Movies - TV
A Moment In The Philadelphia Story Left Cary Grant 'Fascinated' By James Stewart
By LYVIE SCOTT
“The Philadelphia Story” was a chance for James Stewart to establish himself as a major name to watch — not just in the eyes of fans and critics, but with his co-stars as well. The film marked Cary Grant's first collaboration with James Stewart, and although this collaboration would also be their last, it was one that led Grant to gain tremendous respect and admiration for Stewart.
Grant highlighted the scene where Stewart’s character gets inebriated, intrudes at Grant’s character's home, and plays drunk to hilarious effect. In Stewart's biography, “A Life in Film,” Grant recalled, “In that scene I was absolutely fascinated by him. [...] The reason Jimmy stood out from other actors was that he had the ability to talk naturally. He knew that in conversation people do often interrupt one another.”
Grant also noted how Stewart's acting style later became the calling card for actors that followed — one of the most famous among them being Marlon Brando. Grant added, “Some years later Marlon Brando came out and did the same thing all over again. But what people forget is that Jimmy did it first. And he affected all of us really.”