The Quotebook
On Hollywood.
The studio system, the factory floor, and the business of being a star.
Grant became an independent contractor in 1937, unusually early, and spoke about the industry with the plainness of a man who had read his own contracts. These lines are about the trade, not the art.
The lines.
34 quotationsVerified
“I was born in the provincial city of Bristol, England, but have avidly frequented the brightest capitals of the world ever since, and now keep a permanent residence in the so-called, though misnamed, glamour capital of Hollywood.”
Cary Grant · 1963 · memoir · Ladies' Home Journal
Describing his origins at the start of the autobiography.
Ladies' Home Journal, autobiographical series, 1963.
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“I learned everything from Mae West - well not quite everything, but almost everything. She knew so much. Her instinct was so true, her timing was perfect, her grasp of situations so right.”
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“It took time to be accepted; it almost took twenty years until I got to be like a well-advertised brand of tea. Housewives bought that kind rather than take a chance on a brand they are not familiar with.”
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“There is too much heavy breathing and shooting going on.”
Cary Grant · 1986 · television
His verdict on contemporary movies, given from the stage months before his death.
Remark during A Conversation with Cary Grant, Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, New Jersey, May 1986.
Disputed
“Judy, Judy, Judy.”
Attributed
“Cary Grant is the only actor I ever loved in my whole life.”
Alfred Hitchcock · interview
Hitchcock directed Grant four times, in Suspicion, Notorious, To Catch a Thief and North by Northwest.
Widely repeated as a Hitchcock remark; the original interview and date have not been established.
Attributed
“I loved working with Cary — every minute of it. Between takes he was so amusing with his cockney stories. I was his best audience. I laughed and laughed and laughed. The more I laughed, the more he went on.”
Irene Dunne · interview
Dunne made three pictures with Grant: The Awful Truth, My Favorite Wife and Penny Serenade.
Attributed recollection of working with Grant; the original interview and date have not been established.
Verified
“My present status in the motion picture industry is wonderful for my ego. But notice, I don’t say it can’t change.”
Disputed
“Everybody thinks I’m relaxed. I’ve spent my whole life tense.”
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“I really don’t like to speak about myself... and neither do I want to bother with the many ridiculous rumors that have been told by columnists, placing me into close relations, even matrimony, with the world’s most beautiful women.”
Attributed
“I’ve had a lot of fine offers, but I’m cautious. I’d rather make one good picture a year than three indifferent ones.”
Verified
“Probably no greater honour can come to any man than the appreciation and respect of his fellow workers.”
Attributed
“You know what’s wrong with Hollywood? They make pictures for people who don’t go to the movies.”
Attributed
“The only way to make a good picture is to make it with good people.”
Attributed
“Do your job and demand your compensation — but in that order.”
Attributed
“We have our factory, which is called a stage. We make a product, we colour it, we title it and we ship it out in cans.”
Attributed
“There’s nothing wrong with being a movie star. It’s a very good living if you can get it.”
Verified
“Actually, it was Bobby who would do that, and frequently he would put the President on, which was quite a joy for me. Those men were brought up watching our movies, and they felt friendliness toward movie stars of our generation.”
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“I don’t even know who my favorite leading lady is. They were all hard-working people whom I basically enjoyed working with.”
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“I don’t know anything about drugs. None of the people I know is involved with drugs. Hollywood is a very hard-working town — you have to get up early, and you have to look good.”
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“I feel delighted and flattered, and I don’t think I deserve it.”
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“I had no idea she would become a big star. If she had something different from any other actress, it wasn’t apparent at that time. She just seemed very shy and quiet.”
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“I shall cherish it until I die, because probably no greater honor can come to any man than the respect of his colleagues.”
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“I think you’re applauding my stamina.”
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“I’m fascinated now by the economics of the movie business. I’m one of these people who can’t wait to see what will happen with Ted Turner and MGM.”
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“I’ve never been a joiner or a member of any particular social set, but I’ve been privileged to be a part of Hollywood’s most glorious era.”
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“I’ve worked with Bergman, I’ve worked with Hepburn, I’ve worked with some of the biggest stars, but Grace Kelly was the best actress I’ve ever worked with in my life. That woman had total relaxation, absolute ease — she was totally there.”
Verified
“Ingrid was a splendid, splendid performer, but she wasn’t as relaxed in front of the camera as Grace was. She took acting so seriously. But I adored her.”
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“Ours is a collaborative medium, we all need each other. That’s how we exist.”
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“The actors today are so much better than the ones in our day. I’m amazed at what Dustin Hoffman and Jack Nicholson can do. In my day, our work was incredibly confined because we were so hurt by censorship. We weren’t allowed to show any passion.”
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“The deaths of Grace and Ingrid hit me hard. Especially Grace’s because it was so horribly, horribly unexpected. And I think Grace was possibly the finest actress I ever worked with. Forgive me, Ingrid, Kate, Audrey and all the others. But Grace had something extraordinary.”
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“There’s too much heavy breathing and shooting going on.”
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“We very rarely have the truth told about us in Hollywood. I’ve had five biographies written about me, for example, and they’re all absolute nonsense. I’ve never even met some of the people I’m supposed to have met.”
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“When we were making Notorious, Ingrid could do no wrong as far as Alfred Hitchcock was concerned. He simply adored her. I always went to work whistling when I was working on a Hitchcock film because nothing ever went wrong. Hitch was so incredibly well prepared.”