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y ed ive. e lona nd attract attraction because of the movie’s huge success. s
Tyro Tyrone Power came from a theatri theatrical family and fought against the matinee ma idol tag saying “I don’t want to become an ageless matinee idol, having h to keep up my looks, lift my chin chi like Marlene and never dare smile in i case my face cracks”.
How However, romance novelist Barbara Cartlan Cartland was once asked how she could w write so many love stories while
stil still a virgin. She answered: “We didn’t need sex. We had Tyrone Power.”
English actor Peter Lawford was a member of the Rat Pack with the likes of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Joey Bishop and they all appeared together in films like
Ocean’s 11 and Sergeants 3.
He was romantically linked with film stars Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak and married four times, but once described his appeal saying: “I was a half-way decent looking English boy who looked nice in a drawing room standing by a piano.”
Bristol born Cary Grant was the leading man who remained a box office favourite for decades starring in classic movies Hitchcock thrillers North by Northwest, Notorious, To Catch a Thief and Suspicion as well comedies Arsenic and Old Lace and Father Goose.
“Everybody wants to be Cary Grant,” he said. “Even I want to be Cary
Grant.”
He also suggested his epitaph should read: “He was lucky and he knew it.”
Bonfire Of The Vanities writer Tom Wolfe described him as: “Hollywood’s lone example of the Sexy Gentlemen.”
Cary Grant oozed charm and brought a sense of sophistication to the big screen – with Tony Curtis cheekily adopting the image – and accent – for 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot.
Tony Curtis later said he asked director Billy Wilder if he could imitate Cary Grant for his scenes when he pretended to be a millionaire oil tycoon to woo Marilyn Monroe’s character in the movie.
It is said Cary Grant jokingly said after seeing the film: “I don’t talk like that.”
Tony Curtis in turn achieved matinee idol status thanks to his handsome looks at the start of his acting career.
“I was falling in love every day. I am completely in love with women. Every woman. I loved their company and there was always a chance you could kiss them,” he said.
Tony did not take all the attention too seriously though saying: “They gave me away as a prize once – a Win Tony Curtis For A Weekend competition. The woman who won was disappointed. She’d hoped for second prize – a new stove.”