Tuesday, November 20, 2007 - Cary Grant Movie Reviews--Arsenic and Old Lace and Bringing up Baby
For those of you that know me well, you'll know I'm a big Cary Grant fan. I've recently gone back and have been watching movies--re-watching some old favorites and discovering some new ones. I'm going to review each one of his movies I've seen. At first I was going to do them all on one post, but then I thought you all might appreciate NOT being overwhelmed (after all, even though I've not seen them all, he was in more than 80 movies!) so I'm going to do it as a series. If you have any questions on the movies, let me know! If you've seen them, tell me your opinion, if you haven't, please check them out!
Arsenic and Old Lace
The play version of this story was so successful that Frank Capra knew it would be an instant success as a movie, likewise. Ironically, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, and Ronald Reagan were all asked to play the part of the lead character, Mortimer Brewster, but could not. It was then that Capra asked Cary Grant to take the role. Although the role was one of Grant's least favorites of his own performances, I have to disagree with him there (sorry!). The whole movie is brilliant, but he brings new life to it. His non-verbal communication is genius. The faces, the reactions--this movie is a great specimen of what an actor should be made of. Grant perfected passionate romance, humor, adventure, horror, terror, insanity, and hysterics into one movie.
Mortimer Brewster is about to embark on the greatest voyage of the human life--something that he had actually made a living off of mocking. The great author who wrote numerous articles opposing the institution, well, he was partaking of it himself. Yep, Mr. Brewster was getting married.
Martial bliss is put aside soon, however. He always knew his family was a little bit zany--there was Teddy Brewster, his brother, who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt, and then there is the other brother Jonathan...oh, Jonathan. But he's been gone for years, so there's no need to worry about him, right?
His family is completed by his two elderly aunts. The sweetest women in the world, everyone proclaimed. Those two, Mortimer thought, balanced out the rest of the family. Dear sweet Aunt Abby and Aunt Martha. What would he do without them?
Unfortunately, a shocking truth is revealed to Mortimer. His aunts may be more crazy than the rest of his family put together. And where does this leave Mortimer? He's from a family of maniacs. Is he the next to fall to insanity? And what to do about his *dear* family? Is his marriage destined for failure--after all, who would want to be married to someone from his family?
Quotes from the movie:
"This is developing into a very bad habit! I don't know if I can explain it to you. It's not only against the law, it's wrong!" --Mortimer
"You wouldn't want to have children with three heads, would you? I mean, you wouldn't want to set up housekeeping in a padded cell. Oh, it would be bad." --Mortimer
"The gentleman died because he drank some wine with poison in it. Now, I don't know why you're making such a big deal over this, Mortimer. Don't you worry about a thing!"--Aunt Abby
And just for fun:
Bringing Up Baby
Along with Arsenic and Old Lace, this movie made me laugh until I cried. Plus, I continue to laugh every time I watch it. It never loses its charm. It's just classic screwball comedy with true, raw humor. Grant and comedy go hand in hand, of course--he's very witty. However, this is a new kind of funny. Here, Cary Grant is just plain goofy. And it's delightful.
Teamed up again with the wonderful Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant plays Dr. David Huxley, a scientist very serious about his work. He's been working on a dinosaur skeleton for years now, and just needs one more bone--an intercostal clavicle, to be precise--to complete his "child." Yes, he thinks of his work as his child. So does his down to business fiancee, Alice Swallow. Their marriage will be a purely business negotiation, in order to devote more to the world of science.
Yet, Dr. Huxley is in for a surprise when he meets Susan Vance, played by Katherine Hepburn. She drives him crazy--and he tries to get rid of her as best as he can. But somehow, the smitten Susan outsmarts him so that he will miss his wedding--with a insane plan involving a leopard named Baby, millions of dollars, lost clothes, a little dog named George, and whole new identity for him (which he knows nothing about!). The antics of this duo will have you rolling--down to the very last adorable moment.
Quotes from the movie:
"There is a leopard on your roof and it's my leopard and I have to get it and to get it I have to sing." --Susan
"Now it isn't that I don't like you, Susan, because, after all, in moments of quiet, I'm strangely drawn toward you, but — well, there haven't been any quiet moments."--David
Comments
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by giftedgirl
Hey!
I saw you added me to your friends list, so I thought I'd come check out your blog!
I love old movies like that! For some reason, I especially like the way the actors' eyes catch the light and reflect it. It just looks really neat, for some reason. :-) I'll have to try to see some more Cary Grant movies!
~ Becca ~
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by sarahbeth
Oh. My. Goodness. Another 'like' we share apparently. Cary Grant is my most favourite actor ever. And 'Bringing up Baby' is probably one of the funniest movies ever. Next to, of course, 'Arsenic and Old Lace.' Have you ever seen 'The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer'? That one's my favourite.
Your Thanksgiving sounds nice. I was just informed by my Dad that his Alma Mater (USC) is playing the big Thanksgiving game, so while we girls may be having a nice thanksgiving meal at the table, he will be in the living room cheering on his team. Dads, can't live with them, can't live without them, but we love them anyway!
Cheers!
Sarah Beth
Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CrossView
I love Cary! And I haven't seen these so....
The quote is hilarious!
One of my favorites is Charade. I never get tired of watching it!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - <i>Untitled Comment</i>
Posted by lotrsavvy
Funny. Cary Grant was a good actor (even if he wasn't a good person... ahem), I've seen the first movie. But I don't know if I've seen the other one... I might have.
Cool! Both themes sound good, though I think you could do a lot of cool things with the old movie theme.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too! :)
Jennifer
P.S. Have you ever seen Father Goose? I LOVE that movie! hehe
Edited by lotrsavvy on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 8:44 AM
Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Chris
hey!! I just read this morning a new poll shows Mike in third!! that is amazing! maybe he can win? O_o
Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - Yeah
Posted by SuperAngel
Cary Grant is not a fav of mine altho he has some really good movies. I like Gary Cooper better!!
RYC:
Yeah it has been awhile. I am doing ok.
How are you doing??
As Always,
Amanda
Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - hello!
Posted by rjdjohn316
How are you doing? I haven't been here in awhile.
have a great rest of the week.
Love,
Rachel
Friday, November 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by sharla88
Yea Ive read about Arsnic and old lace but never watched it thats neat!!
My thanksgiving was great busy and family filled (wich is a curse and a blessing all at the same time)
Yours?
GB~
sharla~
Sunday, November 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Curufinwe
Yes I'm sure! I only have a few passwords. I'll send you my email I used for that in a message....
~CF
Monday, November 26, 2007 - from charlotte
Posted by Anonymous
"Well, you can sing to the leopard too!"
Thursday, June 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Grew up with it. Bringing Up Baby is one of my favorite movies. I absolutely adore Cary Grant. Have you seen Father Goose? Love it. I am also a homeschooler, and a Christian, and see that I am very close to your age as well. Check out my blog, if you like!
http://ramblingsofacoffeeaddict.blogspot.com/
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