Farley granger biography book

American actor (–)

Farley Granger
Granger in
Born	Farley Earle Husbandman Jr. ()July 1, San Jose, Calif., U.S.
Died	March 27, () (aged&#;85) New Royalty City, U.S.
Occupations
Years&#;active	–
Partner	Robert Calhoun (–; Calhoun's death)

Farley Earle Granger Jr.^[1] (July 1, – March 27, ) was an American actor.

Granger was first noticed in shipshape and bristol fashion small stage production in Tone by a Goldwyn casting jumpedup, and given a significant separate in The North Star (), a controversial film praising position Soviet Union at the climax of World War II, however later condemned for its factious position. Another war film, The Purple Heart (), followed, formerly Granger's naval service in Port, in a unit that normal troop entertainment in the Quiet.

Here he made useful groom, including Bob Hope, Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth. It was also where he began interested his bisexuality, which he articulate he never felt any entail to conceal.

His role cultivate Hitchcock's Rope, a fictionalized recall of the Leopold and Physiologist murder case of , fair him much critical praise hunt through the film got mixed reviews.

Hitchcock cast him again explain Strangers on a Train, little a tennis star drawn cross the threshold a reciprocal murder plot in and out of a wealthy psychopath; he alleged this as his happiest film-making experience.

Granger continued to come to light on stage, film and the media well into his 70s. Rulership work ranged from classical show on Broadway to several Italian-language films and major documentaries befall Hollywood.

For his contribution disturb television, Granger has a getting located at Vine Street check over the Hollywood Walk of Celebrity.

Early life

Granger was born wrench San Jose, California, the lady of Eva (née Hopkins) prosperous Farley Earle Granger Sr.^[2][3] Pacify lived at Hanchett Avenue love the Hanchett Residence Park neighborhood.^[4]

His wealthy father owned a Willys-Overland automobile dealership, and the frequently spent time at their beach house in Capitola upheaval Monterey Bay.

Following the reserve market crash in , integrity Grangers were forced to trade be in the busines both their homes and uttermost of their personal belongings attend to move into an apartment terminated the family business, where they remained for the next cardinal years. As a result ticking off this financial setback and distinction loss of their social stature, both of Granger's parents began to drink heavily.

Eventually class remainder of their possessions were sold at auction to common their debts, and the superior Granger used the last van on his lot to interior away the family to Los Angeles in the middle enjoy yourself the night.^[5]

In the s, righteousness family lived in a petite apartment in a seedy length of Hollywood, and Granger's parents worked at various temporary jobs.

Their drinking increased, and distinction couple frequently fought. Hoping grace might become a tap partner, Granger's mother enrolled him daring act Ethel Meglin's, the dance tell off drama instruction studio where Judy Garland and Shirley Temple locked away started.^[6]

Granger's father found work chimp a clerk in the Boreal Hollywood branch of the Calif.

Department of Unemployment, and sovereignty salary allowed him to ash a small down payment appear a house in Studio Urban district, where their neighbor was actor/dancer Donald O'Connor.^[7] At his hold sway, Granger's father became acquainted keep an eye on comedian Harry Langdon in class early s, who advised him to take his son interrupt a small local theatre disc open auditions for The Wookey, a British play about Londoners struggling to survive during Universe War II, were being kept.

The year-old Granger's use fairhaired a Cockney accent impressed primacy director, and he was throw in multiple roles. The luck night audience included talent search out Phil Gersh and Samuel Filmmaker casting director Bob McIntyre, abstruse the following morning Gersh contacted Granger's parents and asked them to bring him to wreath office that afternoon to talk the role of Damian, precise teenaged Russian boy in depiction film The North Star.^[8]

Granger auditioned for producer Goldwyn, screenwriter Lillian Hellman and director Lewis Critical.

Hellman was trying to command Montgomery Clift to leave significance Broadway play in which soil was appearing, and when recipe efforts proved to be useless, the role was given obstacle Granger. During the s, Filmmaker signed him to a seven-year contract for $ per week.^[9]

Early career

The studio publicity department was concerned audiences would confuse Farmer with British actor Stewart Agriculturist, so they suggested he exchange his name and offered him a list from which have it in mind choose.

"The names were cessation interchangeable, like Gordon Gregory meticulous Gregory Gordon. I didn't thirst for to change my name", Husbandman later recalled. "I liked Farley Granger. It was my father's name, and his grandfather's label. They kept bringing me original combinations, and finally I offered to change it to County Clark. I was the one who thought it was funny." Eventually the studio assault a press release announcing Farley Granger, a senior at Northern Hollywood High School, had archaic cast in The North Star after he responded to trivial ad in the local note.

"I thought that was a-ok really dumb story", said Husbandman. "The truth was much add-on interesting."^[10]

Making the film proved ascend be a fortunate start lock Granger's career. He enjoyed locate with director Milestone and gentleman cast members Dana Andrews, Anne Baxter, Walter Brennan and Jane Withers, and during filming put your feet up met composer Aaron Copland, who remained a friend in following years.

When released in , when the Soviet Union was still an American ally instruct in World War II, the pelt was savaged by critics running for newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst, a staunch anti-Communist who felt the movie was Soviet propaganda.^[11]

For Granger's next skin, he was loaned out have a break 20th Century Fox, where Darryl F.

Zanuck cast him fluky The Purple Heart (), tear which he was directed moisten Milestone and again co-starred introduce Dana Andrews. Still a lower, Granger became a close comrade of supporting cast member Sam Levene, a character actor distance from New York City who took him under his wing. Appease also became a friend confront Roddy McDowall and found myself linked with June Haver decline gossip columns and fan magazines.^[12]

Upon completion of The Purple Heart, Granger enlisted in the In partnership States Navy.

Following U.S. 1 Recruit Training in Farragut, Idaho, he sailed from Treasure Oasis in San Francisco to Port. During the day crossing, inaccuracy suffered from chronic seasickness direct lost 23 pounds, and look upon arrival in Hawaii he was admitted to the hospital bring several days of rehydration. Renovation a result, the remainder well his military career was drained onshore, where he first was assigned to the cleanup group at an enlisted men's billy situated at the end in this area Waikiki Beach and then should a unit in Honolulu lose one\'s train of thought worked with Army Special Assignment that was commanded by classic actor Maurice Evans, who not keep together and arranged entertainment sustenance all the troops in influence Pacific.

It was here roam he had the opportunity gap meet and mingle with staying entertainers such as Bob Aspire, Bing Crosby, Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, Hedy Lamarr, Gertrude Actress, and many others.^[13]

It was during his naval stint remit Honolulu that Granger had queen first sexual experiences, one add a hostess at a unconfirmed club and the other confront a Navy officer visiting leadership same venue, both on decency same night.^[14] He was shaken to discover he was into to both men and detachment equally, and in his memoirs he observed,

I finally came oversee the conclusion that for middle name, everything I had done put off night was as natural significant as good as it felt&#; I never have felt interpretation need to belong to unrefined exclusive, self-defining, or special group&#; I was never ashamed, careful I never felt the entail to explain or apologize convey my relationships to anyone&#; Uncontrolled have loved men.

I imitate loved women.^[15]

Granger returned to civil life and was pleased command somebody to discover his parents had pent-up their drinking and were treating each other more civilly. Filmmaker increased his weekly salary stick at $ and presented him tweak a Ford Coupe. The limitation was introduced to Saul Filmmaker and his wife Ethel, who became his lifelong mentor, mentor and best friend.^[16] Through righteousness couple, Granger met Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jerome Robbins, Writer Bernstein and Gene Kelly, who invited him to join realm open house gatherings that facade Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Make yourself be heard Sinatra, Betty Garrett, Johnny Manufacturer, Harold Arlen and Stanley Donen.

Most influential among his novel acquaintances was director Nicholas Spine, who cast Granger in crown film noir, The Twisted Road (working title). The film was nearing completion in October in the way that Howard Hughes acquired RKO Air Pictures, and the new bungalow head shelved it for just about a year before releasing go out with in under the title They Live by Night in fine single theater in London.

Earnest reviews led RKO to eventually release the film in glory States in late During decency two years it had remained in limbo, it had back number screened numerous times in unauthorized screening rooms, and one unknot the people who saw clean out during this period was King Hitchcock, who was preparing Rope.^[17]

Granger was in New York Single-mindedness when he was summoned locate return to Hollywood and converse Rope with Hitchcock.

The dusk before their initial meeting, Yeoman coincidentally met Arthur Laurents, who had written the film's theatre, which was based on nobility play Rope's End by Apostle Hamilton, a fictionalized account capacity the Leopold and Loeb patricide case of It was gather together until he began reading influence script that he connected sheltered author with the man settle down had met the previous shades of night.

Granger and Laurents met turn back, and Laurents invited the someone to spend the night. Proceed declined, but when the present was extended again several life later, he accepted. It upstanding to be the start light a romantic relationship that lasted about a year and systematic frequently tempestuous friendship that extensive for decades beyond their breakup.^[18]

In Rope, Granger and John Dall portrayed two intellectuals who hand over a murder simply to refurbish they can get away succumb it.

The two characters illustrious their former professor, played brush aside Jimmy Stewart, were supposed inherit be homosexual, and Granger endure Dall discussed the subtext have power over their scenes. Because The Town Office was keeping close tabs on the project, however, picture final script was so judicious that Laurents remained uncertain objection whether Stewart ever realized cruise his own character was homosexual.^[19] Hitchcock shot the film get in touch with continuous, uninterrupted minute takes, greatness amount of time a stumble of Technicolor film lasted, captain, as a result, technical inducement frequently brought the action fully a frustrating halt throughout representation day shoot.

The film at long last received mixed reviews in , although most critics were sham by Granger, who in subsequent years said he was easy in one`s mind to be part of say publicly experience, but wondered "what integrity film would have been aspire had [Hitchcock] shot it normally" and "had he not esoteric to worry about censorship".^[20]

Upon decency completion of Rope, Goldwyn card Granger, Teresa Wright, David Niven, and Evelyn Keyes in Enchantment (), which was panned luggage compartment a weak script and second best direction by Irving Reis.

Visor failed at the box department, as did his next responsibilities, Roseanna McCoy (), during which he and Laurents parted ways.^[21] While filming Side Street () on location in Manhattan financial assistance Anthony Mann, Granger briefly became involved with Leonard Bernstein, who invited him to join him on his South American cord.

By the time Granger ripe the film, the composer/conductor confidential married Costa Rican pianist keep from actress Felicia Montealegre. The digit men remained friends until Bernstein's death.^[22]

Leading roles

In November , Agronomist, who had two years justify go on his contract dictate Goldwyn, signed a new five-year contract with the producer.^[23]

Granger's get the gist two films for Goldwyn pointed , Edge of Doom ground Our Very Own, were caustic working experiences, and the mortal refused to allow the impresario to loan him to Worldwide Pictures for an inferior witchcraft carpet saga.

When he was placed on suspension, he sure to accompany Ethel Chaplin (who had separated from her husband) and her daughter on out trip to Paris. At leadership last moment, they were married by Arthur Laurents, who remained behind when the group dead for London to see illustriousness opening of the New Royalty City Ballet, which had anachronistic choreographed by Jerome Robbins.

Bankruptcy and Granger engaged in regular casual affair until the person was summoned to return gain New York to help evolve Edge of Doom and Our Very Own, both of which received dreadful reviews. Goldwyn postponed the nationwide openings of prestige latter, hoping to salvage quickening by adding wraparound scenes cruise would change the focus for the film, and Granger refused to promote it any in mint condition.

Once again placed on debarring, he departed for Europe, wheel he spent time in Italia, Austria, and Germany with Laurents before being contacted about prolong upcoming film by Alfred Hitchcock.^[24]

The project was Strangers on adroit Train (), in which Yeoman was cast as tennis sportswoman and aspiring politician Guy Haines.

He is introduced to neurotic Bruno Anthony, portrayed by Parliamentarian Walker, who suggests they transfer murders, with Bruno killing Guy's unfaithful wife and Guy disposing of Bruno's overbearing father. Type with Rope, there was neat as a pin homosexual subtext to the duo men's relationship, although it was toned down from Patricia Highsmith's original novel.

Granger and Zimmer, whose wife Jennifer Jones challenging recently left him for Painter O. Selznick, became close partnership and confidantes during filming, playing field Granger was devastated when Footer died from an accidental mixture of alcohol and barbiturates former to the film's release. Make for proved to be a snout bin office hit, the first main success of Granger's career, tube his "happiest filmmaking experience".^[25]

On Dec 31, , Granger picked crutch close friend Shelley Winters sort out escort her to Sam Spiegel's traditional New Year's Eve redletter day.

The actress kept him stoppage for nearly two hours, take up they argued while en flight to the party. Once at hand, they went their separate structure, and Granger met Ava Gatherer. The two left to listen Nat King Cole perform recoil a nearby nightclub and expand went to Granger's home, wheel they began an intense matter that lasted until Gardner began filming Show Boat a four weeks later.^[26]

Having reconciled, Granger and Winters went to New York Nation, where they audited classes kid the Actors Studio and loftiness Neighborhood Playhouse School of decency Theatre.

Winters subscribed to distinction concept of method acting, however Granger felt an actor "had to be faithful to class text, not adapt it succeed to some personal sense memory", keep from their disagreement triggered more arguments.^[27] Their plan to pursue feature training programs was disrupted just as both were called back discriminate Hollywood.

Goldwyn cast Granger rope in I Want You, a scene about the effect the Peninsula War has on an Dweller family still trying to win from World War II. Yeoman thought the screenplay by Irwin Shaw was "not only bovine, but felt dated", but welcomed the opportunity to work put together Dana Andrews and Dorothy McGuire. Goldwyn expected the film show accidentally be as successful as The Best Years of Our Lives" (), but it proved give an inkling of be as "tepid and old-fashioned" as Granger feared and, opportunity after cease-fire negotiations with Peninsula had begun, no longer local, and it died at righteousness box office.^[28] His subsequent projects – a screwball comedy co-worker Winters called Behave Yourself! (), and the Gift of ethics Magi segment of the diversity filmO.

Henry's Full House () – were no more successful.^[29] During the filming of integrity latter, he appeared on intrusion in a Camel commercial.^[30] Distinction following musical film, Hans Faith Andersen (), with Danny Kaye, on the other hand, sincere well internationally at the bole office.^{[citation needed]}

Eager to work gather Vincente Minnelli, Granger accepted nifty role opposite Leslie Caron spreadsheet Ethel Barrymore in Mademoiselle, separate of three segments in nobleness MGM film The Story depose Three Loves.

The film's fabricator, Gottfried Reinhardt, also directed rendering other two segments, and unquestionable mercilessly edited Mademoiselle to compromise his stories more screen time.^[31] Unhappy with the direction government career was taking, Granger sought-after solace with Shelley Winters, who was separated from Vittorio Gassman, and the two friends resumed their love affair, which combination one point nearly had culminated in marriage.

Their relationship was complicated, but Granger felt "it works for us."^[32]

Granger's next design was Small Town Girl (), a musical with Jane Statesman, Ann Miller, and Bobby Motorcar. Upon its completion, he hireling his release from Goldwyn, spruce up costly decision that left him with serious financial difficulties.

Smallholder was determined to move down Manhattan to study acting folk tale perform on stage, but sovereign agent convinced him to grip a role in Senso (), directed by Luchino Visconti impressive co-starring Alida Valli. Filming misrepresent Italy lasted nine months, notwithstanding Granger frequently was idle around this period, allowing him comfortable time to explore Italy contemporary even spend a long weekend in Paris, where he abstruse a brief affair with Pants Marais.

During his time restrict Venice, Granger renewed his affinity with Peggy Guggenheim, whom crystal-clear had met during his in advance trip to Italy with Character Laurents, and he met Microphone Todd, who cajoled him reach making a cameo appearance since a gondolier in his grandiose Around the World in 80 Days. He finally returned cause somebody to Hollywood exhausted, but happy attempt the experience.^[33]

Upon his return observe the States, Darryl F.

Filmmaker offered Granger a two-picture dole out, and in quick succession significant made The Girl in influence Red Velvet Swing co-starring Camber Milland and Joan Collins, demand which he portrayed tycoon Follow Kendall Thaw, and The Simple Street, a melodrama the doer thought was "preachy, trite current pedestrian", although he welcomed rendering opportunity to work with Suffragist Quinn and Anne Bancroft.^[34] Both films were released in ^{[citation needed]}

The same year, Granger stirred to New York and began studying with Bob Fosse, Gloria Vanderbilt, James Kirkwood, and Black Tryon in a class schooled by Sandy Meisner at grandeur Neighborhood Playhouse.

During this time, he made his Broadway launch in The Carefree Tree, well-organized play with music based get an old Chinese legend. Grandeur cast included Janice Rule significance Granger's love interest, and Alvin Ailey, Frances Sternhagen, Jerry Stiller, and Sada Thompson in behind roles. The play closed astern only 24 performances, but anon after its demise, Rule emotional in with Granger, and hitherto long they were making combination plans.

They gradually realized rank love their characters had matte on stage actually had watchword a long way carried over into real assured, and the two went their separate ways, although they remained friends until her death injure ^[35]

With both his film other theatrical career foundering, Granger dishonourable to television.

His dramatic Small screen debut came when he attended in "Splendid With Swords", type episode of Schlitz Playhouse run through Stars in ^[36] He asterisked in Beyond This Place (), an adaptation of the A.J. Cronin novel of the one and the same title, with Shelley Winters stomach Peggy Ann Garner, and united Julie Harris for a regenerate of The Heiress ().

Filth also was featured in episodes of Climax Mystery Theater, Ford Television Theatre, The 20th c Fox Hour, Robert Montgomery Presents, Playhouse 90, Wagon Train, Kraft Television Theatre, The United States Steel Hour, and The Siren Telephone Hour, and in adjacent years Get Smart, Run purport Your Life, Ironside, The Title of the Game, and Hawaii Five-O, among others.

In , Granger returned to Broadway owing to Fitzwilliam Darcy opposite Polly Port as Elizabeth Bennet in First Impressions, a musical adaptation enjoy Pride and Prejudice with clean up book and direction by Abe Burrows. The tryout in Different Haven was a disaster, gift reviews were mixed. Things restored slightly during the Philadelphia trot, but by the time birth production reached New York, Port – who was fighting bitter with co-star Hermione Gingold – was experiencing serious vocal crushing, and some of her songs would be cut during hip bath performance, creating confusion for significance rest of the cast.

Nonpareil two of seven critics wrote favorable reviews, Bergen was replaced by understudyEllen Hanley, and distinction musical closed in less mystify three months.^[37] Later that generation, he was cast in The Warm Peninsula, a play make wet Joe Masteroff. Co-starring Julie General, June Havoc, and Larry Hagman, it received fair reviews on the contrary closed after only 86 performances.^[38]

Later career

Despite his three unsuccessful Juncture experiences, Granger continued to centre on theater in the precisely s.

He accepted an summons from Eva Le Gallienne give a lift join her National Repertory Dramaturgy. During their first season, magnitude the company was in City, John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The President had attended NRT's opening night and post-performance festival in the nation's capital, straightfaced the news hit everyone shaggy dog story the company especially hard.

Smallholder had become a close keep count of of production supervisor Robert Calhoun, and although both had matt-up a mutual attraction, they not had discussed it. That fallacious they became lovers.^[39]

Granger finally accomplished some success on Broadway check The Seagull, The Crucible, The Glass Menagerie, and Deathtrap.^[40] Proscribed starred opposite Barbara Cook bolster a revival of The Munificent and I at the off-BroadwayNew York City Center,^[41] and cultivate he was cast in rendering Roundabout Theatre Company production show A Month in the Country.

In he won the Obie Award for his performance unappealing the Lanford Wilson play Talley & Son.^[42]

In the early ferocious, Granger and Calhoun moved divulge Rome, where the actor sense a series of Italian dialect films, most notably the Spaghetti WesternThey Call Me Trinity () and the giallo film What Have They Done to Your Daughters? (), alongside Mario Adorf, which was directed by Massimo Dallamano.^[43] He appeared in wholesome episode of the ABCpolice dramaNakia in and also appeared genetic makeup several soap operas, including One Life to Live in , on which his portrayal some Will Vernon garnered him capital nomination for the Daytime Honour Award for Outstanding Lead Person in a Drama Series, The Edge of Night in , and As the World Turns in –, produced by Calhoun.

Later he appeared in very many documentaries discussing Hollywood in popular and Alfred Hitchcock in specific. In , he was interviewed on camera for The Artificial Closet, discussing the depiction endorsement homosexuality in film and prestige use of subtext in indefinite films, including his own.^{[citation needed]}

In , Granger made his resolute film appearance in the movie Broadway: The Golden Age, strong the Legends Who Were There.

In it, he tells class story of leaving Hollywood mock the peak of his make shy, buying out his contract shake off Samuel Goldwyn, and moving change Manhattan to work on position Broadway stage.^{[citation needed]}

In , Husbandman published the memoir Include Prestige Out, co-written with domestic better half Robert Calhoun (born November 24, ).

In the book, dubbed after one of Goldwyn's famed malapropisms, he freely discusses crown career and personal life.^[44]

Death

Granger athletic of natural causes in top Manhattan apartment on March 27, , at age ^[45][46] Fillet body was cremated and her highness ashes given to family subsequently a service at The Bank restaurant.^[47]

Legacy

For his contribution to subject to, Granger has a star positioned at Vine Street on birth Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[48]

Filmography

References

External links