Thanks for Everything, Cary Grant.

Cary Grant saved the day several times in my life.

That suave, well-dressed, and elegant man slid into my life and made all the difference.

While I grew up in Los Angeles and attended college there, I’m not talking about the man in person.

I’m talking about the same Cary Grant you know–the one on the silver screen.

Watching his films and laughing–or thinking–has been a pleasure.

I’m thankful for the entertainment–and lessons learned.

Thanking Cary Grant for exactly what?

Many years ago, my husband was out to sea for, literally, months on end and the toddlers and I lived in a house in the woods without neighbors.

It snowed constantly one February week. Our heating system was primitive: a wood stove.

No one could get up our lengthy hilly driveaway.

It was just the children and me.

Did I mention one of those children turned two that week?

He meant it.

And I fell sick.

The existential dread of military wives is being the sole parent and alone without neighbors during a difficult time.

That was me.

While I could drag in enough firewood to feed the stove, the children were on their own hustling cereal, crackers, cheese, yogurt, and bananas.

I occasionally could warm up chicken noodle soup on the wood stove.

Then there was that suddenly determined two-year-old.

A recipe for disaster.

But, thanks be to God for the reprieve.

We couldn’t raise many television stations on our flimsy antenna, but that week the New York City independent station beamed a savior: Cary Grant.

Every day, the impeccably dressed, debonair, funny and charming leading man appeared at our house.

Even the boys liked him–especially with the leopard in Bringing Up Baby and the monkeys in Monkey Business. (The links are from the IMDb and include clips).

They weren’t exactly sure why, but they also giggled at Father Goose.

And look! Operation Petticoat featured a pink submarine!

(That confused the five-year-old who looked at me with anxious eyes. “Aren’t boats supposed to be black?”)

Fond memories of watching movies with my own father

My dad first introduced me to all the great movies, including those starring Cary Grant.

(He, however, preferred Charles Boyer in the well-dressed suave department).

Dad’s preference was World War II movies–because he wanted to reexperience his own youth, but also because he wanted his children to understand history.

Even cinematic history.

To that end, even my children can tell you Dad’s favorite movie was The Best Years of Our Lives.

But with that theme running, Dad introduced us to Destination Tokyo (another submarine film! One of the top five sub movies, by the way, in our family’s opinion).

Cary Grant played the cool, calm submarine CO when, inside Tokyo Bay, he nestled the boat on the bottom of the bay for an emergency appendectomy!

I doubt Dad ever sat through An Affair to Remember (but my mom did and cried). He didn’t like Alfred Hitchcock movies all that much, so probably missed all those.

But Gunga Din! You bet!

Dad preferred other movies stars, but when Cary Grant wandered into one of his favorite genres, Dad was all in.

Learning lessons as a young adult

People pick up ideas about life from the media they enjoy.

I always loved Cary Grant movies.

These are the warnings I took away from his movies:

• Don’t change the plans when remodeling a house (Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House)
• Don’t trust a man just because he’s handsome and suave. (Notorious; Suspicion; His Girl Friday; North by Northwest; To Catch a Thief–-wait, are most of these Alfred Hitchcock movies?).
• Be careful when you choose one guy over another–are you sure you haven’t misunderstood? (The Philadelphia Story; Bringing Up Baby).

But I also learned

• Laughter in the face of absurdity is fine–no matter how well you’re dressed. (Too numerous to mention).
• Sometimes it’s hard to keep a straight face. (To Catch a Thief; Charade; Arsenic and Old Lace).
• Seemingly intelligent men make stupid decisions because of a beautiful face or figure–be more intelligent and avoid foolish men. (Houseboat; Operation Petticoat; My Favorite Wife).

Watching Cary Grant movies with my husband–while sick!

How often life turns in a circle–which happened last week.

My husband and I spent evenings, half-sick, watching movies streamed (much simpler now–and more choices) of a favorite actor.

We’ve enjoyed his films before–my husband likes them more than his sons did–and, as mentioned above, Destination Tokyo is one of our favorite submarine movies.

We watched it again, along with Operation Petticoat–which makes me roll my eyes (at the ridiculous stupidity of the beautiful woman his character married) and him laugh. (“You were a far better Navy wife, but I’ve always wondered how the Tony Curtis character got into the Navy!”)

We’d not seen the classic Holiday before–which left us shaking our head at the ethical/moral decision. (We weren’t surprised it bombed at the box office–not the best message about “following your heart” away from a good job during the Depression).

With so many movies to choose from, we skipped all the Alfred Hitchcock films, as well as my two favorites: Bringing Up Baby and The Philadelphia Story.

Since we’re also helping a family member with a house refurbishment, we passed on Mr. Blandings Builds His Dreamhouse as well. (I recommend this movie and book to anyone thinking of a remodeling project, BTW).

All fun.

Which is your favorite Cary Grant movie? Haven’t we all got one?

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