American Masters (TV Series) Cary Grant: A Class Apart (2004) User Reviews

Understanding the man

[jotix100 · 8/10 · 24 June 2004]

This interesting documentary that TMC produced, under the direction of Robert Trachtenberg, is about as close we get to the myth that was Cary Grant. The film is helped a great deal by the elegant style in which the narrators, Helen Mirren and Jeremy Northam tell us about this man.

Nothing is spared. There are things in the documentary that other producers would have stayed away from, like Cary Grant's use of the drug LSD and his possible gay life. In a way, the only thing that makes a stronger statement about Mr. Grant being gay is the declaration of his former wife, actress Betsy Drake, about the star's sexual prowess. If Mr. Grant was so good in bed with her, why bother to tell us?

Mr. Grant was a luminous presence on the screen. He had such elegance, such sophistication that he was a natural for the medium. We made him an idol and he gave us back films that will live forever. This film is a perfect tribute to a man that endeared himself to all that ever went to see a Cary Grant film.

A Pretty Thorough Documentary

[big pooh · 9/10 · 1 June 2004]

I caught this documentary when it first aired on Turner Classic Movies, and it impressed me with its examination of both Cary Grant the person and Cary Grant the personality.

Most bios I've seen on Cary Grant all focus on the screen persona and laud this cultivated image of the perfect movie star, but 'A Class Apart' brought humanity to Cary Grant. I was also impressed by the documentary's willingness to deal with issues glossed over in most other treatments (his LSD usage, for instance). Great documentary, and if for nothing else, worth watching for Betsy Drake's quote about whether or not Cary Grant was homosexual. God bless TCM.

Simply wonderful

[gws-2 · 9/10 · 28 August 2004]

This film is an insightful look at an incredibly complex and talented man. Cary Grant was a mass of contradictions: a tremendously talented artist who nevertheless viewed his craft as a means to make a living, not as a means of self expression. There were rumors that he was a homosexual but he was a womanizer of epic proportions -- for example he had an affair (which ended badly) with Sopia Loren early in her career and while he was still married to Betsy Drake. There is much to be learned here about a very interesting fellow.

This one of the best Hollywood biograpies I have seen. Highly, highly recommended. 9 out of 10.

A look at one of the greatest stars ever

[blanche-2 · 10/10 · 18 August 2005]

This documentary is a fascinating portrait of Cary Grant, an amazing man and one of the all-time great screen presences. "Cary Grant: A Class Apart" goes back to the actor's sad childhood, his entrance into vaudeville, Broadway work, and finally film, where he slowly began to build the "Cary Grant" persona. And persona it was, well crafted and beautifully portrayed.

The documentary features interviews with two of Grant's wives, Betsy Drake and Barbara Grant, his widow, and several directors and costars. Grant emerges as a hard working professional, somewhat remote, but obviously well liked and appreciated.

We won't see the likes of Cary Grant again, so if you get a chance to watch this, do so.

fitting and thorough

[postmanwhoalwaysringstwice · 9/10 · 14 December 2006]

Turner Classic Movie's documentary "Cary Grant: A Class Apart" is a well-researched and entertaining peek inside the life of one of the most important figures in all of cinema, the man formerly known as Archie Leach. The documentary serves as a tribute to the screen actor as scenes, images, and commentary are given to many of Grant's seventy-two screen appearances, but it also uncovers stories and shares insight into his private life through his memoirs and interviews with his friends and former wives. It doesn't only shine with that untarnished glow many life retrospectives like to offer to a culture's favorite personalities, but shares an intimacy not visible through his impressive yet controlled film persona.

Realistic doc about a movie star (for once)

[siderite · 8/10 · 12 July 2007]

This film made me feel the brilliance of Cary Grant and also made me understand the person a little. A guy born as Archibald Leech he changes his name to Cary Grant and from then on he consciously works on the image of this imaginary Cary Grant.

It is amazing to see a person work at his image this intensely, yet maintaining hold of his actual self. I saw this film completely by accident and I am not at all sorry for seeing it.

It also made me want to watch some of those old Cary Grant movies again. I recommend this for all movie fans, because it not only presents Grant, but the atmosphere and feel of the movie industry "back in the good old days".

One of the best biographies/career retrospectives on any actor

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 26 January 2011]

Part of my enjoying this biography I and career retrospectives was because I adored the films of Cary Grant. But, at the same time, I wanted a complete picture of the man--warts and all. That may not sound like a tall order, but it is. Too often, such films are fluff pieces--only praising the man and discussing only a few of their most famous films. However, in this case, while it extols him as an amazing actor (which he was), it also is able to give a balanced portrait of him as a man--something I really appreciated.

Well written and constructed and filled with great interviews (though I would have loved more archival footage of him), it's a must-see for fans of classic Hollywood.

By the way, you MUST pay attention to his ex-wife, Betsy Drake, as she discusses rumors of his being gay.

Cary Grant was a Class Apart!

[Sylviastel · 10/10 · 25 April 2019]

He was born Archie Leach and became Cary Grant, movie star worldwide. Women wanted to be with him and men wanted to be him. Even Cary Grant wanted to be Cary Grant, he was born Archie Leach in Bristol, England. The documentary is appropriate for American Masters because Cary Grant was an original class act. He became a legendary movie star. Audiences will see rare personal archive footage with wives, friends and co-stars. He could do comedy and drama just as easily. Everybody loved Cary Grant but they also loved Archie Leach. This documentary was shown on Bringing Up Baby DVD collector's item. It's worth watching if you love the old movie stars.

Would love to see more documentaries on Cary Grant by Barbara Grant Jaynes

[bn-55394 · 10/10 · 10 March 2016]

Barbara Grant Jaynes stands out here, in this documentary not only because she is the undisputed love of Cary Grant's life, but mainly because she, so superbly and elegantly, gives us the real Cary Grant. After all who can better "sail Cary Grant ship" if not this beautiful, inside and out lady with a healthy approach to life.I would like to see her again in a full blown documentary on Cary Grant. She carries herself so intelligently and elegantly. Millions of Cary Grant fans, who see his genius mind at work in his movies would truly appreciate her input. For posterity, it is very important that this REAL WOMAN reminiscences and talks about beauty, brilliance and unique person she once called her husband.

Definitive Look at Grant's Life and Career

[Michael_Elliott · 9 March 2012]

Cary Grant: A Class Apart (2004)

**** (out of 4)

Terrific, well-detailed documentary taking a look at the life and career of Cary Grant. The film talks about the early dark spot in his life that would haunt him and that's when his mother walked out on him as a child. We hear how Grant began acting, striking out in Hollywood at first and then the amazing career that would follow. Throughout the documentary we get interviews with the likes of Peter Bogdanovich, Martin Landau, Barbara Grant (his final wife), Roderick Mann (friend), Betsy Drake (his 3rd wife), Eva Marie Saint, Elvis Mitchell, Mel Shavelson and Ernest Lehman. We also get archival interviews with Ralph Bellamy, Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, George Kennedy and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.. Fans of Grant are really going to enjoy this documentary because just about every aspect of his life is covered. We get to hear and see why he became such a huge movie star but the documentary doesn't shy away from his personal life, which contained a few demons that would haunt the actor. There's discussion of his failed marriages, his affair with Sophia Loren and the controversial friendship with Randolph Scott. The documentary really does give you a great idea of what Grant was like, his beliefs and what really made him tick. One really comes away from the film feeling as if you understand Grant and especially when it came time for him to walk away from acting because he felt he was too old to be a leading man. He was still popular as an older leading man and hearing his thoughts on why it was best to walk away was certainly interesting. With great film clips, wonderful interviews and even a few comments from Grant, this is a wonderful documentary that covers just about every aspect of his life.

Probably many if not most Millennials know Cary Grant . . .

[oscaralbert · 8/10 · 28 December 2016]

. . . as the old-time actor dude who sued TV Star Chevy Chase for saying that Mr. Grant was "Gay" because there was a hot Black Market for items signed "To my spouse Cary" by his long-time house-MATE, fellow movie premier attendee Randolph Scott. This is not surprising, since Chevy still pops up on TV from time to time (at least as frequently as his namesake automobile brand), whereas Mr. Grant permanently expired when Chevy was a teenager or something. Residents of This Our 21st Century will learn from CARY GRANT: A CLASS APART that its title character was a heavy user of the then-legal "mind-expanding" drug LSD while appearing in such dubious films as OPERATION PETTICOAT, I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE, HOUSEBOAT, and WALK, DON'T RUN. Such a precipitous career decline on the part of one of famed director Alfred Hitchcock's most frequent leading men gave the U.S. Congress all the ammunition it need to outlaw further LSD doses for Mr. Grant (as well as for the rest of us still alive Today). As Grandma always said, cross-dresser J. Edgar Hoover never sued anyone for calling him "Mary."