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Can Archibald Leach Find True Happiness
Away From Hollywood?
Cary Grant, that suave, sophisticated
movie star turned businessman, is not only alive and well, but more
handsome and appealing than any man has a right to be at 66 years of
age.
Grant, in Dallas Monday on a goodwill
mission as a member of the board for Faberge, brightened the scene
with excitement for the female buyers attending the market for the
Gibson stores.
In an interview with the Dallas News
he commented that his new career was not too different from his
Hollywood days. "We're all actors. Acting is just
as much merchandising as the cosmetic business or fashion."
Apparently, the glamorous actor
brought more to his Faberge connection than a handsome face and
personality. During his movie-making days he developed into a
sharp businessman who masterminded his own career, gaining knowledgeable
information through research into public opinion and arguing
percentages with theater owners.
Has he given up his movie
career?
At the moment there is nothing
scheduled, but he intimates the possibility is not a dead
issue. He still receives scripts to pursue and if something
turned up in a part to his liking "for a mature actor,"
another Grant movie just might happen.
For now he seems happy with his way
of life, traveling about two-thirds of the year for Faberge which
leaves him more fee time, intermittently, to have many cherished
visits with his four-and-a-half year old daughter Jennifer.
One such opportunity kept him at his Beverly
Hills home last weekend with Jennifer who, he says in typically
proud parent fashion, is "a darling and a great friend.
We have a good time together."
What is his advise on perfume?
"Don't use anything to excess. We (Faberge) have light
fragrances which don't offend if used lightly." His
preference in the men's line is Brut. "Many women wear
this, too. And why not. I believe in unity of fragrances
as well as other things."
What does he think of the current
movie trend in sex and nudity? "It doesn't impress
me. I've been married four times, you know."
Grant believes audiences dictate
future trends. If they don't like the sex-oriented shows, they will
go to see something like 'Sound of Music' - which they did
indeed. I have great faith in public opinion."
Contemporary fashion, too, he thinks
will be dictated by public opinion and there will be many looks of
individual preference. "What is fashion, anyway, but a
manifestation of what goes on in the head of the wearer."
Whatever hemline length anyone wants
to wear is fine with Cary, but he thinks something longer than the
micro-mini is prettier and more subtle.
In new men's fashion Grant is a
middle-of-the-roader. Always impeccable dressed, he was
attired at the interview in a gray suit with medium wide lapels (no
change for him according to Cary), a gray striped shirt and corded
silk gray tie.
Cary was born in Bristol,
England. His late father was a clothing manufacturer.
His mother, who is a spry 93-year-old woman who takes a walk every
day, still lives in Bristol and he visits her often.
"More and more I like going back home."
Grant was born in Bristol as
Archibald Alexander Leach. He ran away from boarding school at
age 16, joined an acrobatic troup and came to the states to perform
with the troup at the New York Hippodrome.
His now legal name, Cary Grant, came
about when he joined the Hollywood movie scene. It was in the
days of short names such as Clark Gable and George Brent. He
chose Cary Lockwood which was the name of a character he once played
on Broadway. Lockwood had to go since another actor had that
name. From a list of short names, Grant was picked as a last
name by the actor closing his eyes and sticking a pin in the
list.
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