Stewart Granger
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Notes
Given that another James Stewart was already becoming famous in the United States in the late 1930s, it's understandable that Granger chose to change his birthname.
"I've never done a film that I'm proud of." --Stewart Granger
Biography
Tall, strapping leading man who, after gaining stage experience, began a film career in the late 1930s. Granger and co-stars Margaret Lockwood, James Mason and Phyllis Calvert immediately became major stars with their appearances in the melodramatic period romp, "The Man in Grey" (1943), and for the rest of the decade Granger reigned as one of Britain's premiere leading men. With his strong profile, his deep, dulcet voice and a shock of wavy hair he typically appeared in historical romances and actioners for Gainsborough and Rank including "Fanny by Gaslight" (1943), "Madonna of the Seven Moons" (1944), "Caravan" (1946), "Blanche Fury" (1947) and "Saraband for Dead Lovers" (1948).
Signed by MGM in 1949, Granger spent most of the next seven years playing virile swashbucklers and great white hunters in stylish if sometimes derivative remakes of classic Hollywood adventures including "King Solomon's Mines" (1950), "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1952), "Scaramouche" (1952) and "Beau Brummell" (1954). His stardom slipped late in the decade and, after co-starring with John Wayne in the rowdy comedy-drama "North to Alaska" (1960), Granger ventured to Europe, where he continued playing leading roles in routine action films, among the more interesting of which was Robert Aldrich's dull but intermittently campy epic, "Sodom and Gomorrah" (1962).
TV beckoned Granger in the 1970s and 80s: he starred for a season in the gritty western series "The Men from Shiloh" (1970-71), played Sherlock Holmes in an enjoyable adaptation of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (1972), and made a stalwart Prince Philip in "The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana" (1982). Granger also returned occasionally to the stage, his last appearance being his well-received work opposite Rex Harrison and Glynis Johns in "The Circle" on Broadway in 1991. Granger was married to character actress Elspeth March and later, from 1950 to 1960, to actress Jean Simmons.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (Short)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1933
Made film debut in a bit part in "A Southern Maid"
1935
Began as a repertory actor; worked with companies in Hull and Birmingham
1936
Acted in the Malvern Theatre Festivals
1939
Film career began in earnest with "So This Is London"
1942
Began playing leading roles in British films
1943
Vaulted to star status with his role in "The Man in Grey", which also made stars of Phyllis Calvert, Margaret Lockwood and James Mason
1949
Signed with MGM
1950
First American film, "King Solomon's Mines"
1955
Returned briefly to Great Britain to co-star opposite wife Jean Simmons in "Footsteps in the Fog"
1956
Became an American citizen
1957
Left MGM
1958
Returned to Great Britain to make two films
1962
Began making films in Italy with his roles in "Sodom and Gomorrah" and "The Swordsman of Siena"
1965
Began making films in West Germany
1969
TV-movie debut, "Any Second Now"
1972
Played Sherlock Holmes in a TV-movie adaptation of "The Hound of the Baskervilles"
1982
Played Prince Philip in the TV-movie, "The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana"
1988
Made final feature film, "Hell Hunters"
1991
Made final stage appearance opposite Rex Harrison and Glynis Johns in an adaptation of Somerset Maugham's "The Circle"
1992
Appeared in the made-for-Cinemax interview documentary, "Ava Gardner"
Photo Collections
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
Given that another James Stewart was already becoming famous in the United States in the late 1930s, it's understandable that Granger chose to change his birthname.
"I've never done a film that I'm proud of." --Stewart Granger
"I haven't aged into a character actor. I'm an old leading man." --Stewart Granger
