Farley Granger - A Rebel Actor of the Studio System

Farley Granger sat with TCM in 1995 to discuss his career taking offbeat roles, his tumultuous working relationship under Samuel Goldwyn, being a stage actor and his thoughts on some of his most memorable roles.
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[@bethvirginiaphillips4583]

Strangers on a Train is Farley at his finest. One of the all time great movies.

[@susanmicheledavis4192]

I loved Farley Granger even when I was young watching “old movies” with my grandmother. He seems like a very personable man in this interview. Thanks.

[@paulkitt2376]

Always felt Farley Granger was under appreciated as an actor gave some great performances in strangers on a train and they live by night.

[@PhilAlumb]

He was very good..and decided to leave movies & Hollywood to work in The Theater.

[@CJBlanda]

I finally met Farley Granger in the 90s at a dinner at the Players Club in Gramercy Park, N.Y.C. and l sat at his table with the famed publicist John Springer and his lovely wife June, the event was for 'They Live By Night' with a q and e after the film.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

question & exit?

[@Fantomas4616]

love Farley Granger. So handsome. and love the most of his movies.

[@tinylilobserver]

Farley Granger's book "Include Me Out" is one of my favorite autobiography reads ever! What a wonderful man with a great perspective on "the biz" and craft. Thrilled you posted this wonderful gem of an interview! (Love the shout out to the legendary cinematographer James Won't Howe, perfect for for AAPI month.) More of this, please TCM, thanks 😊

[@gabrielleschmidt7201]

Thank you for the recommendation. I will look for the book.

[@davidbrims5825]

Another recommendation, George Sanders autobiography ‘’ Memoirs of a professional cad.’’

[@unowen-nh9ov]

@@davidbrims5825 His friend, great actor Brian Aherne, also wrote bio of Sanders, he & his actor brother both killed themselves.

[@dgtom]

That’s James Wong Howe. 😊

[@MissPerriwinkle]

im on my 2nd reading of it....lotta fun.

[@johnfotia3356]

I worked with him when he was cast as Caligula in The Robert Lewis Acting Company. He left the company before the play opened. He was a fine actor and had many interesting stories to share. I was the stage manager and wrote about the experience in my book: "Bobby Lewis: The Man, the Method and the Mission."

[@kenchambers7137]

Are most actors gay ?

[@johnfotia3356]

@@kenchambers7137 no.

[@jackcovey1832]

@@kenchambers7137 What the-Hell kinda question is that?!

[@kimnolte237]

He was definitely dreamy!! Love him in Rope.

[@charliefunboy5210]

I agree. I had a such a crush on him. As a gay actor, I guess I would have more of a chance with him than you would. ha ha

[@unowen-nh9ov]

@@charliefunboy5210 Read his memoirs, Farley seldom said no. Didn't he go from Shelley Winters to Ava Gardner?

[@benfisher1376]

​@@unowen-nh9ov Who didn't have Shelley?😂

[@brutusalwaysminded]

Love 'Side Street", particularly because of Granger's work. Didn't realize he had such a great sense of humor. Thanks!

[@BickBenedict1]

This is absolute gold. Thank you so much.

[@cjordan1161]

Gorgeous man. Love his movies.

[@annmacleod1099]

Telling the stories of his time in the movies a different era of movies .what a good interview this is. I liked the film stranger on a train that he was in . The films told the story of their times, and how they lived in that time .

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Really? How many swapped murders you committed?

[@vivianalperin5555]

I saw Mr. Granger play the lead, (Michael Cain's part in the film,) in "Death Trap" on Broadway, and he was sensational. My parents saw him playing "Mr. Darcy" in "First Impressions," a musical version of "Pride And Prejudice." I grew up with the Broadway soundtrack of this. Mr. Granger was not only very handsome but very, very talented.

[@ednars6820]

Wonderful interview with a wonderful actor!

[@herbbirdsfoot]

Farley and Cathy together in Ray’s “They Live By Night” was enough all by itself to immortalize everybody involved. Of course there’s more!

[@allysonkho2017]

I love him!!! So classy and what’s tremendous talent

[@PhilippinesFarmLife]

All of these type of interviews are wonderful and very much appreciated.

[@SM-gl8yo]

Just delightful. Thank you!

[@jasonlindsey9946]

If Hitchcock put him in roles, you know you have an actor. Strangers on a Train, Rope two of Hitchcock's finest. His talent was unlimited. RIP Farley.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

John Gavin disproves your theory, Hitchcock sometimes cast to fill out his storyboard or by who was available, many of his 1st choices for Family Plot turned him down, remember show is a bizness. Part of the reason I enjoy Granger's work with Hitchcock is he never seems fully @ ease as his character, appropriate since both are playing off psychotics. For the same reason Granger would have been good as troubled priest in I, Confess, Monty was a little TOO tormented & angst-filled.

[@jasonlindsey9946]

@@unowen-nh9ov Hitch always used qualified lead and character actors, save his very first films.None of today's leads men/women could hope to make that grade,if he were still alive. I'm talking American . Family Plot was his least favored film, not because it was his last but because it didn't measure up to his standard. The second to last Frenzy got rave reviews. Not one American actor or actress was cast. Still have the ticket stub.

[@gforceeatingcorrect]

What. Real person not affected with his persona of a STAR !! WOW ! Very impressed !!!! Thank You 🙏🏻

[@mmjhcb]

I saw him as "Tom" in "The Glass Menagerie" on Broadway with the great Jo van Fleet as Amanda. I will never forget Granger for one reason, something so rare at the Broadway level that I have never heard of it before or since -- that being the audience yelling, "We can't hear you!" "Louder!" during one or two of his DOWNSTAGE soliloquies. And he COULDN'T be heard! They were right! This was a paying audience, not a rehearsal. Never will forget that.

[@MissPerriwinkle]

same happened when jessica lange did Streetcar....i was there, she it is said did it quietly as she was feuding with the director, who knows.

[@mmjhcb]

@@MissPerriwinkle Maybe she realized there was only one Blanche -- Vivien Leigh.

[@MissPerriwinkle]

@@mmjhcb it was the oddest thing, big play with full house and she whispered her lines, ive seen many plays but this was a first.

[@mmjhcb]

@@MissPerriwinkle Maybe she couldn't get much inspiration without King Kong as her co star. You must have been really frustrated. "Money back, please." 😀

[@sharncoppy9527]

Loved him in Purple Heart with Dana Andrews. I was so young back then but thought he was so good looking, cried at the end when they were walking to their execution, still tear up til. this day.

[@519djw6]

I wish he had more to say about Cathy O'Donnell. She was so good in "They Live by Night."

[@jerry1276]

Amazing wasn't she. How much she did in that film and "The Best Years of Our Lives" even when she wasn't speaking any lines.

[@edualonso4]

Such a delicate actress

[@unowen-nh9ov]

@@jerry1276 Ben Hur. Didn't she marry & leave the biz?

[@519djw6]

@@unowen-nh9ov "Ben-Hur" was her last theatrical film, but she did some television in the early '60''s. Her last screen credit was on an episode of "Bonanza" from 1964. I'm not sure if it was her conscious decision to leave acting, or if it was her health, as she died in 1970.

[@colinhowe1913]

Great interview. Thank you

[@scronx]

This is a really wonderful interview. Who's the hostess? She asks such good, pertinent questions and Granger is a total love!

[@bufb]

Fabulous actor Rope,Strangers on a train and They live by night.

[@thomashanks1033]

hello Mary, how are you doing. I hope you are safe and in good health. Looking for a new friend and i saw your pic here. I hope you don't mind thank you.

[@terilerwick284]

Love Farley Granger. Wish it had been Robert Osborne doing the interviewing.

[@lemorab1]

This interviewer leaves a lot to be desired. Mr. Granger is very gracious and articulate.

[@peterraymond8470]

I guess I wanted to think Danny Kaye was as endearing behind the scenes as he was in his movies. I appreciate the fact that Granger restrained himself when discussing him though.

[@scronx]

Thoroughly enjoyable -- thank you!

[@vedadalsette1453]

What a likeable guy!

[@hiramnoone]

Seems like a nice man. Strangers on a Train is one of my faves, and Mr Granger was very good in it.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Played torment VERY well, he & Walker EXCELLENT chalk & cheese!

[@MissPerriwinkle]

reading his autobiography,,,,, compelling.

[@henrikechers9995]

Great interview. Fine actor, and beautiful man

[@pmajudge]

WOW !! -- FARLEY GRANGER -- HE WAS AROUND IN 1995??? Gosh , Yes was VERY HANDSOME ! FROM U.K.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

He was around until 2011.

[@mthivier]

I can remember, later in Farley's career, he had a running role on my favorite soap, "As the World Turns", as Lisa's fifth (or possibly sixth, I lost count) husband, Interpol agent Earl Mitchell. He was so cute, even then, in his 60s, and he was great in the role.

[@immaterialimmaterial5195]

Brilliant actor! Lovely interview.

[@lucadantiga5316]

Incredibile che nessuno citi SENSO, uno dei più grandi capolavori del cinema

[@edithcalandro5140]

OMG I was crushing on him when I was in my early teens

[@royrice8597]

1925 - 2011. R.I.P.

[@TheSuzberry]

A lovely person.

[@bobsanders9114]

The interviewer's voice and miking aren't great, but her questions are studied, well-prepared and incisive. Good job. I suppose this was shot assuming the interviewer's voice would be cut: too bad: she knows her stuff. Granger good here.

[@charliefunboy5210]

A true gay icon. He and his partner Bob Calhune, never really lived in the closet. I respect that give the times.

[@bartgreenberg9001]

When I was working at Barnes & Noble, they came in one day shopping. They were both very sweet, though fussing with each other like any other long married couple. No suggestion that they were successful in show biz.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Doesn't Granger write about sleeping with women as well in his memoirs?

[@bartgreenberg9001]

@@unowen-nh9ov, yes he did. Then he fell in love.

[@G0Chiefs]

He was in "They Call Me Trinity" With Terrence Hill and Bud Spencer. Great Flick

[@wennykelley8600]

I no me to strangers on a train and rope I loved that too with Jimmy stewart I just loved him he was a great actor.great actor.

[@gbp56h14]

Strangers on a Train is my favorite!

[@michaelwolter6076]

Great Actor!!!

[@juliejensen7370]

I enjoyed Farley on One Life to Live.

[@sandrashevey8252]

Hitch was a technician. More directors should be more comfortable with the technical side of filmmaking.

[@edualonso4]

She didn' t ask him about his film with Visconti, one of the few geniuses of the cinema. It had to be Mr. Granger who mentioned it.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Granger lived & worked for most of a century, hard to cover it all in 1 interview.

[@rogerpropes7129]

He had some kind of dispute with Visconti, who was also 'gay', and departed the film before the last shot which has a double covering his face.

[@MissPerriwinkle]

in his autobio he chat alot bout him, very eccentric.

[@VILA1963]

Almost nothing about his experience with Visconti? Considering it is a great film and Luchino Visconti wanted Brando, the six months in Italy must have been interesting.

[@charliefunboy5210]

Did you catch the discussion near the end of the interview? He acknowledges Visconti's genius, etc.

[@VILA1963]

@@charliefunboy5210 You are correct. He does talk about Visconti.

[@edualonso4]

@@VILA1963 He does talk about Visconti but not because she asked about him, which is unfortunate

[@VILA1963]

@@edualonso4 Indeed I made a mistake. Maybe because I was ansious to hear about SENSO.

[@audreydaleski1067]

So handsome.

[@pauljackson2473]

I remember seeing this guy in a few European Giallo / exploitation films in the 60’s and 70’s. They were actually really good but lots of sex and nudity for the time. A lot of older actors who were a bit over the hill did the European scene. Tarantino touched upon it in “Once upon a time in Hollywood”.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Hollywood moved en masse to Europe because $$$, even Taylor & Burton's Cleopatra was filmed there (didn't stop it from becoming most expensive made until then). Granger was working actor, did soaps, Love Boat, Murder She Wrote.

[@gwenwachsman3739]

As a gay man, I was particularly proud of learning that he was also gay. So strikingly handsome in his heyday. Mmmmm mmmm

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Bi.

[@Baxmax2001]

A very good actor. I’ve seen all of Stewart Granger movies. He did’t hide who he was! A very handsome man as well

[@quitequiet1]

I take it you meant Farley Granger. Stewart Granger was an import from England that made some good movies too.

[@jamesdemasi7077]

hey Farley

[@unowen-nh9ov]

In @ least 1 way Granger was typical of Hollywood studio system, he slept with EVERYONE! His career doesn't seem rebel as much as typical, after falling out with Goldwyn he struggled to keep working, whether it be stage, NYC, Europe, television. Even Teresa Wright, who was Oscar nominated for her 1st 3 performances, never recovered from crossing Goldwyn. Granger's perennial boyishness may have been good for his popularity offscreen, but not great for being cast as leading man longterm.

[@ericthered760]

This may sound crazy but the way Farley talks reminds me of the attorney Alan Dershowitz. Like I said, just a crazy notion.

[@davidbrims5825]

‘’The North Star’’ A workers paradise ! The reality millions sent to the gulags.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Not just there millions were murdered, Hollywood made propaganda for their allies & blacklisted for it later.

[@rogerpropes7129]

Lillian Hellman had a lot to do with it,

[@jasoncharles9481]

Wow. That black list sounds pretty shitty. I guess some things never change

[@January.]

*blacklist

[@bebopkirby]

She kind of sounds like she’s in the ladies room.

[@gwenwachsman3739]

🤣😅🤣😅🤣😅 she's actually dropping the kids off at the pool! Lol

[@fromthesidelines]

Sam Goldwyn wasted his talents. Farley appeared in seven films for Goldwyn- and all but one of them were *FLOPS.* The one that WAS a success was Danny Kaye's "Hans Christian Andersen", his last for the studio.

[@sandrashevey8252]

So he accounts Visconti was greater than Hitchcock..well Visconti gets a great performance from Alida Valli in `Senso` whereas she is wasted in Hitchcock`s `The Paradine Case`.

[@rcelestefelix9299]

Farley was a gorgeous man who always kept his looks well into his old age. But I can't believe such a soft spoken, easy going handsome man like him did actually had a serious relationship with Shelly Winters. Although she was super talented, she had no beauty or glamor, and was a little too Brooklyn brassy to jibe with Farley's gentler nature . In fact, by his own admission, she "was a dear, old friend" and they lived in the same building. I think they considered marriage to keep the fiction going; that he was heterosexual, but he backed out because he was gay. He blamed his decision not to marry her on the notorious publicity that would ensue, and that he "didn't want to be a part of." That Farley had an affair with Ava Gardner, okay, I could believe that. Ava could even make a straight woman gay. LOL

[@sxnico]

what an ignorant comment.

[@susanwinston4123]

Actually though often cast in less than glamorous roles, in her heyday Shelly was quite a beauty 💞

[@JRobbySh]

My understanding is that most homosexuals are actually bisexual.

[@susanwinston4123]

@@JRobbySh well that is stretching things a bit, although in his generation many gay men and women married, making the leap that most(over half) folks are bisexual seems high. Anecdotally, (not statistically) as I am gay, I would say it’s closer to 20%...

[@sarahjones-jf4pr]

R Celeste Felix.. Granger also had a "fling" with Leonard Bernstein...and Bernstein had a "thing" with Ava Gardner as well....such are the lives of the rich and famous.!

[@sandrashevey8252]

When you`re great, race/religion/orientation mean nothing!

[@audreydaleski1067]

Cat and mouse. Cat and mouse. Who's the cat and who's the mouse.

[@carolynkingsley4421]

A good actor, but never really a big star. He has aged well.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Lived for almost a century & worked for most of that, NO "big star" does that. How many boyish actors became big stars? James Dean? For how long?

[@notnek202]

The interviewer is horrible.

[@redstrat1234]

Same interviewer as Dean Stockwell. Awful.

[@paulcaron400]

That just shows you what bullies the studio heads were and still are. You couldn’t be your self or have your own life 🙄

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Bullies?! Their contracts were indentured servitude, eventually decided by the courts to be illegal. Still going on today, James Garner sued for profit shares just as Scarjo is today.

[@paulcaron400]

@@unowen-nh9ov thank you 😊 👍

[@rogerpropes7129]

Helen Hayes called Mayer evil.

[@Joshua-mv3mv]

it's still going on I've experienced it this guy seemed a good fellow

[@fantasyprincessgirl]

First

[@Fantomas4616]

...and?

[@RayRay-ml9ut]

Whoopee you wanna cookie?

[@unowen-nh9ov]

@ dull.

[@pfflyer3381]

Farley Smalsie?, still think of you, best contact, treated me, with respect! Thank you, and for the mower!

[@BellaFirenze]

Farley Granger (July 1, 1925 - March 27, 2011) was a great actor. His biography (with Robert Calhoun) Include Me Out: My Life from Goldwyn to Broadway is fascinating. For anyone looking for salacious sexual details, may I suggest Hollywood Babylon or Scotty Bowers' book, because Farley's will not suit your desires. He does elaborate on who he's had relationships with, how they occurred, and some additional other particulars about their time together. But he doesn't go into explicit or graphic details about the "whats" of his sexual encounters. And he also mainly covers his lovers who were public figures which is why there is relatively little about Bob Calhoun, despite the fact he was Farley's main partner in life. I also believe personally that he probably didn't greatly detail their life together, because that was the most important relationship Farley ever had. It was more meaningful and intimate than any other of his romances. I think he probably wished to maintain that bond as sacred by keeping those specifics between the two of them and their close loved ones.