|
He Graces the Stage Cary Grant Still
Sophistication and Charm The Daily Oklahoman March 16, 1984
Author: Gene Triplett
Estimated printed pages: 2
Oklahoma City University President Jerald Walker
introduced him as ""an intimidating model of urbanity.''
And after watching an eight-minute montage of
comedy and romance scenes from his greatest films, that description
was well affirmed.
When Cary Grant himself _ in the tuxedo-clad flesh _ strode onto the
stage of the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Auditorium Thursday night, he was
greeted with a standing ovation.
The jet-black hair that had gleamed from the
screen is now silvery white, and a few distinguished lines of age
have been added, but he is still the walking epitome of masculine
sophistication and charm.
He was the model of urbanity, to be sure, but
the only thing intimidating was the price of admission _ $200 tops
for a chance to talk to the legendary star, with proceeds going to
the Oklahoma City University School of Music and the Performing
Arts.
The man himself was friendly, open and
accessible as he fielded questions from the crowd, displaying his
patented self-effacing wit and looking incredibly fit for a man of
80.
When asked for the secret of graceful aging,
Grant pointed out that his mother had died in her 90s.
""The secret,'' he quipped,
""is selecting your parents. It's simple.''
Someone wondered how Grant felt while watching
his younger self in his movies, but the actor insisted,
""I never look at my old films. I try very hard not to.
When I have to, sometimes I can't remember even being there. I liked
the vocabulary I used to have _ or pretended to have.''
There were the predictable questions about
favorite leading ladies _ who was the best actress, the best kisser,
etc. _ but Grant, ever the gentleman, refused to rate his leading
ladies one above the other.
""Being as diplomatic as I can, my
favorites were the people I worked with more than once,'' he said.
Among these were Ingrid Bergman and Katharine
Hepburn, but he did single out the princess of film actresses, Grace
Kelly.
More than beautiful, he said, she had
""the most agile brain in our business. When she was
working she had no sense of that camera. She wasn't aware of it. She
was interested in what I was saying and I was interested in what she
was saying. Her skill was remarkable.''
As for favorite directors, Alfred Hitchock
seemed to top his list.
""Hitch had a rapport and
understanding deeper than words,'' Grant recalled. ""Hitch
was marvelous. I could try anything in front of him. He was a
peculiar fellow with a great sense of humor, very calm and patient.
... If a fire broke out he would sit there quite calmly and say,
"Would somebody attend to that, please?' ''
Grant's responses were refreshingly frank on
many subjects, like his feelings for Mae West, with whom he played
one of his most famous scenes.
""She was a remarkable woman, but I
had no great attraction for her. She was the most artificial woman I
ever met, and I dislike artificiality.''
He wasn't shy about his political preferences
either, professing his admiration for President Reagan.
""He's a very sensible man. I admire
him very much, but I know him on a personal level. And he was a very
good actor, despite what you read.''
Asked if he would ever return to film, Grant
replied, ""Heck no. Why should I? I've already made my
greatest production _ a daughter. Her name is Jennifer.''
Grant says he prefers ""living in
reality'' these days, and that he's happy with his many business
involvements and life with his young wife, Barbara.
One woman confessed, ""Mr. Grant, I've
waited for this night for 40 years. When I married my husband 36
years ago I promised I'd always be faithful _ if you never asked.''
And Grant, always with the proper, charming
reply, smiled and told her, ""I would have asked.''
|
