Becoming Cary Grant

BECOMING CARY GRANT presents a radically new perspective on one of the greatest of all Hollywood actors. Known for his suave sophistication, Grant became an icon through his roles in some of the great films of the golden area of Hollywood cinema. But Grant was also a troubled man; he described himself as peering cautiously from behind a mask, a facade, never revealing his true self, nor allowing others to truly know him.

Grant was born Archie Leach in Bristol, England. When he was 11, his father committed his mother to a mental asylum, without telling his son. Archie’s sense of abandonment would create a void in his life, and he failed to deal with its consequences until he reached midlife, when he became one of the first people to take LSD as a therapy. In more than 100 sessions with a Beverly Hills psychiatrist, Grant revisited his life and exorcised his demons. Finally, he could declare “at last, I am close to happiness”.

This film uses these words and many other insights from his unpublished autobiography to let Cary tell his story himself. The images are drawn largely from surprisingly cinematic material shot by Cary, most of which has never been seen before. His film-maker’s eye brings us a rich tapestry of people, places and impressionistic images that evocatively reflect the ups and downs of his inner journey. The film features contributions from friends who have never spoken before, from critic David Thomson who regards Cary as the greatest actor of all time, and Professor Mark Glancy whose new findings and insights feature throughout the film. It includes a treasure trove of extracts from Cary Grant’s films, some of the well-known ones – screwball comedies and Hitchcock classics – as well as less familiar movies that throw a revealing light on Cary’s identity – None But the Lonely Heart, Mr. Lucky and Father Goose.

The film is framed by his LSD sessions, and takes the viewerfrom his difficult childhood, through his 30 years of stardom to the joy of his later years, becoming a father and married to fifth wife Barbara Jaynes.

The words of Cary Grant are spoken by the celebrated actor Jonathan Pryce (Game of Thrones, Wolf Hall, Pirates of The Caribbean, Tomorrow Never Dies, Brazil) and the music is by Bristolian musicians from Portishead and The Insects.

BECOMING CARY GRANT is no ordinary biopic, but a film that allows us to enter into Cary Grant’s intimacy, to plumb the depths of his insecurity and to journey with him through a unique journey of self-exploration, and ultimately, redemption.