Circa 1920s vintage matte-finish 10 x 13 photo of a young, handsomely dressed Cary Grant by James Hargis Connelly of Chicago, signed and inscribed in bold fountain pen, "To Lester—I know us better than—, So B— it!! Archie.” Double-matted and framed to an overall size of 17.5 x 21. In fine condition.
Following the success of his role in the musical Nikki, a 27-year-old Cary Grant—then using his given name Archibald Alec Leach—signed a five-year contract with Paramount Pictures on December 7, 1931. But B. P. Schulberg, the studio’s general manager, thought “Archie” needed a name change, ‘something that sounded more all-American like Gary Cooper.’ The actor agreed as well, noting that ‘Archie just doesn't sound right in America. It doesn't sound particularly right in Britain either.’ While having dinner with his Nikki costar Fay Wray, she suggested that he choose ‘Cary Lockwood,’ the name of his character in their musical. Schulberg agreed the name ‘Cary’ was acceptable but was less satisfied with ‘Lockwood’ as it was too similar to another actor's surname. Schulberg then gave Grant a list of surnames compiled by Paramount's publicity department, out of which he chose ‘Grant.’ A magnificently early ‘pre-Cary Grant’ portrait dating to the very dawn of a legendary Hollywood career.
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