Why does this look wrong to me? (Cary Grant Picture)

[Mr. Rover]

Everything here fits, with the exception of sleeves that could use 1/4" or so...but what is so off about this look on Cary Grant? Is it just too snug? Or because it's white? This may be the only picture of Cary Grant where I have questioned how impeccably dressed he is.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

To me...yes, the jacket's small in the torso, sleeve, and body, although many tell me that in the 30s & 40s suits and sportcoats were shorter in the body (didn't reach the inside knuckles of the cupped fingers). And I would agree with you - it's the only picture I think I've seen of Grant in a questionable choice of attire, the only time he wasn't impeccably dressed.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I think because the sleeves are so snug. With a little more body (i.e. less close-fitting) in the sleeves the suit would look much better. And lose the dark hat; replace with light or straw.

bk

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

I think the camera angle has something to do with it too. Makes him look crooked.

 

[Jerekson]

I would kill for a suit like that. That would be a perfect reference picture to give to my tailor.

The sleeves do look short, most definitely. Other than that, I don't see anything out of the ordinary. Except perhaps his posture...

 

[Feraud]

The sleeves look too tight and maybe a bit short.
We all have our off days.

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

I should say he ate too much over the weekend.

 

[cookie]

Everything here fits, with the exception of sleeves that could use 1/4" or so...but what is so off about this look on Cary Grant? Is it just too snug? Or because it's white? This may be the only picture of Cary Grant where I have questioned how impeccably dressed he is.

But he is impeccably dressed ...for a guy with narrow sleeves!lol BTW are those Jake Gittes style 'lazy peak' lapels?

 

[BellyTank]

The jacket does look a bit tight and short sleeved- very skinny sleeve- especially odd to see on a man we know as being tall. The angle of the photo makes a strange effect where the lapels overlap and makes the tie look wonky. Button-down collar with a DB suit? -don't like it usually but I do like the full cut collar, anyway. I think the dark hat definitely adds to the overall weirdness of this impression.


B
T

 

[Baron Kurtz]

the goofy smile don't help neiver.

bk

 

[mike]

the goofy smile don't help neiver.

bk

nothing a good tailor couldn't fix in a jiff

seriously though, is there a date to this photo? Could help to answer who was dressing him whether it was himself or not...?

Plus! Air travel if going cross country at the time was really rough. Lots of tiny planes hopping around the country. Maybe he's literally wearing his worst suit as he's switching planes mid-country so that by the time he reaches his destination he can switch to something fresher..?

 

[J. M. Stovall]

It always cracks me up that people here strive to hard to mimic the 30's and 40's style, until a random photo (of Cary Grant no less) pops up and people can find all these things that are "wrong" with it.lol

 

[chucklehead]

what really looks wrong is that there are no stairs / jet way to get out of the plane. the suit does look a little snug as well.

 

[John in Covina]

He's reading Pravda.

 

[Tomasso]

is there a date to this photo? Could help to answer who was dressing him whether it was himself or not...?

He was known to have dressed himself in his off-camera life and for the majority of his film roles he was given carte blanche to dress as he pleased.

 

[Tomasso]

This may be the only picture of Cary Grant where I have questioned how impeccably dressed he is.

 

[scotrace]

"Ofer... 7 hours on a plane with no bathroom and they want to take pictures..."

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Someone asked about a date

The company reincorporated in 1928 as Western Air Express Corp.


In 1934, Western Air Express broke off from TWA and briefly changed its name to General Air Lines, returning to the name Western Air Express after several months.


In 1941 Western Air Express changed its name to Western Air Lines, which was later altered to Western Airlines.




So there is the time window...since on the door it says Western Air Express...puts it pre 1941....



Edited to add: http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt067nc27g/

says the photo date is 1935 July 20

 

[Dinerman]

It always cracks me up that people here strive to hard to mimic the 30's and 40's style, until a random photo (of Cary Grant no less) pops up and people can find all these things that are "wrong" with it.lol

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Fletch]

My hypotheses:

-The suit was of a hand washable material (ex: Palm Beach Cloth) and had shrunk.

-The hat was a favorite traveling beater, and/or a very lightweight felt that could be worn year-round.

-Grant, reputed to be something of a tightwad, wouldn't wear his very best duds traveling - especially not by air where one might become sick and ruin one's outfit.

-He may very well have become sick or spoiled his suit somehow enroute, and changed to the white DB for waiting photogs. That would explain the "off" accessories.

The aircraft, BTW, appears to be a Boeing 247. They did have lavatories aboard.