Enjoyable but flawed. Isaacs gives a good performance as Archie Leach who masqueraded as Cary Grant for over 50 years. A persona he wore like a beautifully cut suit. But underneath the Saville Row suits Archies heartache and deep-rooted misery over his childhood and poverty stricken early life often comes to the surface off screen. 4 failed marriages due to his controlling nature and other problems haunt him and despite his aversion to being a father due to his own childhood, his life is saved in his 60s with the birth of his daughter to actress Dyan Cannon. Who sadly divorces him for unreasonable behaviour.
However, the acting laurels in this production must go to Harriet Walter as his mentally frail mother whom he thought was dead for 30 years due to a lie told by his reprehensible father. Cary saves her from a mental institution but fails to bond with her due to her excessive possessiveness and mental instability. Grants life does draw comparisons to Chaplins both had mentally ill mothers but whilst Chaplin took his to Hollywood where they had a reasonable relationship, Grant kept his mother in the UK unable to risk damaging his carefully crafted Cary Grant persona. As always Walter shows her wonderful acting ability.
Timelines in this production are not always correct and Archies brother died before Archie was born. And certain areas of Grants life are glossed over. But it's a reasonable and enjoyable effort.
However, the acting laurels in this production must go to Harriet Walter as his mentally frail mother whom he thought was dead for 30 years due to a lie told by his reprehensible father. Cary saves her from a mental institution but fails to bond with her due to her excessive possessiveness and mental instability. Grants life does draw comparisons to Chaplins both had mentally ill mothers but whilst Chaplin took his to Hollywood where they had a reasonable relationship, Grant kept his mother in the UK unable to risk damaging his carefully crafted Cary Grant persona. As always Walter shows her wonderful acting ability.
Timelines in this production are not always correct and Archies brother died before Archie was born. And certain areas of Grants life are glossed over. But it's a reasonable and enjoyable effort.