Cary Grant

A Biography

By: Marc Eliot

Narrated by: Marc Eliot

Length: 15 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Bringing up Baby. The Philadelphia Story. North by Northwest. An Affair to Remember. When Cary Grant passed away at age 82, fans from every generation mourned. Nearly 20 years later his star shines just as brightly from television and revival-house screens; his name remains synonymous with effortless charm.

But perhaps the most remarkable fact about Grant, as renowned biographer Marc Eliot shows, is that his personal life was every bit as interesting and dramatic as that of any character he ever played. The new details Eliot has uncovered, on everything from the former Archibald Leach's troubled childhood to his ambiguous sexuality to his dabbling with LSD, will satisfy even the fan who has read everything previously available. Equally compelling is Eliot's incisive exploration of the magical amalgam of talent, looks, and charisma that made Grant a star.

©2004 Marc Eliot (P)2004 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Eliot's fascinating, sympathetic portrait is of a consummate performer who hid inner demons and used filmmaking to distance himself from reality." (Publishers Weekly)

Very Entertaining

The amount of detail and insider information in this book is astounding. The author reads his own work in a very entertaining fashion. Absolutely entertaining read. This one made me look forward to my morning workout (that's when I can listen to audible books). I grew up watching old Cary Grant movies on TV and now I know the story behind the making of some of my favorite films. I highly recommend!

Book Theme: Cary Grant is GAY, & in a few flims...

I felt like the author focused too much on Mr. Grant's sexuality. Something, the Actor spent a lot of his time and money denying. After reading this book my thoughts are that maybe he might have had a homosexual affair or two, but that he wasn't a homosexual. I was married 5 times to 5 diffrent woman. If the marriages were just to hide his true nature, then why would he keep marrying such different and such difficult woman?

I did enjoy many parts of this book though. The history of the flims, Mr. Grant acted in was very interesting. And I loved how the author expalined Cary Grant's view on how he wanted to be seen in his flims. He choose parts in which the leading ladies were always pursuing him, never the other way around. Smart move. That way, the audience was always wanting more.
And it is safe to say, we still are.

Give this one wide berth

What would have made Cary Grant better?

Here you have one of the world's best leading men in film, a marvelous light comedian and the quintessential rags, to riches story. Yes for sure we all have skeletons in the closet (no pun) but this work of drivel concentrates on Grants alleged bi or Homosexuality The author is making a case that he was a raving/closet homosexual. after all he had gay friends... and that pretty much seals it for the author. To Back this up he presents ... no evidence and even at one stage quotes "a source who knew" How does crap like this get published? He suggests the British acting colony were cowards, tell that to the many who went back to England to support the war effort, and it's a slap in the face for the many who were too old and volunteered anyway. No wonder the author is reading it nobody else would bother, I quit after he suggest (with yet again no evidence) that Grant was a spy for J Edgar Hoover....ugh.

Would you ever listen to anything by Marc Eliot again?

no chance

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

it recyclable in paper form

Creating Cary Grant

As a film critic who has spent the last two decades interviewing movie stars and directors for a PBS stations in Philadelphia, I've often been asked which star I most regret NOT interviewing. That is "Cary Grant". Perhaps the best thing I can say about this detailed, well-written, and insightful book is that I feel I've gotten to know the man who became the man we all wanted to be by listening to this fascinating tale. Some people would prefer that this charming, talented man be the perfect person offscreen as he was onscreen and at public appearances. I prefer to respect the accomplishment of "becoming Cary Grant" that the real person managed through much effort and agony. This recording is over 15 hours long, and I devoured it in 5 and 6 hour stretches within a couple of days of beginning it.

A Biography not The Biography

I do not accept the "opinion" of this writer. Where are your facts...you can say all this assumption. This is like the National Inquirer. I want my credit back.

True or not

What made the experience of listening to Cary Grant the most enjoyable?

Mainly the tales of old Hollywood and one of my top five favorite actors

Would you be willing to try another book from Marc Eliot? Why or why not?

No, it seems he spent more time talking about his sexuality and unknown sources than the actor himself.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Marc Eliot?

I rather like the writer reading their own words, it makes it more enjoyable

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me feel sorry for Cary Grant who is not around to deny or at least learn where this author got his information from. He sounded too much like a tabloid journalist than a factual author.

Any additional comments?

Over all I enjoyed the majority of the story, whether he was gay, bisexual or straight, it would never change my opinion of a man I've long admired and respected.

Poorly Researched, Irresponsible Assumptions

Marc Eliot is just terrible writer and belongs at US Weekly. I'm a gay man and have no issues with Cary Grant being gay but NONE OF THIS IS ATTRIBUTED TO ANY PERSON SPEAKING ON THE RECORD OR EVEN ON BACKGROUND. Writer's like this are beyond sleazy. I wonder why Eliot so desperately needs to fixate on this man's sex life as if that's all he's got. My suspicion is Eliot isn't dealing with his own homosexuality. I'm returning this title. PLEASE WATCH "BECOMING CARY GRANT" The documentary is well researched with any number of REAL PEOPLE SPEAKING ON THE RECORD.

Compelling and very well researched and written

How is the fan of Cary Grandson really thought there was little lit about which I did not already know. What a surprise this book was. His long relationship with his male friend Randolph Scott was astonishing to me. I did not read about it once in the local papers. The care and the detail with which this book is written is compelling and, at times, is riveting. I strongly urge you to read this book if you have a significant compelling or even mild interest in the movies and the greatest male star of his era.

Satisfying listen

I knew very little about Cary Grant before listening to this biography. I enjoyed it throughout. I'm glad the matter of his bisexuality was not avoided nor exploited.

Loved it.

Fascinating. Great detail. Well written and very well read. I enjoyed every minute and didn’t want it to end.