Cary and Audrey

This evening we—yet again—watched North by Northwest, where Cary Grant plays the quintessential himself: dashing, daring, exuberant, lusting, quick on his feet, righteous, funny. As we watched, I looked up some of the players: Grant himself, 1904–1986; James Mason, 1909–1984; Leo G. Carroll, 1886–1972; Martin Landau, 1928–2017; Alfred Hitchcock, 1899–1980. Everyone in the movie, dead. But then I got to Eva Marie Saint: and she's still alive—and the oldest living Academy Award winner (for her role in On the Waterfront, 1954)! Born on July 4, 1924, she is 97 years old. She married her husband, Jeffrey Hayden, in 1951, and they were married 65 years until his death at age 90 five years ago.

It makes me very happy to know that not everyone in that film is dead. I am also glad to know that she had a long, and I hope happy, marriage. Good on you, Eva Marie Saint.

After NxNW, we watched a bio-film about Grant, narrated by Helen Mirren. It was very interesting, and quite affectionate. It also reminded me of what a different world we live in, with regard to film, which Marvel Comics and Netflix seem to dominate nowadays. Or maybe rather, what a different world Grant lived in. Though we did overlap by some 30 years.

Yesterday evening, I watched another bio-film, about Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993). I kept hoping that Charade, which paired Hepburn and Grant, would get mentioned, but there must have been rights issues. Even so, it was a captivating documentary. Hepburn was so lovely and regal, and her work with UNICEF in her last years was beautiful.

I'm not the sort to pick up tabloid magazines to follow stars' lives. But I'm glad I watched these films. Not necessarily to know more about Grant and Hepburn per se. But to know more about the world. 

These actors are part of my cultural background. It was a pleasant frisson to see discussions of movies I know well—and a bit of a nudge to maybe check out movies I haven't seen. 

Grant made at least 55 films, Hepburn 29. I've seen a fraction of these. It could be a project?

Here is an Internet appraisal of the top ten for each of them:

Cary Grant
The Awful Truth (1937)
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Holiday (1938)
Only Angels Have Wings (1939)
His Girl Friday (1939)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Notorious (1946)
I Was a Male War Bride (1949)
Monkey Business (1952)
North by Northwest (1959)

I would also add Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), To Catch a Thief (1955), and Charade (1963). Because I've seen them, and enjoyed them, and so they are classic Cary Grant for me. 

Audrey Hepburn
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Charade (1963)
Sabrina (1954)
Roman Holiday (1953)
The Children's Hour (1961)
My Fair Lady (1964)
Paris When It Sizzles  (1964)
The Nun's Story (1959)
Funny Face (1957)
How to Steal a Million (1966)

And I have to add Wait until Dark (1967), where she plays, not super convincingly, a blind woman, up against bad-guy Alan Arkin. I guess I saw it at a formative age, but it's one of my favorites. Not that I've seen it recently. And maybe I shouldn't see it again, lest my fond memories get popped like a balloon... As for My Fair Lady, shortly after we moved to Tokyo in 1965, I made my mother take me to see it not just once, but twice, within the span of a week, because it was in English! And I loved it. And my mother, bless her heart, indulged me.

Anyway, I've enjoyed learning more about these two icons of Hollywood (and more), and being reminded of some favorite old movies. 

Plus, the brother of Cary Grant (aka Archibald Alexander Leach), Porter Leach, was my high school principal. Whatever the heck that means. My world!