For the first time one of Hollywood's greatest stars tells his own story, in his own words. From a childhood of poverty to global fame, Cary Grant, the ultimate self-made star, explores his own screen image and what it took to create it.
Grant's story is striking by the breadth of the chasm between his wounded inner self and his seductive persona that was attentive, buoyant and up for anything.
And so Becoming Cary Grant falls into that disappointing category of a documentary that, in wanting to do its subject a favor, actually does him a disservice.
Even with a subject as great as Cary Grant, and a take on him that appears to have all its metaphysical Old Hollywood signifiers in place, "Becoming Cary Grant" is a murky and rather disappointing biographical portrait.
Any documentary loaded with clips of Grant's work has half the battle won right there - few stars have ever appeared in nearly as many first-rate films as this actor did over the course of his 34-year career.
The documentary adds to the mountain of information about Grant and brings us somewhat closer to understanding who he really was. But it's likely aspects of both Archie Leach and Cary Grant will remain an enigma forever.
