Cary Grant & Randolph Scott 1930s

In 1932 Cary Grant and Randolph Scott met on the set of "Hot Saturday." The movie was originally to star Gary Cooper with Grant in the supporting roll but when Cooper backed out of the project Grant was moved up to the starring roll and Grant's supporting roll was assigned to Paramount contract player Randolph Scott.

And so began one of the longest, deepest and most unusual love relationships in the history of Hollywood. A sometimes indiscreet relationship that would last eleven years.

Grant was bi-sexual. His first long-term gay relationship was with Broadway & Hollywood costume designer Orry-Kelly. He was also linked with silent film superstar William Haines.

Less than a year after meeting Grant & Scott had become "roommates" sharing a hillside house underneath the giant letters of the HOLLYWOOD sign.  Located at 2177 W. Live Oak Drive in the Los Feliz neighborhood of L.A.  One cover story for the cozy couple was that they moved in together to "save money" despite the fact that Grant was a movie star and Scott was a millionaire.

Cary & Randy's Hollywood love nest

Scott was six years Grant's senior, six-foot four, lean and muscular. He came from a wealthy textile family and was raised in an atmosphere of traditional southern gentility.

Black butlers [how quaint]

After an injury stopped him from pursuing an athletic career Scott was bitten by the acting bug while performing in a college play. He went to Hollywood to see if a "friend of the family" could help him break into the movies-----that "friend of the family" was billionaire and wanna--be movie producer Howard Hughes.

Grant & Scott were a good match sexually. Their physical needs were not particularly over-heated. Sex was almost an afterthought of their relationship------a natural extension of the buddy--buddy collage frat--boy friendship they shared.

When a photo surfaced of the pair at home doing dishes [both wearing aprons] one Hollywood gossip columnist wondered in print if the two actors weren't "carrying this buddy--buddy business a bit too far."

Of course Hollywood studios insisted that Grant maintain the illusion of being a "ladies man" and take young starlets out to movie premiers and such. Grant agreed to date women in public only if Scott could also come along! The bachelors would then ditch the starlet at the first opportunity and then go out for a night--cap at the Brown Derby or Trocadero.

When Grant got married to his first wife the very jealous and very wealthy Scott attempted to "win him back" by buying Grant a house.  But not just any house----a Santa Monica beach house complete with swimming pool. [Pictured below on a tourist postcard]  This house was nicknamed "Bachelor Hall" in the press. Although the house was purchased outright by Scott it was registered in both their names and served as their private getaway. It would also serve as a rendezvous point for their mutual friend Howard Hughes who always needed places to bed his endless parade of starlets.

The house still stands at 1038 Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica. The house is easy to find because it sits by itself between two parking lots.

As a couple Cary and Randy were often invited to Newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst's castle in the sky at San Simeon in central California. It is intriguing to think of Cary and Randy swimming together [skinny dipping perhaps?] in the spectacularly romantic Neptune Pool over looking the unspoiled California coastline.

Pictured above is Cary on one of the Hearst Castle tennis courts. The group shot below shows Grant on the extreme left and Scott on the right. This was taken at one of Hearst's famous themed costume parties. The theme this time was the circus. Grant and Scott were part of an "acrobatic troop" called "The Flying San Simeons." The man in the Ring Master outfit is "Wizard of Oz" and "Gone with the Wind" director Mervyn LeRoy. The man in the center [looking forward] is Laurel & Hardy producer Hal Roach. Seated in front is Hearst's mistress and castle hostess Marion Davies.

Although the two were lovers there was also a big-brother type "rivalry" between the two. When Scott later in life married a DuPont [chemical] heiress worth over $100 million some have speculated that this motivated Grant to "one--up" Scott by marrying the even richer Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton.

After 11 years together their relationship began to cool and the two drifted apart. As he aged Grant became more interested in women. Grant would marry a total of five times and father a daughter with actress Dyan Cannon.

They eventually wound up "divorcing" over who would get to keep the Malibu Beach house both loved so much. Grant won by threatening to ruin Scott's acting career but Scott got the final jab by later having his wife buy controlling interest in the movie studio grant was working for.

When Scott left for good the "buddy" who took up the slack in Grant's life was none other than Howard Hughes. Although there was certainly never anything sexual between Grant and the starlet--obsessed Hughes the two remained very close friends for the rest of their lives. Hughes would say toward the end of his life that Grant was "the only real friend I ever had."

Grant died in 1986 followed by Scott's death one year later. Although Grant was clearly the bigger star Scott actually appeared in more movies. Grant made about 75 films while Scott appeared in approximately 100.

Grant born Jan.18 --- Scott born Jan. 23
On the set of "Hot Saturday." Happy Birthday Cary & Randy.
"On their path to film fame."
A joint birthday cake? [That's not the least bit gay!]

"My Favorite Wife" is the only film the two starred in together besides "Hot Saturday." Grant insisted that Scott be cast in this film. There are some great scenes where Grant and Scott  priss and preen while both vie for the attentions of Irene Dunne. One unforgettable scene has Randolph Scott in nothing but swim trunks doing high dives while everyone poolside watches in awe. The movie was remade later with James Garner and Doris Day as "Move Over Darling." Originally the remake was to star Dean Martin and Marilyn Monroe and was titled "Something's Gotta Give." The production was canceled after Monroe died of an overdose a quarter of the way through filming.

In "Bringing Up Baby" when Katharine Hepburn's aunt discovers Cary Grant in a lace nightgown she asks him if he "dresses like that all the time." Grant leaps into the air and shouts hysterically, "No! I've just gone gay. . . . . all of a sudden!" But that line of dialogue does not appear in any version of the script. It would seem that it was improvised by Grant on the set.

If you subscribe to Netflix you can watch this instantly on your computer. The Randolph Scott & Cary Grant clips start at 1:18:15. [One hour and 18 minutes into the film]