Film historian Eyman (Hank and Jim) presents an enjoyable if overstuffed biography that reveals screen legend Cary Grant (1904--1986) as a man whose self-presentation as a "matchless specimen of masculine charm" masked deep insecurities. Born Archibald Alexander Leach in Bristol, England, Grant had an unsettled upbringing, thanks to his alcoholic father and neurotic, smothering mother, which would "leave him needing and rejecting love... almost simultaneously" throughout his life. The book is at its best when depicting Grant's early years as an acrobat and vaudevillian, which took him to America. Eyman then chronicles Grant's early--and often terrible--forays into film, followed by masterworks such as His Girl Friday, The Philadelphia Story, and Notorious. The back-lot gossip will most likely entertain casual fans more than the intricate box office and budget details. The longtime speculation about Grant's bisexuality comes up often, but would benefit from more nuanced consideration. Other threads involve Grant's multiple marriages and notorious stinginess (house guests reported receiving laundry and phone bills from the wealthy star). But also on display is his generosity of spirit with less experienced costars and colleagues, and his devotion to his only child, Jennifer, born late in his life to fourth wife Dyan Cannon. Though overlong and burdened by extraneous detail, this showbiz chronicle creates an insightful portrait of a man at war with himself. (Oct.)

A wounded Cockney lad becomes a renowned movie star. Among the several biographies of Cary Grant (1904-1986), prolific film historian Eyman's version garners top billing. Replete with meticulous research, perceptive observations, and sharp critiques, this account of the actor's life consistently engages and illuminates. The author focuses on the perennial actor's tale: The protagonist flees a squalid childhood, first through fantasy and then through the realities of fame, glamour, and wealth. Grant was born Archibald Leach to working-class parents in Bristol, England. When he was 11, his alcoholic, emotionally absent father had his "emotionally and intellectually erratic" wife committed to an asylum for 20 years. Archie escaped this trauma at the local music hall, first working odd jobs and then appearing onstage, where he demonstrated a talent for comic gymnastics. Vaudeville work ensued, and the 16-year-old acrobat deserted a tour of America to work on Broadway. Soon came film work in Hollywood, as Archie gradually became the eternally suave, impeccably groomed Cary Grant. Honing his skills, Grant survived several undistinguished early efforts to make "an astonishing run of films" in which "his willingness to play the fool implied an ironic attitude toward his own good looks." Backing encomiums of praise from Grant's colleagues are Eyman's keen descriptions of the actor's techniques manifest in films such as Bringing Up Baby, The Awful Truth, Notorious, and None but the Lonely Heart. Grant's personal life, on the other hand, gets mixed reviews: Only his fifth marriage succeeded, though the birth of a child during his fourth marriage, to Dyan Cannon, brought him lasting happiness. Canny business dealings, meanwhile, provided enormous financial reward. To the undying rumors that Grant was gay, Eyman replies, "there is plausible evidence [which the author examines] to place him inside any sexual box you want--gay, bi, straight." The author's vivid profiles of Grant's co-workers--designer Orry-Kelly, director Leo McCarey, writer Clifford Odets, and many others--create a colorful mural of Hollywood during its golden age. Top-shelf film history. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Cary Grant wasn't a real person. Archie Leach, from Bristol, England, was a real person; Cary Grant was a facade. Eyman attempts to bring the two together, as he did in his excellent John Wayne: The Life and Legend (2014). However, this book isn't nearly as lively or revelatory as that one. Eyman covers all the biographical bases--Grant's humble birth, his rise to stardom, his many relationships and marriages--but he never quite gets at the heart of the man. There are tantalizing suggestions of an interesting story to be told ("When Archie Leach had to play Cary Grant, it was always 3 a.m."), but we sense there's more going on behind the scenes. Speaking of behind the scenes, Eyman does a nice job of taking us onto the sets of some of Grant's most famous films (Gunga Din, North by Northwest, His Girl Friday), painting a picture of Grant as a perfectionist, but also as a generous actor, more concerned about the quality of a movie as a whole than his own star turn. A well-written and respectful biography, but it leaves Grant's personal story a mystery.

Cary Grant (1904--86) was perhaps the epitome of what we've come to call a movie star. Rising from humble beginnings, he was adored by women, envied by men, and respected by his peers for his agile wit and on-screen presence. Yet Grant often said he was just a man named Archie Leach and that the role of Cary Grant was merely another performance. Eyman's (Hank and Jim) engaging, thorough biography explores this lifelong performance, covering his subject's five marriages, his relationships with playwright Clifford Odets and directors Howard Hawks and Alfred Hitchcock, and his innate insecurity, which was famously aided by LSD therapy in the late 1950s. And unlike Marc Eliot's Cary Grant, which devoted much space to speculating on Grant's possible bisexuality, Eyman presents the facts of Grant's professional and personal life in a detailed yet conversational tone, neither shying from his relationships with men nor exploiting them for unnecessary gossip. VERDICT Combining existing research with voluminous new interviews and access to Grant's personal papers, this is an informative and entertaining biography of a legendary actor.--Peter Thornell, Hingham P.L., MA