31 Stars in 31 Days: Day 1 - Cary Grant

Kicking off my little event this month is my favorite actor of all time, Cary Grant. This is my first post in this series so it's a work in progress. And like I said in another post, I will try to choose each star's lesser known works, instead of their more known films. First I wanted to name some fave movies of Cary before I talk about the movie I watched in honor of him.


Favorite Cary film: HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940)
Favorite Cary role: Walter Burns (HIS GIRL FRIDAY)
Favorite Cary co-star: Irene Dunne (THE AWFUL TRUTH, MY FAVORITE WIFE, PENNY
SERENADE)
Number of Films seen of Cary so far: 44 out of 72

Today's Film: BIG BROWN EYES (1936) - One of Cary's early films has him cast as New York detective Danny Barr trying to take down a jewel theft ring. And also trying to find two men who kill a child in Central Park by accidental gunfire. He's aided by his sassy on again, off again girlfriend/manicurist/reporter Eve Fallon (Joan Bennett).  How's that for multi-tasking. Snappy banter ala The Thin Man and a good story propel this film with Grant smooth as the snappy dressed cop and Bennett as the reporter who loves a good story ala Nora Charles.


Best scene: after Eve walks in on Danny with another woman not realizing he is interviewing her as a victim, she gets mad and won't let him in to see her. So outside her door, Danny mimics another woman's voice and has a humorous, sexy conversation. After Eve opens the door Danny reminds her he used to be a ventriloquist before becoming a cop. 

Cops and criminals alike hang out at the local barber shop

Surprising thing: seeing a blonde Joan Bennett..it takes a few scenes to get used to seeing Joan as a blonde. I keep forgetting she started her career by being blonde but went dark to distance herself from sister Constance. 


Oh and be on the lookout for Walter Pidgeon as a smooth jewel thief. And a running gag about Danny always having tea when romancing a female. 


Rating: *** out of *****

Eve is upset again at Danny

"Would you like some tea baby?"