READ THIS: Evenings with Cary Grant Recollections in His Own Words and by Those Who Knew Him Best by Nancy Nelson foreword by Barbara and Jennifer Grant Our Coverage Sponsored by Stribling and Associates
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Originally published in 1991 and re-released in 2012, Evenings with Cary Grant is in a class by itself from the moment you open it up and see his wife Barbara and his daughter Jennifer wrote the foreword and endorse the work. For a year and a half, the author, Nancy Nelson, literally did spend evenings with Cary Grant in his thirty-six public appearances as she had the tenacity to convince him to do the lectures that it sounds like he grew to love up until his passing in 1986. We like that this is a celebration and tribute rather than a straight biography, and Peachy Deegan has always been curious about Cary Grant, and this was the perfect opportunity to learn as alas, we were born too late.
The pictures are fantastic in this book, right from the youngest one of Archie Leach! He grew up in the times of Downton Abbey, on the other side of the pond. Cary did a phenomenal job of educating himself, and his fascination with the magical was evident early on in his life.
Tales of Americana will entertain you: from the charms of the automat-which we only see in figments of our imagination- to the conversations with Jack and Bobby Kennedy. Grant lived at 325 East 80th Street (in 1928 it was $75 a week) early on in his career in New York...you know we love to plug the Upper East side, best part of town!
In the wake of the depression, Grant earned $450 a week in the early 1930's which was a sizeable sum at the time. This was testament to his talent, and his winning way with people including working independently with many studios-original for him at the time. We loved seeing him with a favorite of ours, Katharine Hepburn and Audrey too. Also it is notable and highly laudable that Grant sought to enlist during the war-we can't think of a single actor that would do so today-apparently they just don't make them like Cary Grant anymore, sadly! He became an American in June of 1942 and was a sincere patriot. Page 132 states: "During the war years Grant was on the board of the Hollywood Victory Committee (clearinghouse for all picture talent for servicemen shows), United Nations War Relief, and Jesterate of Masquers (a theatrical group that did war work.) And did you know: Cary Grant was also a Republican! (page 181)
Of all of the stories, here are some of the best so says Peachy:
"Throughout his life Grant never hesitated to demand what he thought was right, especially when it came to food. His displeasure with the English muffin service at The Plaza Hotel is now legendary. Instead of two halves of an English muffin, he was served one. Outraged, Grant spent a fortune on international telephone calls to track down his friend, Conrad Hilton, then owner of the Plaza, to ask him if this was the way he ran a first-class hotel." (page 222)
"'Once Cary was staying at the Sherry-Netherland in New York, and he ordered up tea. When the waiter brought it, Cary went to the door, and the waiter went right by him and put the tea down. Then he looked around and for the first time saw him. 'Jesus Christ!' he said. And Cary just grinned that grin of his and said, 'No, Cary Grant.'" (page 226)
Our esteemed panelists add:
Cary Grant is one of the most famous leading men in Hollywood's history. With his dashing good looks and superb talent, he remains a favorite of the silver screen even today. I never knew much about the man aside from the films he had been in. I am glad that I picked up a copy of Evenings with Cary Grant, by Nancy Nelson! This book illuminates the fascinating life of the legendary actor. What I find most interesting about the book is that it does this by sharing writings from his own words and by those who knew him best. It is so easy to fall in love with Mr. Grant, and since much of this book comes from his own words, it is easy to fall in love with this book too! I discovered so many things about the man that I only knew from the films he has been in. By the end of the book, I actually felt a real connection to the actor. He was a wonderful man, and this is a wonderful book.
There's an entire generation that grew up with Cary Grant, and another that only knew of him by reference. Any generation will have some reference of Cary in their vernacular, unconsciously, or directly. Cary Grant was a part of movie history, when movies forged our culture with their direct influence. How to dress? Watch Cary Grant. He gave James Bond his walk, his humor, his swagger. He gave pratfalls an elegance so hard to achieve. but most of all, Cary Grant gave of himself to a public that adored him, swooned over him, and all around admires him even now, while watching his elegant self sweep through a scene in any of his films. This fascinating book, written by Nancy Nelson does the absolute best thing an author can do : she relies upon his friends to fill in the blanks. No suppositions in here. It's all fact, and gives us an overview of fun Hollywood when it was young and stupid. Hollywood, when its innocence belied all the hard work that went into any important career . No flight of fancy, this book delivers grist to the gossip mill of days when movies were truly major entertainment. Read it and weep. Read it and laugh. Read it and discover Cary Grant.
I always find it interesting to learn about the Hollywood stars when they are not behind the camera. This book on Cary Grant is so informative, entertaining and gives real insight to the Silver Screen Star. Interestingly enough, Grant was a shy and less confident man then the one you saw in front of the camera. There was not a character that though him for a loop. However, in this book you learn how shy and the ways he doubted himself in real life. Learn this from his many close on screen and off screen friends. Team this up with great pictures that really tell the story of his generosity, his many failed marriages and the way he strived to be the very best he could be in an overly perfectionist way. That is probably why his marriages failed. However, looking fit was something he did perfect. WOW, some of the photos showed the incredible shape and body he had. Overall, this book give a personal insight to all aspects of Grant’s life that is cannot be compared to any other account.
I have loved Cary Grant for years. I've read several other books about him and loved every one. When I saw Evenings with Cary Grant: Recollections in His Own Words and by Those Who Knew Him Best, I was so excited. This book was more in depth than any other book I've read. I learned more about Cary Grant than I have in the past because some of this book was his own words. I loved and admired Cary Grant as an actor before reading this book. After reading, I love and admire him even more. You were able to see and know a side of him you would never have seen before. If you know of anyone who is a Cary Grant fan, this is a must have book for their collection. One of my close friends is a huge Cary Grant fan and I know what her next gift will be. I highly recommend it.
Evenings with Cary Grant has earned Whom You Know's Highest Recommendation.
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Charming, witty, effortlessly debonair, and elegant, Cary Grant was the ultimate leading man, a silver screen icon who seemed to embody all that a movie star should be. But beneath the glamour was a real and complicated man—surprisingly vulnerable, unabashedly romantic, an often exacting perfectionist who rose above a traumatic childhood and failed marriages to become an incomparable Hollywood legend.
This September, Applause Theatre & Cinema Books publishes a fresh new edition of Evenings with Cary Grant by Nancy Nelson ($22.99), the fan-preferred biography. In 1981, the author first persuaded Cary Grant to make public appearances and then represented and accompanied him and his wife for his superb one-man show called “A Conversation with Cary Grant.” Through those evenings and in many other more private conversations, she produced a book more personal than any other Cary Grant biography. As Gregory Peck said, this is “the first book about the real Cary—lively, warm, always entertaining, totally honest—like the man himself.”
Additionally, Nelson draws on material from Grant’s personal papers, along with loving, revelatory reminiscences from some of his closest friends and loved ones—including Katharine Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Quincy Jones, James Stewart, and many more—to reveal the vaudevillian, actor, lover, and father.
With a treasury of both well-loved and rarely seen photographs and a foreword by Grant's wife, Barbara, and daughter, Jennifer, this is the definitive biography of one of the screen's greatest stars.
Nancy Nelson is currently president of the Nelson Agency. She lives in New York.
For more information and bonus material, visit
Sept. 18 2012 Paperback $22.99 416 pages 6” x 9” 9781557839237
B&W photos throughout
Applause Theatre and Cinema Books is an imprint of Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
Praise for Evenings with Cary Grant
“I adored Cary Grant—and I couldn’t put this wonderful book down. I read it in one sitting!”
—Carol Burnett
“It’s a funny, lovely book about Cary.” —Katharine Hepburn
“A charmer of a book. You’ll love spending Evenings with Cary Grant.” —Sidney Sheldon
“It embraces the Cary Grant I knew and loved.” —Burt Reynolds
“A truly wonderful book about a truly wonderful man.” —Liza Minnelli
“As one of the world’s great raconteurs, Cary Grant knew how to spin a yarn, tell a naughty joke, or shape a thoughtful observation. Thank God readers everywhere can now enjoy the company of this remarkable man.” —Jack Haley, Jr.
“In this book you will discover the real Cary Grant, and you will love him even more.”
—John Forsythe
“An absolute treasure . . . the only authentic history of his life and loves . . . Reading this book will leave you with the feeling that you have just embraced the warm and wonderful Cary Grant. He was much more than a movie star. He was a magnificent man.” —Abigail (Dear Abby) Van Buren
“A celebration of a life well lived. Thank goodness there is a Nancy Nelson to tell the world about this beautiful human being we knew and loved.” —Jill St. John
“Nancy Nelson has definitely captured the essence of CG in her wonderful book.” —Robert Wagner
“This delightful book gives everyone a chance to spend some time with that delightful person—Cary Grant.” —Helen Hayes
“This wonderful book gives behind-the-scenes examples of an actor who was dedicated to the art of motion pictures and to the profession of acting.” —James Stewart
