william steig drawing

Cary Grant

To Catch a Thief: Danielle

My lord. It’s been quite a while hasn’t it? There are many things to say about To Catch a Thief. The scenery is certainly worth a rapturous comment or two. The color photography more so. Cary Grant’s furrowed brow (also making frequent appearances in Suspicion, Notorious, North by Northwest and maybe even Father Goose) deserves a discussion of its own. And there is no reason why Grace Kelly’s Philadelphian lilt alone (simultaneously aristocratic and mischievous) shouldn’t inspire a few spontaneous collages, novels, fashion editorials, interior design ideas, and new kinds of martinis. Oh Yes. There are many things to say. But I shall say only one: Isn’t Danielle Foussard a lovely little thing? Wait, wait, wait. But isn’t Grace Kelly […]

The Bachelor & the Bobby Soxer

Apologies: 1. I apologize for the interlaced video. 2. I apologize for the lapse in posting. I was lazing about at the beach Dear readers, Your day is about to be made. I have a glorious treat for you. It is something many writers and directors strive for, but few ever attain. It is the perfect comedic scene, and it is in The Bachelor & the Bobby Soxer from 1947 starring Cary Grant, Shirley Temple, and Myrna Loy. Of note: Grant also exercised his dramatic muscles as an angel in The Bishop’s Wife the same year. In 1948 he was back to being his funny flustered self in Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, also with Myrna Loy. Coincidentally all […]

Bringing Up Baby: Susan’s laugh

*Two lame disclaimers: 1) The audio is doing something weird, 2) I sound like I’m barely alive This clip is from a chunk of perfection disguised as the 1938 screwball comedy Bringing Up Baby directed by Howard Hawks.  This was the second of four films that Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant would star in together (the first being the incredible Sylvia Scarlett which I’ll have to do a post on soon. The others being the under appreciated Holiday and the over appreciated The Philadelphia Story ). In the film Hepburn plays perhaps the greatest woman cinema has ever seen: Susan Vance, the whimsical, crazy, fearless, and unbelievably fun girl you wish was your best friend. Susan sets her sights on […]