of thing, and this blog is proof of that. This is the only way I knew how to contact you, but I was hoping there was some other way I could contact you to possibly set up a time that our students here might be able to interact with you in some capacity and learn from someone who has found considerable success within the industry, or, at the very least, that you could point me in the direction of somebody who's involvement with our school is more feasible. I know that you want to keep your contact info private, so I'm not sure of the best way to go about this, but please let me know in some way if you are interested in helping out. I would be forever grateful.
-Tim
"Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant." ~ Cary Grant
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