image by JonathanKing
For decades, Cary Grant was the go-to leading man for many producers and directors. I believe that, if he could have, Alfred Hitchcock would have featured Grant in every one of his films. Howard Hawks often considered projects that could be suitable vehicles for Grant. Billy Wilder often came to Grant with scripts. It was not surprising that an actor as beloved as Grant was in demand. The actor became highly selective when it came to accepting roles. He was offered the best of the best roles, but he could not accept all of them. He became especially selective towards the end of his career, at which time he preferred leisure to work. He rejected many roles that later brought acclaim to other actors. Three of James Mason's most popular roles were Grant castoffs.
Film historians like to imagine Grant in the famous roles that he rejected. I have approached the artificial intelligence program Midjourney to make these imaginings into something more tangible.
Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Philip Marlowe in The Big Sleep (1946)
Joe Bradley in Roman Holiday (1953)
Norman Maine in A Star is Born (1954)
Shears in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Mr. Applegate in Damn Yankees (1958)
James Bond in Dr. No (1962)
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| image by kirk |
Humbert Humbert in Lolita (1962)
Harold Hill in The Music Man (1962)
Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (1964)
Bert in Mary Poppins (1964)
Andrew Wyke in Sleuth (1972)
Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha (1972)
Mr. Jordan in Heaven Can Wait (1978)
In 1949, Grant became interested in playing Lemuel Gulliver in a live-action adaptation of "Gulliver's Travels."
I am just happy that Grant starred in Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 classic North by Northwest.
Additional notes
I provided Midjourney with reference photos of Grant, yet the program was unable to produce an accurate likeness of the actor.
Yet, it didn't have that same problem with contemporary actors. I cannot understand this.
But I do believe that this problem will change very shortly. Expect me to remake this article when Midjourney releases its next version.
