Hot Saturday (1932 Paramount Pictures)
Grant and Scott met at Paramount while making the movie, Hot Saturday, and sparks flew on screen and off. In one scene a very tall 34-year-old Randolph Scott (Bill) dances with his fiancée (Ruth, portrayed by Nancy Carroll). 28-year-old Cary Grant (Romer) emerges from the rumble seat of his car as he arrives at the dance, and Cary Grant cuts in on Carroll and Scott, and the sexual tension between the two men is so hot that Nancy Carroll is all but superfluous. See for yourself on Netflix.
American actor Randolph Scott reaches out to British born Cary Grant.
The two stars shared a Santa Monica beach house (jokingly known as Bachelor Hall) during the 1930s as well as a mansion in Los Feliz (2177 West Live Oak Drive* – the house still stands). The two cohabitated for 11 years and remained friends throughout their lives, and between them had seven marriages. Randolph Scott’s career reached its peak in the 1950s, when he was the king of Hollywood westerns.
Famed homosexual film director George Cukor said this about the homosexual relationship between the two: “Oh, Cary won't talk about it. At most, he'll say they did some wonderful pictures together. But Randolph will admit it – to a friend.” Chronicler of Gay Hollywood William J. Mann, in his book Behind the Screen -- How Gays and Lesbians Shaped Hollywood, relates an incident from the 1970s in which a maitre-d' at a Beverly Hills hotel saw Grant and Scott sitting in the back of the restaurant, late at night, now old and white-haired, after all the other diners had left. They were holding hands.
Nevertheless, legions of fans refuse to believe that either man ever took part in a homosexual relationship. Yet both fashion critic Richard Blackwell and glamor photographer Jerome Zerbe claimed they had affairs with both Grant and Scott; and before meeting Scott, Grant had lived with gay Hollywood costume designer John Orry-Kelly.
That says it all, I think.
Photo: Cary Grant in the prime of his youth.
The mansion and pool shared by Cary Grant and Randolph Scott during the 1930s in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles. The house stands to this day.
Thank you for these lovely photos of these wonderful friends. Friendship comes in all shapes and forms. As Cary used to say, "Good Thoughts!".
ReplyDeleteGay! Straight! Bi! Who cares? Love is love. I loved them both. Great people. Great actors who brought us great entertainment.
ReplyDeleteWho cares whether they were or not. Everyone loved them for their on-screen personas.
DeleteAbsolutely correct! Their screen personas were wonderful!
DeleteThey both were beautiful people. Still love watching both of them to this day, as they and their movies are timeless. No one like Cary Grant before or after him. In a class all of his own. He lives on........
ReplyDeleteA different era...
ReplyDeleteLove them both. Today it would be to their benefit to be open as a couple. Time says everything. You can see the love in their faces in these pictures.
ReplyDeleteI loved Scott, his westerns. I lover Grant too, and his movies.
ReplyDeleteThey sadly lived in a time that being open was hugely looked down upon, not that many actors feel it's OK today either, but they were beautiful together.
ReplyDeleteThey were in love which other for their entire lives, and co-habituated as a couple for 11 years. That's longer than any of their 7 marriages. I think the longest Cary co-habited with a woman was 3 years. Grant & Scott were still in love when both were in their 70's, where, according to some Hollywood waiters, they'd be seen in a restaurant after hours sitting at a back table together, holding hands & talking.
ReplyDeleteTheirs was a wonderful friendship. Not certain of their sexual orientation, but Randolph's second marriage lasted 44 years until he passed away in 1987, just a few months after Cary. One quote of Cary's that I love, will paraphrase, " I've had five wives and one daughter. If I could do it all again, I'd have one wife and five daughters:.
DeleteI loved watching both of these great actors and remember them fondly,they were both handsome men and yes they had a private life.
ReplyDeleteProfessional,talented and both wonderful to look at together. Miss them and their Style. Kindest thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI noticed they died within 3 months apart! That says something, just my opinion! That happens when people have loved each for a lifetime! RIP! Mr. Grant, Mr. Scott!
ReplyDeleteDitto to the above comments. They were handsome, talented and we loved them both, real movie stars and 'real' people who as someone said,'had private lives'.
ReplyDeleteDitto to the above posts. I loved them both and their many wonderful movies. Their love was genuine and real and not many people have that, gay or heterosexual.
ReplyDeleteDitto to the above comments. They were handsome, talented and we loved them both, real movie stars and 'real' people who as someone said,'had private lives'.
ReplyDeleteWho cares whether gay or bi--they were beautiful men and great actors.They made some great films which will be seen for years to come and some of which i have watched countless times and will continue to do so.They found and had something called LOVE which some people search for all their lives and sadly never find.
ReplyDeleteGay men care if these big stars were gay since gay men were bashed and victimized at the time for being different. It is good for gay men and women to know that some of them were indeed, idolized.
DeleteAmen to that, well said...
DeleteJanuary 18th was Cary's birthday.Dispite the years, he remains young in my thoughts and feelings. He was truly unique. No labels.Just kindness and beauty. Kindest regards to all.
ReplyDeleteEven though they had to live in secret at least no one let it be known and they both were able to be with one another just sorry that they had to love behind close doors both men were amazing and talented men and actors!!!!
ReplyDeleteCary Grant born in England reared in California.
DeleteLove at any time is so rare to find that no one should be critical of where they find it, or who's doing who. It would obviously have been easier for Grant and Scott if they had lived 25 years in the future, when having a love is more important than being bereft, but I say to the two of them that I'm glad they found a simpatico human being much more than I care what gender he was, or, as the expression goes, "They argued all night over who had the right to do what and with which and to whom." ... RobtheElder
ReplyDeleteI'm a child of the 50's and can tell you that the outcry would have been great from all areas of America should it have been revealed. That's a sad statement, but true. My dad was the quintessential Randolph Scott western fan, "what a man" was his comment every time a Randolph Scott movie came on that little tiny tv. Yet, he would have turned on his idol like a cobra had he known. The studios, while protecting their investments, also protected fragile lives and great companions. While repressive, I'm glad they did to let them lead somewhat normal lives in that town.
ReplyDeleteLove is Love wherever one finds it
ReplyDeleteCARY was the example of GOOD MANNERS! I KEEP CARY IN MY HEART FOR HIS KINDNESS and EXAMPLE!"GOOD THOUGHTS!".
ReplyDeleteIt could be that in previous incarnations they were married or were lovers but of the opposite sex. When they were born of at this particular period they were of the same sex, but memories of previous incarnations came through and they were drawn to one another. Any follow-up comments can be sent to mdesah@aol.com
Deleteawesome. This is a great site. This is a great story.
ReplyDeleteAwwwww! The image of the two of them, late in life, still holding hands is so sweet!
ReplyDeleteWonderful friendship.as Cary used to say, "Good Thoughts"
ReplyDeleteI hope they weren't
ReplyDelete