Stewart Granger
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Stewart Granger (born James Lablache Stewart; 6 May 1913 – 16 August 1993) was a British film actor, mainly associated with heroic and romantic leading roles. He was a popular leading man from the 1940s to the early 1960s, rising to fame through his appearances in the
Gainsborough melodramas The Gainsborough melodramas were a sequence of films produced by the British film studio Gainsborough Pictures between 1943 and 1947 which conformed to a melodramatic style.Brooke, Michael. (2014)Gainsborough Melodrama Screenonline British Film Ins ...
.


Early life

He was born James Lablache Stewart in
Old Brompton Road Old Brompton Road is a major street in the South Kensington district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. It starts from South Kensington Underground station and runs south-west, through a mainly residential area, until i ...
,
Kensington Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in the West End of London, West of Central London. The district's commercial heart is Kensington High Street, running on an east–west axis. The north-east is taken up b ...
, West London, the only son of
Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
James Stewart, OBE and his wife Frederica Eliza (née Lablache). Granger was educated at
Epsom College Epsom College is a co-educational independent school on Epsom Downs, Surrey, England, for pupils aged 11 to 18. It was founded in 1853 as a boys' school to provide support for poor members of the medical profession such as pensioners and orph ...
and the
Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art Webber may refer to: *Webber, Kansas, a US city *Webber Township, Jefferson County, Illinois, USA *Webber Township, Lake County, Michigan, USA *Webber International University, in Babson Park, Florida, USA *Webber (surname) Webber (/ˈwɛbər/) i ...
. He was the great-great-grandson of the opera singer
Luigi Lablache Luigi Lablache (6 December 1794 – 23 January 1858) was an Italian opera singer of French and Irish ancestry. He was most noted for his comic performances, possessing a powerful and agile bass voice, a wide range, and adroit acting skills: Lepo ...
and the grandson of the actor Luigi Lablache. Stewart Granger lived in Bournemouth at 57 Grove Road with his mother. His mother owned the property now called "East Cliff Cottage Hotel" until 1979. When he became an actor, he was advised to change his name in order to avoid being confused with the American actor
James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality h ...
. Granger was his Scottish grandmother's maiden name. Offscreen friends and colleagues continued to call him Jimmy for the rest of his life, but to the general public he became Stewart Granger.


Early career


Extra and theatre work 1933–1940

Granger made his film debut as an
extra Extra or Xtra may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film * ''The Extra'' (1962 film), a Mexican film * ''The Extra'' (2005 film), an Australian film Literature * ''Extra'' (newspaper), a Brazilian newspaper * ''Extra!'', an American me ...
in 1933, starting with ''
The Song You Gave Me ''The Song You Gave Me'' is a 1933 British musical film directed by Paul L. Stein, and starring Bebe Daniels, Victor Varconi, and Frederick Lloyd. It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood, Linda. ''British Films, 1927-1939''. British Film Institute ...
'' (1933). He can also be glimpsed in ''
Give Her a Ring ''Give Her a Ring'' is a 1934 British musical film directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Clifford Mollison, Wendy Barrie, and Zelma O'Neal. The film was a remake of the 1932 German film ''Wrong Number, Miss'', and is sometimes known by the t ...
'' (1933), ''
Over the Garden Wall ''Over the Garden Wall'' is an American animated television miniseries created by Patrick McHale for Cartoon Network. The series centers on two half-brothers who travel across a mysterious forest to find their way home, encountering a variet ...
'' (1934) and '' A Southern Maid'' (1934). It was at this time that he met
Michael Wilding Michael Charles Gauntlet Wilding (23 July 1912 – 8 July 1979) was an English stage, television, and film actor. He is best known for a series of films he made with Anna Neagle; he also made two films with Alfred Hitchcock, '' Under Capric ...
and they remained friends until Wilding's death in 1979. Years of theatre work followed, initially at
Hull Repertory Theatre The Hull Repertory Theatre Company was a theatre company in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1924 by Arthur Whatmore. In the 1930s it was managed by Pepino Santangelo who developed it and it became the Hull ...
and then, after a pay dispute, at
Birmingham Repertory Theatre Birmingham Repertory Theatre, commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep, is a producing theatre based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. Founded by Barry Jackson, it is the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre ...
. Here he met
Elspeth March Elspeth March (5 March 1911 – 29 April 1999) was an English actress. Early years March was born as Jean Elspeth Mackenzie in Kensington, London, England, the daughter of Harry Malcolm and Elfreda Mackenzie. She studied speech and drama un ...
, a leading actress with the company, who became his first wife. His productions at Birmingham included ''The Courageous Sex'' and ''Victoria, Queen and Empress''; he also acted at the Malvern Festival in ''
The Millionairess ''The Millionairess'' is a 1960 British romantic comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith, and starring Sophia Loren and Peter Sellers. Set in London, it is a loose adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's 1936 play of the same name. Plot By the t ...
'' and ''
The Apple Cart ''The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza'' is a 1928 play by George Bernard Shaw. It is a satirical comedy about several political philosophies which are expounded by the characters, often in lengthy monologues. The plot follows the fictional ...
'' and was in the movie ''
Under Secret Orders ''Under Secret Orders'', also known as ''Mademoiselle Doctor'', is a 1937 British spy film directed by Edmond T. Gréville and starring Erich von Stroheim, John Loder, Dita Parlo and Claire Luce. It is an English-language version of the Frenc ...
'' (1937). Granger began to get work on stage in London. He appeared in ''The Sun Never Sets'' (1938) at the Drury Lane Theatre and in ''Serena Blandish'' (1938) opposite Vivien Leigh. At the Buxton Festival, he played Tybalt in a production of ''
Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...
'' opposite
Robert Donat Friedrich Robert Donat (18 March 1905 – 9 June 1958) was an English actor. He is best remembered for his roles in Alfred Hitchcock's '' The 39 Steps'' (1935) and '' Goodbye, Mr. Chips'' (1939), winning for the latter the Academy Award f ...
and
Constance Cummings Constance Cummings CBE (May 15, 1910 – November 23, 2005) was an American-British actress with a career spanning over 50 years. Early life Cummings was born in Seattle, Washington, the only daughter and younger child of Kate Logan (née C ...
. He also acted opposite them both in ''The Good Natured Man''. In London he was in ''Autumn'' with
Flora Robson Dame Flora McKenzie Robson (28 March 19027 July 1984) was an English actress and star of the theatrical stage and cinema, particularly renowned for her performances in plays demanding dramatic and emotional intensity. Her range extended from q ...
and ''The House in the Square'' (1940). Granger had small roles in the movies '' So This Is London'' (1939) and ''
Convoy A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...
'' (1940).


War service and after 1940–1943

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Granger enlisted in the
Gordon Highlanders Gordon may refer to: People * Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters * Gordon (surname), the surname * Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War * Clan Gord ...
, then transferred to the
Black Watch The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment ...
with the rank of second lieutenant. However he suffered from stomach ulcers and he was invalided out of the army in 1942. Granger had a small role in the war movie ''
Secret Mission ''Secret Mission'' is a 1942 British war film directed by Harold French and starring Hugh Williams, James Mason, Nancy Price, Carla Lehmann and Roland Culver. Plot During the Second World War, British Army Major Peter Garnett assembles a team ...
'' (1942) and a bigger one in a comedy '' Thursday's Child'' (1943). He was in a stage production of ''Rebecca'' when he was asked to audition for the film that turned him into a star. Granger had been recommended by Donat, who most recently worked with Granger on stage in ''To Dream Again''.


Stardom


Gainsborough melodramas 1943–1946

Granger's first starring film role was as the acid-tongued Rokeby in the
Gainsborough Pictures Gainsborough Pictures was a British film studio based on the south bank of the Regent's Canal, in Poole Street, Hoxton in the former Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch, north London. Gainsborough Studios was active between 1924 and 1951. The com ...
period melodrama ''
The Man in Grey ''The Man in Grey'' is a 1943 British film melodrama made by Gainsborough Pictures; it is considered to be the first of a series of period costume dramas now known as the "Gainsborough melodramas". It was directed by Leslie Arliss and produce ...
'' (1943), a movie that helped to make him and his three co-stars – James Mason,
Phyllis Calvert Phyllis Hannah Murray-Hill (née Bickle; 18 February 1915 – 8 October 2002), known professionally as Phyllis Calvert, was an English film, stage and television actress. She was one of the leading stars of the Gainsborough melodramas of the 1 ...
and
Margaret Lockwood Margaret Mary Day Lockwood, Order of the British Empire, CBE (15 September 1916 – 15 July 1990), was an English actress. One of Britain's most popular film stars of the 1930s and 1940s, her film appearances included ''The Lady Vanishes (1938 ...
– box-office names in Britain. Granger followed it with ''
The Lamp Still Burns ''The Lamp Still Burns'' is a 1943 British drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Rosamund John, Stewart Granger and Godfrey Tearle. Its plot concerns a woman architect who changes careers to become a nurse. It was based on the 1942 n ...
'' (1943), playing the love interest of nurse
Rosamund John Rosamund John (19 October 1913 – 27 October 1998), born Nora Rosamund Jones, was an English film and stage actress. Early life She was born and brought up in Tottenham in North London, the daughter of Frederick Henry Jones, a wine merchant' ...
. More popular was '' Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944), another for Gainsborough Pictures, which reunited him with Calvert and Mason, and added
Jean Kent Jean Kent (born Joan Mildred Field; 29 June 1921 − 30 November 2013) was an English film and television actress. Biography Born Joan Mildred Field (sometimes incorrectly cited as Summerfield) in Brixton, London in 1921, the only child of va ...
. ''The New York Times'' reported that Granger "is a young man worth watching. The customers... like his dark looks and his dash; he puts them in mind, they say of
Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English-American actor. He was known for his Mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He was one o ...
." It was the second most popular movie at the British box office in 1944. Another hit was '' Love Story'' (1944), where he plays a blind pilot who falls in love with terminally ill Margaret Lockwood, with
Patricia Roc Patricia Roc (born Felicia Miriam Ursula Herold; 7 June 1915 – 30 December 2003) was an English film actress, popular in the Gainsborough melodramas such as ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' (1945) and '' The Wicked Lady'' (1945), though she only ...
co-starring. Granger filmed this at the same time as '' Waterloo Road'' (1945), playing his first villain, a "spiv" who has run off with the wife of
John Mills Sir John Mills (born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills; 22 February 190823 April 2005) was an English actor who appeared in more than 120 films in a career spanning seven decades. He excelled on camera as an appealing British everyman who often portra ...
. This movie was popular too, and it was one of Granger's favourites. ''
Madonna of the Seven Moons ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' is a 1945 British drama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring Phyllis Calvert, Stewart Granger and Patricia Roc. The film was produced by Rubeigh James Minney, with cinematography ...
'' (1945), with Calvert and Roc, was more Gainsborough melodrama, another hit. Also popular was '' Caesar and Cleopatra'', supporting Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh; this movie lost money because of its high production cost but was widely seen, and was the first of Granger's movies to be a hit in the U.S. At the end of 1945 British exhibitors voted Granger the second most popular British film star, and the ninth most popular overall. ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...
'' reported that "this six-foot black-visaged ex-soldier from the Black Watch is England's Number One pin up boy. Only
Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...
can match him for popularity." '' Caravan'' (1946), starring Granger and Kent, was the sixth most popular movie at the British box office in 1946. Also well liked was ''
The Magic Bow ''The Magic Bow'' is a 1946 British musical film based on the life and loves of the Italian violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini. It was directed by Bernard Knowles. The film was entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Stewart ...
'' (1946), with Calvert and Kent, where Granger played
Niccolò Paganini Niccolò (or Nicolò) Paganini (; 27 October 178227 May 1840) was an Italian violinist and composer. He was the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. His 24 Caprices f ...
That year he was voted the third most popular British star, and the sixth most popular overall.


Rank Organisation 1947–1949

Granger went over to
Rank Rank is the relative position, value, worth, complexity, power, importance, authority, level, etc. of a person or object within a ranking, such as: Level or position in a hierarchical organization * Academic rank * Diplomatic rank * Hierarchy * ...
, for whom he made a series of historical dramas: '' Captain Boycott'' (1947), set in Ireland, directed by
Frank Launder Frank Launder (28 January 1906 – 23 February 1997) was a British writer, film director and producer, who made more than 40 films, many of them in collaboration with Sidney Gilliat. Early life and career He was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, ...
; ''
Blanche Fury ''Blanche Fury'' is a 1948 British Technicolor drama film directed by Marc Allégret and starring Valerie Hobson, Stewart Granger and Michael Gough. It was adapted from a 1939 novel of the same title by Joseph Shearing. In Victorian era Englan ...
'' (1948), with
Valerie Hobson Babette Louisa Valerie Hobson (14 April 1917 – 13 November 1998) was a British actress whose film career spanned the 1930s to the early 1950s. Her second husband was John Profumo, a British government minister who became the subject of the P ...
; and ''
Saraband for Dead Lovers ''Saraband for Dead Lovers'' (released in the United States as ''Saraband'') is a 1948 British historical drama film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Stewart Granger and Joan Greenwood. It is based on the 1935 novel by Helen Simpson. Set i ...
'' (1948), an
Ealing Studios Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in West London. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on the site ever s ...
production. Granger was cast as the outsider, the handsome gambler
Philip Christoph von Königsmarck Philip Christoph von Königsmarck (4 March 1665 – 2 July 1694), also spelled Philipp, was a Swedish count and soldier. He was allegedly the lover of Sophia Dorothea, Princess of Celle, the wife of Duke George Louis of Brunswick and Lüneburg, ...
who is perceived as 'not quite the ticket' by the established order, the Hanoverian court where the action is mostly set. Granger stated that this was one of his few movies of which he was proud. However it was a disappointment at the box office, as was ''Blanche Fury''. Granger wanted a change of pace and so appeared in '' Woman Hater'' (1948), a comedy with
Edwige Feuillère Edwige Feuillère (born Edwige Louise Caroline Cunatti; October 29, 1907 – November 13, 1998) was a French stage and film actress. Biography She was born Edwige Louise Caroline Cunatti to an Italian architect father and an Alsace-born mo ...
. In 1949, Granger was reported as earning around £30,000 a year. That year Granger made ''
Adam and Evelyne ''Adam and Evelyne'', released in the U.S. as ''Adam and Evalyn'', is a 1949 romance film starring Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons. According to Robert Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies, this suited the stars, as they were romantically inv ...
'', starring with Jean Simmons. The story, about a much older man and a teenager whom he gradually realises is no longer a child but a young woman with mature emotions and sexuality, had obvious parallels to Granger's and Simmons' own lives. Granger had first met the young Jean Simmons when they both worked on
Gabriel Pascal Gabriel Pascal (born Gábor Lehel; 4 June 1894 – 6 July 1954) was a Hungarian film producer and director whose best-known films were made in the United Kingdom. Pascal was the first film producer to successfully bring the plays of Georg ...
's '' Caesar and Cleopatra'' (1945). Three years later, Simmons had transformed from a promising newcomer into a star. They married the following year in a bizarre wedding ceremony organised by
Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film producer, and philanthropist, known during his lifetime as one of the most influential and richest people in th ...
: One of his private aircraft flew the couple to Tucson, Arizona, where they were married, mainly among strangers, with Michael Wilding as Granger's best man. Granger's stage production of
Leo Tolstoy Count Lev Nikolayevich TolstoyTolstoy pronounced his first name as , which corresponds to the romanization ''Lyov''. () (; russian: link=no, Лев Николаевич Толстой,In Tolstoy's day, his name was written as in pre-refor ...
's ''
The Power of Darkness ''The Power of Darkness'' (russian: Власть тьмы, Vlast′ t′my) is a five- act drama by Leo Tolstoy. Written in 1886, the play's production was forbidden in Russia until 1902, mainly through the influence of Konstantin Pobedonostsev. I ...
'' (a venture he had intended as a vehicle for him to star with Jean Simmons) was very poorly received when it opened in London at the Lyric Theatre on 25 April 1949. During the run, two men attempted to cut some locks from Granger's hair. The disappointment added to his dissatisfaction with the Rank Organisation, and his thoughts turned to Hollywood.


American career


MGM 1950–1957

In 1949 Granger made his move;
MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...
was looking for someone to play H. Rider Haggard's hero
Allan Quatermain Allan Quatermain is the protagonist of H. Rider Haggard's 1885 novel ''King Solomon's Mines'', its one sequel '' Allan Quatermain'' (1887), twelve prequel novels and four prequel short stories, totalling eighteen works. An English professional ...
in a movie version of ''
King Solomon's Mines ''King Solomon's Mines'' (1885) is a popular novel by the English Victorian adventure writer and fabulist Sir H. Rider Haggard. It tells of a search of an unexplored region of Africa by a group of adventurers led by Allan Quatermain for the ...
''.
Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian-American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, frequent partnerships with Olivia ...
was offered the role but turned it down; Granger's signing was announced in August 1949. On the basis of the huge success of this movie, released in 1950 and co-starring Deborah Kerr and Richard Carlson, he was offered a seven-year contract by MGM. He signed it in May 1950, and MGM announced three vehicles for him: ''Robinson Crusoe'', a remake of ''Scaramouche'' and an adaptations of ''Soldiers Three''. His first movie under the new arrangement was an action comedy ''
Soldiers Three ''Soldiers Three'' is a collection of short stories by Rudyard Kipling. The three soldiers of the title are Learoyd, Mulvaney and Ortheris, who had also appeared previously in the collection '' Plain Tales from the Hills''. The current version, ...
'' (1951). Granger followed it with location work for ''Constable Pedley'' in Canada. This was put on hold so Granger could make a light comedy, ''
The Light Touch ''The Light Touch'' is a 1951 film starring Stewart Granger, Pier Angeli, and George Sanders, written and directed by Richard Brooks. Plot Art thief Sam Conride (Stewart Granger) steals a Renaissance-era painting on loan to an Italian museum by ...
'', in a role meant for
Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English-American actor. He was known for his Mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He was one o ...
. It was a box office disappointment. However filming resumed on ''Constable Pedley'' which became ''
The Wild North ''The Wild North'' (also known as ''The Big North'', ''Constable Pedley'', ''The Constable Pedley Story'', ''The Wild North Country'' and ''North Country'') is a 1952 American Western film directed by Andrew Marton and starring Stewart Grange ...
'' (1953) and that was a big hit. In 1952, Granger starred in ''
Scaramouche Scaramouche () or Scaramouch (; from Italian Scaramuccia , literally "little skirmisher") is a stock clown character of the 16th-century commedia dell'arte (comic theatrical arts of Italian literature). The role combined characteristics of the ...
'' in the role of Andre Moreau, the bastard son of a French nobleman, a part
Ramón Novarro José Ramón Gil Samaniego (February 6, 1899 – October 30, 1968), known professionally as Ramon Novarro, was a Mexican-American actor. He began his career in silent films in 1917 and eventually became a leading man and one of the top box ...
had played in the 1923 version of
Rafael Sabatini Rafael Sabatini (29 April 1875 – 13 February 1950) was an Italian-born British writer of romance and adventure novels. He is best known for his worldwide bestsellers: ''The Sea Hawk'' (1915), ''Scaramouche'' (1921), ''Captain Blood'' (a.k.a ...
's novel. Granger's co-star
Eleanor Parker Eleanor Jean Parker (June 26, 1922 – December 9, 2013) was an American actress. She was nominated for three Academy Awards for her roles in the films ''Caged'' (1950), ''Detective Story'' (1951), and ''Interrupted Melody'' (1955), the first ...
said Granger was the only actor she did not get along with during her entire career. "Everyone disliked this man...Stewart Granger was a dreadful person, rude...just awful. Just being in his presence was bad. I thought at one point the crew was going to kill him." However, the resulting movie was a notable critical and commercial success. After this came the remake of ''
The Prisoner of Zenda ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' is an 1894 adventure novel by Anthony Hope, in which the King of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation and thus is unable to attend the ceremony. Political forces within the realm are such that, in orde ...
'' (1952), for which his theatrical voice, stature (6'2") and dignified profile made him a natural. It too was popular. In 1952 he and Jean Simmons sued
Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film producer, and philanthropist, known during his lifetime as one of the most influential and richest people in th ...
for $250,000 damages arising from an alleged breach of contract. The case was settled out of court. Columbia borrowed him to play the love interest of
Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino; October 17, 1918May 14, 1987) was an American actress, dancer and producer. She achieved fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars, appearing in 61 films over 37 years. The press coined th ...
in '' Salome'' (1953), another big hit. Back at MGM he co-starred with his wife in ''
Young Bess ''Young Bess'' is a 1953 Technicolor biographical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer about the early life of Elizabeth I, from her turbulent childhood to the eve of her accession to the throne of England. It stars Jean Simmons as Elizabeth and Ste ...
'' (1953), playing Thomas Seymour. The movie was popular, though it did not recover its cost, and it remained a favourite of Granger's. He had a commercial success in '' All the Brothers Were Valiant'' (1953), playing a villain opposite Robert Taylor. Granger lost the role in '' A Star Is Born'', which went to James Mason. He had the title role in ''
Beau Brummell George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (7 June 1778 – 30 March 1840) was an important figure in Regency England and, for many years, the arbiter of men's fashion. At one time, he was a close friend of the Prince Regent, the future King George IV, but ...
'' (1954), opposite Elizabeth Taylor, and it was a box-office disappointment. More successful was the adventure story ''
Green Fire ''Green Fire'' is a 1954 American CinemaScope and Eastmancolor adventure drama film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Andrew Marton and produced by Armand Deutsch, with original music by Miklós Rózsa. The picture stars Grac ...
'' (1954), co starring
Grace Kelly Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982) was an American actress who, after starring in several significant films in the early to mid-1950s, became Princess of Monaco by marrying Prince Rainier III in April 1956. Kelly ...
. Granger went to Britain to make ''
Footsteps in the Fog ''Footsteps in the Fog'' is a 1955 British Technicolor film noir crime film starring Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons, with a screenplay co-written by Lenore Coffee and Dorothy Davenport, and released by Columbia Pictures. The film is bas ...
'' (1955), a movie with Simmons, for Columbia. Back at MGM, he was in '' Moonfleet'' (1955), cast as adventurer Jeremy Fox in the
Dorset Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset (unitary authority), Dors ...
of 1757, a man who rules a gang of cut-throat smugglers with an iron fist until he is softened by a 10-year-old boy who worships him and who believes only the best of him. The film was directed by
Fritz Lang Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), known as Fritz Lang, was an Austrian film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary ''Variety'', August 4, 1976, p. 6 ...
and produced by John Houseman, a former associate of
Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...
. It was a flop. Granger and Taylor were reunited in ''
The Last Hunt ''The Last Hunt'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Richard Brooks and produced by Dore Schary. The screenplay was by Richard Brooks from the novel '' The Last Hunt'', by Milton Lott. The music score was by Daniele Amfitheatrof and ...
'' (1956), a Western, with Taylor playing the villain, and a box office disappointment. So too was ''
Bhowani Junction ''Bhowani Junction'' is a 1954 novel by John Masters, which was the basis of a 1956 film starring Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger. It is set amidst the turbulence of the British withdrawal from India. It is notable for its portrayal of the Eu ...
'' (1956), adapted from a
John Masters Lieutenant Colonel John Masters, DSO, OBE (26 October 1914 – 7 May 1983) was a British novelist and regular officer of the Indian Army. In World War II, he served with the Chindits behind enemy lines in Burma, and became the GSO1 (chief st ...
novel about colonial India on the verge of obtaining independence.
Ava Gardner Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' attention in 1946 with her perform ...
played an Anglo-Indian (mixed race) woman caught between the two worlds of the British and the Indians, and Granger the British officer with whom (in a change from the novel) she ultimately fell in love. Gardner was teamed with Granger in ''
The Little Hut ''The Little Hut'' is a 1957 British romantic comedy film made by MGM starring Ava Gardner, Stewart Granger and David Niven. It was directed by Mark Robson, produced by Robson and F. Hugh Herbert, from a screenplay by Herbert, adapted by Nancy ...
'' (1957), a sex farce that proved a surprise smash at the box office. He followed it with ''
Gun Glory ''Gun Glory'' is a 1957 American Metrocolor Western film directed by Roy Rowland starring Stewart Granger and Rhonda Fleming. Plot Tom Early rides into a Wyoming town where he once lived with his wife and son. In the general store, owner Wainsc ...
'' (1957). It was his last movie under his MGM contract, which ended September 10, 1957. Granger had turned down the role of Messala in the 1959 film '' Ben-Hur'', reportedly because he did not want to take second billing to Charlton Heston.


Leaving MGM 1957–1960

Granger had become a successful cattle rancher. He bought land in New Mexico and Arizona and introduced
Charolais cattle The Charolais () or Charolaise () is a French breed of taurine beef cattle. It originates in, and is named for, the Charolais area surrounding Charolles, in the Saône-et-Loire department, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of eastern F ...
to America. In order to finance this he kept acting. He played a professional adventurer in '' Harry Black'' (1958), partly shot in India. He went to Britain to be in a thriller '' The Whole Truth'' (1958) for Romulus, for whom he was to make ''The Nightcomers'' but it never was filmed. He returned to Los Angeles to support John Wayne in ''
North to Alaska ''North to Alaska'' is a 1960 comedic Western/Northern film directed by Henry Hathaway and John Wayne (uncredited). The picture stars Wayne along with Stewart Granger, Ernie Kovacs, Fabian, and Capucine. The script is based on the 1939 play ' ...
'' (1960). By now his marriage to Simmons had ended, and Granger decided to move to Europe.


Later career


Continental European career 1960–1969

In June 1960, Granger announced he would appear in ''The Leopard''; two movies for MGM in Britain, one of which was ''
I Thank a Fool ''I Thank a Fool'' is a 1962 British Metrocolor crime film made by Eaton (De Grunwald Productions) and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in CinemaScope. It was directed by Robert Stevens and produced by Anatole de Grunwald from a screenplay by Karl Tunb ...
'' alongside Susan Hayward; ''Pontius Pilate'' for
Hugo Fregonese Hugo Geronimo Fregonese (April 8, 1908 in Mendoza – January 11, 1987 in Tigre) was an Argentine film director and screenwriter who worked both in Hollywood and his home country.''Cine Nacional''Hugo Fregonese filmography Cinenacional.com ...
; and ''The Tumbled House'' for
John Farrow John Villiers Farrow, KGCHS (10 February 190427 January 1963) was an Australian film director, producer, and screenwriter. Spending a considerable amount of his career in the United States, in 1942 he was nominated for the Academy Award for B ...
. The role in ''The Leopard'' ultimately went to Burt Lancaster, the one in ''I Thank a Fool'' to Peter Finch, and the Fregonese and Farrow movies were never made. Granger did go to Britain to appear in the thriller ''
The Secret Partner ''The Secret Partner'' is a 1961 British thriller film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Stewart Granger, Haya Harareet and Bernard Lee. The screenplay concerns a shipping executive officer who is blackmailed by an evil dentist. Plot Jo ...
'' (1961) for MGM. He went to Italy and played
Lot Lot or LOT or The Lot or ''similar'' may refer to: Common meanings Areas * Land lot, an area of land * Parking lot, for automobiles *Backlot, in movie production Sets of items *Lot number, in batch production *Lot, a set of goods for sale togethe ...
in Robert Aldrich's '' Sodom and Gomorrah'' (1962), filmed in Rome. When ''Sodom'' started filming, Granger announced he had signed a three-picture deal with MGM, which would include ''
I Thank a Fool ''I Thank a Fool'' is a 1962 British Metrocolor crime film made by Eaton (De Grunwald Productions) and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in CinemaScope. It was directed by Robert Stevens and produced by Anatole de Grunwald from a screenplay by Karl Tunb ...
'', ''
Swordsman of Siena ''Swordsman of Siena'' ( it, La congiura dei dieci; French: ''Le Mercenaire'') is a 1962 French-Italian adventure film directed by Étienne Périer and Baccio Bandini and starring Stewart Granger, Sylva Koscina and Christine Kaufmann. The film i ...
'' and a third movie for
Jacques Bar Jacques Bar (12 September 1921, Châteauroux – 19 January 2009, Boulogne-Billancourt) was a French film producer who made more than 80 films. Select credits * '' Branquignol'' (1949) * ''My Seal and Them'' (1951) * '' The Adventures of Mandri ...
. He also announced he had reactivated his production company, Tracy Productions, which was scheduled to make ''Dark Memory'' by
Jonathan Latimer Jonathan Wyatt Latimer (October 23, 1906 – June 23, 1983) was an American crime writer known his novels and screenplays. Before becoming an author, Latimer was a journalist in Chicago. Early life and education Born in Chicago, Illinois, L ...
. Granger did not appear in ''I Thank a Fool'', and ''Dark Memory'' was not made. Instead Granger stayed in Italy to make ''
Commando Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin">40_Commando.html" ;"title="Royal Marines from 40 Commando">Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin area of Afghanistan are pictured A commando is a combatant, or operativ ...
'' (1962), an action movie and ''
Swordsman of Siena ''Swordsman of Siena'' ( it, La congiura dei dieci; French: ''Le Mercenaire'') is a 1962 French-Italian adventure film directed by Étienne Périer and Baccio Bandini and starring Stewart Granger, Sylva Koscina and Christine Kaufmann. The film i ...
'' (1963), a swashbuckler. Granger was in the war movie ''
The Secret Invasion ''The Secret Invasion'' is a 1964 American war film directed by Roger Corman. It stars Stewart Granger, Raf Vallone, Mickey Rooney, Edd Byrnes, Henry Silva, Mia Massini and William Campbell. Appearing three years before ''The Dirty Dozen'' (196 ...
'' (1964) for
Roger Corman Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926) is an American film director, producer, and actor. He has been called "The Pope of Pop Cinema" and is known as a trailblazer in the world of independent film. Many of Corman's films are based on works t ...
shot in Yugoslavia. In West Germany, Granger acted in the role of Old Surehand in three Western movies adapted from novels by German author
Karl May Karl Friedrich May ( , ; 25 February 1842 – 30 March 1912) was a German author. He is best known for his 19th century novels of fictitious travels and adventures, set in the American Old West with Winnetou and Old Shatterhand as main pro ...
, with French actor
Pierre Brice Pierre-Louis Le Bris (6 February 1929 – 6 June 2015), known as Pierre Brice, was a French actor, best known as portraying fictional Apache-chief Winnetou in German films based on Karl May novels. Life and films Brice was born in Brest, Brit ...
(playing the fictional Indian chief
Winnetou Winnetou is a fictional Native American hero of several novels written in German by Karl May (1842–1912), one of the best-selling German writers of all time with about 200 million copies worldwide, including the ''Winnetou'' trilogy. The ch ...
), in '' Among Vultures'' (1964), with Elke Sommer; ''
The Oil Prince The Oil Prince (German: ''Der Ölprinz'') is a 1965 West German-Yugoslav western film directed by Harald Philipp and starring Stewart Granger, Pierre Brice and Harald Leipnitz. It was also known as ''Rampage at Apache Wells''. The screenplay is ...
'' (1965) (''Rampage at Apache Wells'') (1965), shot in Yugoslavia; and ''
Old Surehand ''Old Surehand'' (german: Old Surehand 1. Teil, also known as ''Flaming Frontier'') is a 1965 German Western film starring Stewart Granger, Pierre Brice and Letitia Roman. The film is based on a novel by Karl May. It was shot at the Spand ...
'' (''Flaming Frontier'') (1965). He was teamed with Brice and
Lex Barker Alexander Crichlow Barker Jr. (May 8, 1919 – May 11, 1973), known as Lex Barker, was an American actor. He was known for playing Tarzan for RKO Pictures between 1949 and 1953, and portraying leading characters from Karl May's novels, notably a ...
, also a hero of
Karl May Karl Friedrich May ( , ; 25 February 1842 – 30 March 1912) was a German author. He is best known for his 19th century novels of fictitious travels and adventures, set in the American Old West with Winnetou and Old Shatterhand as main pro ...
movies, in the crime movie '' Gern hab' ich die Frauen gekillt'' (''Killer's Carnival'') (1966). Granger starred in several
Eurospy Eurospy film, or Spaghetti spy film (when referring to Italian-produced films in the genre), is a genre of spy films produced in Europe, especially in Italy, France, and Spain, that either sincerely imitated or else parodied the British James ...
movies such as '' Red Dragon'' (1965), a West Germany-Italian movie shot in Hong Kong; and ''
Requiem for a Secret Agent ''Requiem for a Secret Agent'' (also known as ''Requiem per un agente segreto'') is an Italian international co-production Eurospy film. It was co-produced with Spain (where it was released as ''Consigna: Tánger 67'') and West Germany (where it w ...
'' (1966). He did '' The Crooked Road'' (1965), with Robert Ryan under the direction of
Don Chaffey Donald Chaffey (5 August 1917 – 13 November 1990) was a British film director, writer, producer, and art director. Chaffey's film career began as an art director in 1947, and his directorial debut was in 1953. He remained active in the ind ...
in Yugoslavia; ''
Target for Killing ''Target for Killing'' (german: Das Geheimnis der gelben Mönche, it, Tiro a segno per uccidere) is a 1966 Austrian-German-Italian crime film directed by Manfred R. Köhler and starring Stewart Granger. It was shot between Maghreb, Yugoslavia a ...
'' (1966), a crime movie with
Karin Dor Karin Dor (, born Kätherose Derr; 22 February 1938 – 6 November 2017) was a German actress. She was famous to international audiences for her role as Bond girl Helga Brandt in the James Bond film '' You Only Live Twice'' (1967) and her appear ...
; ''
The Trygon Factor ''The Trygon Factor'' is a 1966 British-West German crime film directed by Cyril Frankel and starring Stewart Granger, Susan Hampshire and Robert Morley. It is one of the films based on works by Edgar Wallace of the 1960s and its German titl ...
'' (1966), a British co-production based on a novel by
Edgar Wallace Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1 April 1875 – 10 February 1932) was a British writer. Born into poverty as an illegitimate London child, Wallace left school at the age of 12. He joined the army at age 21 and was a war correspondent during th ...
. Granger's last studio picture was '' The Last Safari'' (1967), shot in Africa and directed by Henry Hathaway. Granger was billed under
Kaz Garas Kaz Garas (born 4 March 1940) is a Lithuanian-American retired actor, best known for his starring role in the TV-series ''Strange Report'', and for his numerous portrayals of sheriffs in low-budget thrillers. Early life Garas was born in Kaunas ...
. He later called this "my last real film...the worst film ever made in Africa!"MacFarlane 1997, p. 230. In 1970, he described his recent movies as "movies not even I will talk about". He later estimated that he made more than $1.5 million in the 1960s but lost all of it.Stewart Granger plans his return—as actor, not star ''Chicago Tribune'' 26 November 1981: e10


U.S. television

Granger returned to the U.S. and made a TV movie ''
Any Second Now ''Any Second Now'' is a 1969 TV film directed by Gene Levitt and starring Stewart Granger and Lois Nettleton. The film score was composed by Leonard Rosenman. Plot A philandering photographer plans to kill his wife. He fails and the wife gets a ...
'' (1969). In 1970, he appeared as Colonial Mackenzie on the TV western series ''The Men from Shiloh'' in the episode titled "Colonial Mackenzie Versus the West". ''The Men from Shiloh'' was previously known as '' The Virginian''. The new version changed the costumes and added moustaches and beards to some of the characters, making the actors look more dashing and realistic for the time. He followed actors
Lee J. Cobb Lee J. Cobb (born Leo Jacoby; December 8, 1911February 11, 1976) was an American actor, known both for film roles and his work on the Broadway stage. He often played arrogant, intimidating and abrasive characters, but he also acted as respectabl ...
,
Charles Bickford Charles Ambrose Bickford (January 1, 1891 – November 9, 1967) was an American actor known for supporting roles. He was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for '' The Song of Bernadette'' (1943), '' The F ...
and
John McIntire John Herrick McIntire (June 27, 1907 – January 30, 1991) was an American character actor who appeared in 65 theatrical films and many television series. McIntire is well known for having replaced Ward Bond, upon Bond's sudden death in Novem ...
as the new owner of the Shiloh ranch on prime-time TV for its ninth year (1971). Granger said he accepted the role for money and because it "seemed like it could be a lot of fun", but was disappointed by the lack of character development for his role. He played
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
in a poorly received 1972 TV film version of ''
The Hound of the Baskervilles ''The Hound of the Baskervilles'' is the third of the four crime novels by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle featuring the detective Sherlock Holmes. Originally serialised in ''The Strand Magazine'' from August 1901 to April 1902, it is set i ...
''.


Retirement

In the 1970s, Granger retired from acting and went to live in southern Spain, where he invested in real estate and resided in Estepona, Málaga. While living there, he became a friend and business partner of former
barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and ...
and television producer James Todesco (''
Eldorado El Dorado (, ; Spanish for "the golden"), originally ''El Hombre Dorado'' ("The Golden Man") or ''El Rey Dorado'' ("The Golden King"), was the term used by the Spanish in the 16th century to describe a mythical tribal chief (''zipa'') or king o ...
'' TV series). Together they were involved in real estate investment and development. He appeared in ''
The Wild Geese ''The Wild Geese'' is a 1978 war film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, and Hardy Krüger. The screenplay concerns a group of mercenaries in Africa. It was the result of a long-held ambiti ...
'' (1978) as an unscrupulous banker who hires a unit of mercenary soldiers (
Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s, and he gave a memorable pe ...
, Roger Moore,
Richard Harris Richard St John Francis Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor and singer. He appeared on stage and in many films, notably as Corrado Zeller in Michelangelo Antonioni's '' Red Desert'', Frank Machin in '' This Sporting ...
and others) to stage a military coup in an African nation. His character then makes a deal with the existing government, and betrays the mercenaries. In 1980, he was diagnosed with
lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma (since about 98–99% of all lung cancers are carcinomas), is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissue (biology), tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas derive from tran ...
and was told he had three months to live. Granger later said "I was 67 and had smoked 60 cigarettes a day for 40 years, but the doctor said if I had an operation there might be a chance of two to four more years of life. So I said "Who the hell needs that? But you better give me three months to put my house in order.'" Granger underwent the operation, had a lung and a rib removed, only to be informed he didn't have cancer after all – he had
tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...
. He was the subject of '' This Is Your Life'' in 1980 when he was surprised by
Eamonn Andrews Eamonn Andrews, (19 December 1922 – 5 November 1987) was an Irish radio and television presenter, employed primarily in the United Kingdom from the 1950s to the 1980s. From 1960 to 1964 he chaired the Radio Éireann Authority (now the RTÉ ...
at the New London Theatre.


Return to acting

He returned to acting in 1981 with the publication of his autobiography ''Sparks Fly Upward'', claiming he was bored. Granger spent the last decade of his life appearing on stage and television including playing
Prince Philip Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, later Philip Mountbatten; 10 June 1921 – 9 April 2021) was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. As such, he served as the consort of the British monarch from E ...
in ''
The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana ''The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana'' is a 1982 American television film, made-for-television biographical film, biographical drama (film and television), drama film that depicts the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. The film ...
'' (1982), a guest role in the TV series in ''
The Fall Guy ''The Fall Guy'' is an American action/adventure television series produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981, to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas as Hollywood stunt performers who mo ...
'' starring
Lee Majors Lee Majors (born Harvey Lee Yeary; April 23, 1939) is an American actor. Majors portrayed the characters of Heath Barkley in the American television Western series ''The Big Valley'' (1965–1969), Colonel Steve Austin in the American televisio ...
, and as a suspect in ''
Murder She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The series ...
'' in 1985. He even starred in a German soap-opera titled ''
Das Erbe der Guldenburgs ''Das Erbe der Guldenburgs'' ("The legacy of the Guldenburgs") is a German television series that originally aired on ZDF from 1987 to 1990 and revolves around the destiny of the Guldenburgs, a wealthy aristocratic family, and their nouveau riche ...
'' (The Guldenburg Heritage) (1987). He moved to Pacific Palisades, California. One of his later roles was in the 1989–1990 Broadway production of '' The Circle'' by
W. Somerset Maugham William Somerset Maugham ( ; 25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German un ...
, opposite
Glynis Johns Glynis Margaret Payne Johns (born 5 October 1923) is a South African-born British former actress, dancer, musician and singer. Recognised as a film and Broadway icon, Johns has a career spanning eight decades, in which she appeared in more than ...
and Rex Harrison in Harrison's final role. The production actually opened at
Duke University Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco and electric power industrialist James ...
for a three-week run, followed by performances in Baltimore and Boston, then opening on 14 November 1989 on Broadway. In 1990 he toured Europe in ''The Circle'', opposite
Ian Carmichael Ian Gillett Carmichael, OBE (18 June 1920 – 5 February 2010) was an English actor who worked prolifically on stage, screen and radio in a career spanning 70 years. He found prominence in the films of the Boulting brothers, including ' ...
and
Rosemary Harris Rosemary Ann Harris (born 19 September 1927) is an English actress. She is the recipient of such accolades as a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. In ...
.


Personal life, death, and honors

He was married three times and had four children: *
Elspeth March Elspeth March (5 March 1911 – 29 April 1999) was an English actress. Early years March was born as Jean Elspeth Mackenzie in Kensington, London, England, the daughter of Harry Malcolm and Elfreda Mackenzie. She studied speech and drama un ...
(1938–1948); two children, Jamie and Lindsay * Jean Simmons (1950–1960), (with whom he had starred in ''
Adam and Evelyne ''Adam and Evelyne'', released in the U.S. as ''Adam and Evalyn'', is a 1949 romance film starring Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons. According to Robert Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies, this suited the stars, as they were romantically inv ...
'', ''
Young Bess ''Young Bess'' is a 1953 Technicolor biographical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer about the early life of Elizabeth I, from her turbulent childhood to the eve of her accession to the throne of England. It stars Jean Simmons as Elizabeth and Ste ...
'' and ''
Footsteps in the Fog ''Footsteps in the Fog'' is a 1955 British Technicolor film noir crime film starring Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons, with a screenplay co-written by Lenore Coffee and Dorothy Davenport, and released by Columbia Pictures. The film is bas ...
''); one daughter, Tracy * Caroline LeCerf (1964–1969); one daughter, Samantha. Granger claimed in his autobiography that Deborah Kerr had approached him romantically in the back of his chauffeur-driven car at the time he was making ''Caesar and Cleopatra''. Although he was married to Elspeth March, he states that he and Kerr went on to have an affair. When asked about this revelation, Kerr's response was "What a gallant man he is." In 1956 Granger became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He died in Santa Monica, California, on August 16, 1993, from
prostate The prostate is both an Male accessory gland, accessory gland of the male reproductive system and a muscle-driven mechanical switch between urination and ejaculation. It is found only in some mammals. It differs between species anatomically, ...
and
bone cancer A bone tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in bone, traditionally classified as noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Cancerous bone tumors usually originate from a cancer in another part of the body such as from lung, breast, thyro ...
at the age of 80. His niece is ''
Antiques Roadshow ''Antiques Roadshow'' is a British television programme broadcast by the BBC in which antiques appraisers travel to various regions of the United Kingdom (and occasionally in other countries) to appraise antiques brought in by local people (g ...
'' appraiser
Bunny Campione Bunny Campione (born Carolyn Elizabeth Fisher; c. August 1946) is an English antiques expert known for her many appearances on the long running BBC television programme ''Antiques Roadshow'', on which she has appeared since 1987. Daughter of Squ ...
, the daughter of his sister Iris.


Appraisal

In 1970, Granger said, "Stewart Granger was quite a successful film star, but I don't think he was an actor's actor." Among the movies that Granger was announced to star in but were made with other actors instead were ''
Ivanhoe ''Ivanhoe: A Romance'' () by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in three volumes, in 1819, as one of the Waverley novels. Set in England in the Middle Ages, this novel marked a shift away from Scott’s prior practice of setting st ...
'' (1952), ''
Mogambo ''Mogambo'' is a 1953 Technicolor adventure/ romantic drama film directed by John Ford and starring Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, and Grace Kelly, and featuring Donald Sinden. Shot on location in Equatorial Africa, with a musical soundtrack consisti ...
'' (1953), ''
The King's Thief ''The King's Thief'' is a 1955 swashbuckling CinemaScope adventure film directed by Robert Z. Leonard, who replaced Hugo Fregonese during filming. Released on August 5, 1955, the film takes place in London at the time of Charles II and stars A ...
'' (1955) and '' Man of the West'' (1958).


Complete filmography

*''
The Song You Gave Me ''The Song You Gave Me'' is a 1933 British musical film directed by Paul L. Stein, and starring Bebe Daniels, Victor Varconi, and Frederick Lloyd. It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood, Linda. ''British Films, 1927-1939''. British Film Institute ...
'' (1933) as Waiter (uncredited) *'' A Southern Maid'' (1933) (uncredited) *''
Give Her a Ring ''Give Her a Ring'' is a 1934 British musical film directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Clifford Mollison, Wendy Barrie, and Zelma O'Neal. The film was a remake of the 1932 German film ''Wrong Number, Miss'', and is sometimes known by the t ...
'' (1934) as Diner (uncredited) *''
Over the Garden Wall ''Over the Garden Wall'' is an American animated television miniseries created by Patrick McHale for Cartoon Network. The series centers on two half-brothers who travel across a mysterious forest to find their way home, encountering a variet ...
'' (1934) (uncredited) *'' I Spy (1934 film)'' (uncredited) *''
Under Secret Orders ''Under Secret Orders'', also known as ''Mademoiselle Doctor'', is a 1937 British spy film directed by Edmond T. Gréville and starring Erich von Stroheim, John Loder, Dita Parlo and Claire Luce. It is an English-language version of the Frenc ...
'' (1937) (uncredited) *'' So This Is London'' (1939) as Laurence *''
Convoy A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...
'' (1940) as Sutton (uncredited) *''
Secret Mission ''Secret Mission'' is a 1942 British war film directed by Harold French and starring Hugh Williams, James Mason, Nancy Price, Carla Lehmann and Roland Culver. Plot During the Second World War, British Army Major Peter Garnett assembles a team ...
'' (1942) as Sub-Lieutenant Jackson *'' Thursday's Child'' (1943) as David Penley *''
The Man in Grey ''The Man in Grey'' is a 1943 British film melodrama made by Gainsborough Pictures; it is considered to be the first of a series of period costume dramas now known as the "Gainsborough melodramas". It was directed by Leslie Arliss and produce ...
'' (1943) as Peter Rokeby *''
The Lamp Still Burns ''The Lamp Still Burns'' is a 1943 British drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Rosamund John, Stewart Granger and Godfrey Tearle. Its plot concerns a woman architect who changes careers to become a nurse. It was based on the 1942 n ...
'' (1943) as Laurence Rains *'' Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944) as Harry Somerford *'' Love Story'' (1944) as Kit Firth *''
Madonna of the Seven Moons ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' is a 1945 British drama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring Phyllis Calvert, Stewart Granger and Patricia Roc. The film was produced by Rubeigh James Minney, with cinematography ...
'' (1945) as Nino *'' Waterloo Road'' (1945) as Ted Purvis *'' Caesar and Cleopatra'' (1945) as Apollodorus *'' Caravan'' (1946) as Richard Darrell *''
The Magic Bow ''The Magic Bow'' is a 1946 British musical film based on the life and loves of the Italian violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini. It was directed by Bernard Knowles. The film was entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Stewart ...
'' (1946) as Niccolo Paganini *'' Captain Boycott'' (1947) as Hugh Davin *''
Blanche Fury ''Blanche Fury'' is a 1948 British Technicolor drama film directed by Marc Allégret and starring Valerie Hobson, Stewart Granger and Michael Gough. It was adapted from a 1939 novel of the same title by Joseph Shearing. In Victorian era Englan ...
'' (1948) as Philip Thorn *''
Saraband for Dead Lovers ''Saraband for Dead Lovers'' (released in the United States as ''Saraband'') is a 1948 British historical drama film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Stewart Granger and Joan Greenwood. It is based on the 1935 novel by Helen Simpson. Set i ...
'' (1948) as Konigsmark *'' Woman Hater'' (1948) as Lord Terence Datchett *''
Adam and Evelyne ''Adam and Evelyne'', released in the U.S. as ''Adam and Evalyn'', is a 1949 romance film starring Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons. According to Robert Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies, this suited the stars, as they were romantically inv ...
'' (1949) as Adam Black *''
King Solomon's Mines ''King Solomon's Mines'' (1885) is a popular novel by the English Victorian adventure writer and fabulist Sir H. Rider Haggard. It tells of a search of an unexplored region of Africa by a group of adventurers led by Allan Quatermain for the ...
'' (1950) as Allan Quatermain *''
Soldiers Three ''Soldiers Three'' is a collection of short stories by Rudyard Kipling. The three soldiers of the title are Learoyd, Mulvaney and Ortheris, who had also appeared previously in the collection '' Plain Tales from the Hills''. The current version, ...
'' (1951) as Pvt. Archibald Ackroyd *''
The Light Touch ''The Light Touch'' is a 1951 film starring Stewart Granger, Pier Angeli, and George Sanders, written and directed by Richard Brooks. Plot Art thief Sam Conride (Stewart Granger) steals a Renaissance-era painting on loan to an Italian museum by ...
'' (1951) as Sam Conride *''
The Wild North ''The Wild North'' (also known as ''The Big North'', ''Constable Pedley'', ''The Constable Pedley Story'', ''The Wild North Country'' and ''North Country'') is a 1952 American Western film directed by Andrew Marton and starring Stewart Grange ...
'' (1952) as Jules Vincent *''
Scaramouche Scaramouche () or Scaramouch (; from Italian Scaramuccia , literally "little skirmisher") is a stock clown character of the 16th-century commedia dell'arte (comic theatrical arts of Italian literature). The role combined characteristics of the ...
'' (1952) as Andre Moreau *''
The Prisoner of Zenda ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' is an 1894 adventure novel by Anthony Hope, in which the King of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation and thus is unable to attend the ceremony. Political forces within the realm are such that, in orde ...
'' (1952) as Rudolf Rassendyll / King Rudolf V *'' Salome'' (1953) as Commander Claudius *''
Young Bess ''Young Bess'' is a 1953 Technicolor biographical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer about the early life of Elizabeth I, from her turbulent childhood to the eve of her accession to the throne of England. It stars Jean Simmons as Elizabeth and Ste ...
'' (1953) as Thomas Seymour *'' All the Brothers Were Valiant'' (1953) as Mark Shore *''
Beau Brummell George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (7 June 1778 – 30 March 1840) was an important figure in Regency England and, for many years, the arbiter of men's fashion. At one time, he was a close friend of the Prince Regent, the future King George IV, but ...
'' (1954) as George Bryan 'Beau' Brummell *''
Green Fire ''Green Fire'' is a 1954 American CinemaScope and Eastmancolor adventure drama film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Andrew Marton and produced by Armand Deutsch, with original music by Miklós Rózsa. The picture stars Grac ...
'' (1954) as Rian X. Mitchell *'' Moonfleet'' (1955) as Jeremy Fox *''
Footsteps in the Fog ''Footsteps in the Fog'' is a 1955 British Technicolor film noir crime film starring Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons, with a screenplay co-written by Lenore Coffee and Dorothy Davenport, and released by Columbia Pictures. The film is bas ...
'' (1955) as Stephen Lowry *''
The Last Hunt ''The Last Hunt'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Richard Brooks and produced by Dore Schary. The screenplay was by Richard Brooks from the novel '' The Last Hunt'', by Milton Lott. The music score was by Daniele Amfitheatrof and ...
'' (1956) as Sandy McKenzie *''
Bhowani Junction ''Bhowani Junction'' is a 1954 novel by John Masters, which was the basis of a 1956 film starring Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger. It is set amidst the turbulence of the British withdrawal from India. It is notable for its portrayal of the Eu ...
'' (1956) as Col. Rodney Savage *''
The Little Hut ''The Little Hut'' is a 1957 British romantic comedy film made by MGM starring Ava Gardner, Stewart Granger and David Niven. It was directed by Mark Robson, produced by Robson and F. Hugh Herbert, from a screenplay by Herbert, adapted by Nancy ...
'' (1957) as Sir Philip Ashlow *''
Gun Glory ''Gun Glory'' is a 1957 American Metrocolor Western film directed by Roy Rowland starring Stewart Granger and Rhonda Fleming. Plot Tom Early rides into a Wyoming town where he once lived with his wife and son. In the general store, owner Wainsc ...
'' (1957) as Tom Early *'' Harry Black'' (1958) as Harry Black *'' The Whole Truth'' (1958) as Max Poulton *''
North to Alaska ''North to Alaska'' is a 1960 comedic Western/Northern film directed by Henry Hathaway and John Wayne (uncredited). The picture stars Wayne along with Stewart Granger, Ernie Kovacs, Fabian, and Capucine. The script is based on the 1939 play ' ...
'' (1960) as George Pratt *''
The Secret Partner ''The Secret Partner'' is a 1961 British thriller film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Stewart Granger, Haya Harareet and Bernard Lee. The screenplay concerns a shipping executive officer who is blackmailed by an evil dentist. Plot Jo ...
'' (1961) as John Brent aka John Wilson *'' Sodom and Gomorrah'' (1962) as Lot *'' The Legion's Last Patrol'' (US: ''Commando'') (1962) as Captain Le Blanc *''
Swordsman of Siena ''Swordsman of Siena'' ( it, La congiura dei dieci; French: ''Le Mercenaire'') is a 1962 French-Italian adventure film directed by Étienne Périer and Baccio Bandini and starring Stewart Granger, Sylva Koscina and Christine Kaufmann. The film i ...
'' (1962) as Thomas Stanswood *''
The Shortest Day ''The Shortest Day'' ( it, Il giorno più corto) is a 1963 Italian comedy film. It is a parody of the war movie '' The Longest Day'' and stars the popular duo Franco and Ciccio in the leading roles. Dozens of other well-known actors, from both Eu ...
'' (1963) as Avvocato (uncredited) *''
The Secret Invasion ''The Secret Invasion'' is a 1964 American war film directed by Roger Corman. It stars Stewart Granger, Raf Vallone, Mickey Rooney, Edd Byrnes, Henry Silva, Mia Massini and William Campbell. Appearing three years before ''The Dirty Dozen'' (196 ...
'' (1964) as Maj. Richard Mace *'' Among Vultures'' (1964) as Old Surehand *'' The Crooked Road'' (1965) as Duke of Orgagna *'' Red Dragon'' (1965) as Michael Scott *'' Flaming Frontier'' (1965) as Old Surehand *''
The Oil Prince The Oil Prince (German: ''Der Ölprinz'') is a 1965 West German-Yugoslav western film directed by Harald Philipp and starring Stewart Granger, Pierre Brice and Harald Leipnitz. It was also known as ''Rampage at Apache Wells''. The screenplay is ...
'' (1965) as Old Surehand *''
Killer's Carnival ''Killer's Carnival'' (french: Carnaval des barbouzes, german: Gern hab' ich die Frauen gekillt, it, Spie contro il mondo) is a 1966 crime film directed by Alberto Cardone and starring Stewart Granger. Plot A murderer takes refuge in a docto ...
'' (1966) as David Porter (Vienna segment) *''
Target for Killing ''Target for Killing'' (german: Das Geheimnis der gelben Mönche, it, Tiro a segno per uccidere) is a 1966 Austrian-German-Italian crime film directed by Manfred R. Köhler and starring Stewart Granger. It was shot between Maghreb, Yugoslavia a ...
'' (1966) as James Vine *''
Requiem for a Secret Agent ''Requiem for a Secret Agent'' (also known as ''Requiem per un agente segreto'') is an Italian international co-production Eurospy film. It was co-produced with Spain (where it was released as ''Consigna: Tánger 67'') and West Germany (where it w ...
'' (1966) as Jimmy Merrill *''
The Trygon Factor ''The Trygon Factor'' is a 1966 British-West German crime film directed by Cyril Frankel and starring Stewart Granger, Susan Hampshire and Robert Morley. It is one of the films based on works by Edgar Wallace of the 1960s and its German titl ...
'' (1966) as Supt. Cooper-Smith *'' The Last Safari'' (1967) as Miles Gilchrist *''
Any Second Now ''Any Second Now'' is a 1969 TV film directed by Gene Levitt and starring Stewart Granger and Lois Nettleton. The film score was composed by Leonard Rosenman. Plot A philandering photographer plans to kill his wife. He fails and the wife gets a ...
'' (1969 TV movie) as Paul Dennison *''
The Hound of the Baskervilles ''The Hound of the Baskervilles'' is the third of the four crime novels by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle featuring the detective Sherlock Holmes. Originally serialised in ''The Strand Magazine'' from August 1901 to April 1902, it is set i ...
'' (1972 TV movie) as
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
*''
The Wild Geese ''The Wild Geese'' is a 1978 war film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, and Hardy Krüger. The screenplay concerns a group of mercenaries in Africa. It was the result of a long-held ambiti ...
'' (1978) as Sir Edward Matheson *''
The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana ''The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana'' is a 1982 American television film, made-for-television biographical film, biographical drama (film and television), drama film that depicts the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. The film ...
'' (1982 TV movie) as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh *''
A Hazard of Hearts ''A Hazard of Hearts'' is a 1987 made-for-television romantic drama film starring Helena Bonham Carter in one of her first major roles. It is based on a 1949 novel by Barbara Cartland. Plot Sir Giles Staverley, a compulsive gambler, is tricked i ...
'' (1987 TV movie) as the elder Lord Vulcan *'' Hell Hunters'' (1988) as Martin Hoffmann *''Chameleons'' (1989 TV movie) as Jason *'' Fine Gold'' (1989) as Don Miguel


Unmade films

* In 1944 it was reported Granger's ambition was to play Rob Roy – J. Arthur Rank announced he was interested in a Rob Roy project in 1945 but it was never made * ''Digger's Republic'' for
Leslie Arliss Leslie Arliss (6 October 1901, London – 30 December 1987, Jersey, Channel Islands) was an English screenwriter and director. He is best known for his work on the Gainsborough melodramas directing films such as ''The Man in Grey'' and ''The Wi ...
as
Stafford Parker Stafford Parker was a British artist, miner and the only President of the small and short-lived "Diggers Republic" on the diamond fields of southern Africa. Griqualand West and President of the Diggers Republic Originally an auctioneer and arti ...
(1946) – this became '' Diamond City'' with David Farrar in the role instead * ''Self-Made Man'' (1947) from a script by Alan Campbell about a cocky type who comes out of the RAF and makes and loses a million dollars * Richard Burton claimed Granger turned down the leading role in ''
Odd Man Out ''Odd Man Out'' is a 1947 British film noir directed by Carol Reed, and starring James Mason, Robert Newton, Cyril Cusack, and Kathleen Ryan. Set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, it follows a wounded Nationalist leader who attempts to evade polic ...
'' (1947), which would make an international star of James Mason. * ''
Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus * lij, Cristoffa C(or)ombo * es, link=no, Cristóbal Colón * pt, Cristóvão Colombo * ca, Cristòfor (or ) * la, Christophorus Columbus. (; born between 25 August and 31 October 1451, died 20 May 1506) was a ...
'' in the title role (1947) – film was eventually made with
Fredric March Fredric March (born Ernest Frederick McIntyre Bickel; August 31, 1897 – April 14, 1975) was an American actor, regarded as one of Hollywood's most celebrated, versatile stars of the 1930s and 1940s.Obituary '' Variety'', April 16, 1975, ...
* ''Pursuit of Love'' for producer Davis Lewis at Enterprise Studios (1947) * ''Treacher'' (1947) produced by
Nunnally Johnson Nunnally Hunter Johnson (December 5, 1897 – March 25, 1977) was an American screenwriter, film director, producer, and playwright. As a filmmaker, he wrote the screenplays to more than fifty films in a career that spanned from 1927 to 1967. He ...
for Universal * ''
The Saxon Charm ''The Saxon Charm'' is a 1948 American film noir drama film written and directed by Claude Binyon based on the novel of the same name by Frederic Wakeman Sr. and starring Robert Montgomery (actor), Robert Montgomery, Susan Hayward, John Payne (ac ...
'' (1947) * Reported as testing for
John Huston John Marcellus Huston ( ; August 5, 1906 – August 28, 1987) was an American film director, screenwriter, actor and visual artist. He wrote the screenplays for most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered ...
in ''
Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...
'' (1949) * ''The House by the Sea'' based on book by Jon Godden, with Granger as producer (1949) * ''The Donnybrook Fighter'' (1952) * ''Robinson Crusoe'' (early 1950s) * ''Highland Fling'' (1957) * ''Ever the Twain'' (1958) *
biography A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just the basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or ...
of
Miguel de Cervantes Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (; 29 September 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616 Old Style and New Style dates, NS) was an Early Modern Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-emin ...
for his own production company(1958) *''The Night Comers'' with Jean Simmons – adaptation of
Eric Ambler Eric Clifford Ambler OBE (28 June 1909 – 22 October 1998) was an English author of thrillers, in particular spy novels, who introduced a new realism to the genre. Also working as a screenwriter, Ambler used the pseudonym Eliot Reed for book ...
book ''State of Siege'' *''The Four Winds'' from a 1954 novel by David Beatty – for his own production company, Tracy Productions (1958) *''
I Thank a Fool ''I Thank a Fool'' is a 1962 British Metrocolor crime film made by Eaton (De Grunwald Productions) and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in CinemaScope. It was directed by Robert Stevens and produced by Anatole de Grunwald from a screenplay by Karl Tunb ...
'' (1962)


Box-office ranking

At the peak of his career, exhibitors voted Granger among the top stars at the box office: *1945 – 9th biggest star in Britain (2nd most popular British star) *1946 – 6th biggest star in Britain (3rd most popular British star) *1947 – 5th most popular British star in Britain *1948 – 5th most popular British star in Britain. *1949 – 7th most popular British star in Britain. *1951 – most popular star in Britain according to ''
Kinematograph Weekly ''Kinematograph Weekly'', popularly known as ''Kine Weekly'', was a trade paper catering to the British film industry between 1889 and 1971. History ''Kinematograph Weekly'' was founded in 1889 as the monthly publication ''Optical Magic Lantern ...
'' *1952 – 19th most popular star in the US * 1953 – 21st most popular star in the US and 8th most popular in Britain


Partial television credits

*'' The Virginian The Men from Shiloh'' (1970–71) – Starred in 11 of 24 episodes as Col. Alan MacKenzie. Episodes 1 "The West v Colonel MacKenzie", 5 "The Mysterious Mr Tate", 7 "Crooked Corner", 9 "The Price of the Hanging", 11 "Follow the Leader", 12 "Last of the Comencharos", 14 "Nan Allen", 19 "Flight from Memory", 21 "The Regimental Line", 23 "Wolf Track", and 24 "Jump Up". *''
Hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a ref ...
'' – episodes "Glass People", "Blackout" (1983–1987) as Anthony Sheridan / Tony Fielding *''
The Fall Guy ''The Fall Guy'' is an American action/adventure television series produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981, to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas as Hollywood stunt performers who mo ...
'' – episode "Manhunter" (1983) as James Caldwell *''
Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The series f ...
'' – episode " Paint Me a Murder" (1985) as Sir John Landry *''
The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy/drama television series that aired on ABC from 1977 to 1986; in addition, four three-hour specials aired in 1986, 1987, and 1990. The series was set on the luxury passenger cruise ship MS ''Pa ...
'' – episode "Call Me Grandma/A Gentleman of Discretion/The Perfect Divorce/Letting Go" (1985) as General Thomas Preston *''
The Wizard Wizard, the wizard, or wizards may refer to: * Wizard (fantasy), a fictional practitioner of magic * Wizard (supernatural), a practitioner of magic Art, entertainment and media Fictional characters * Wizard (Archie Comics), a comic book supe ...
'' – episode "The Aztec Dagger" (1987) as Jake Saunders *''
Das Erbe der Guldenburgs ''Das Erbe der Guldenburgs'' ("The legacy of the Guldenburgs") is a German television series that originally aired on ZDF from 1987 to 1990 and revolves around the destiny of the Guldenburgs, a wealthy aristocratic family, and their nouveau riche ...
'' (1987) – two episodes as Jack Brinkley *'' Pros and Cons'' (1991) – episode "It's the Pictures That Got Small" (final television appearance)


Partial theatre credits

*''The Courageous Sex'' by Mary D. Sheridan – Birmingham, May 1937 *''The Millionairess'' by
George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from ...
Malvern Festival, July 1937 – with
Elspeth March Elspeth March (5 March 1911 – 29 April 1999) was an English actress. Early years March was born as Jean Elspeth Mackenzie in Kensington, London, England, the daughter of Harry Malcolm and Elfreda Mackenzie. She studied speech and drama un ...
*''
The Apple Cart ''The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza'' is a 1928 play by George Bernard Shaw. It is a satirical comedy about several political philosophies which are expounded by the characters, often in lengthy monologues. The plot follows the fictional ...
'' – Malvern Festival, August 1937 – with Elspeth March *''Victoria, Queen and Empress'' – Birmingham Repertory, September 1937 – as
Gladstone William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-conse ...
*''The Sun Never Sets'' – Drury Lane Theatre, London, 1938 *''Serena Blandish'' – 1938 – with Vivien Leigh *''
Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...
Buxton Festival The Buxton Festival is an annual summer festival of opera, music and (since 2000) a literary series, held in Buxton, Derbyshire, England since its beginnings in July 1979. The 2020 festival would have run but was cancelled due to the Covid-19 cri ...
, September 1939 – with
Robert Donat Friedrich Robert Donat (18 March 1905 – 9 June 1958) was an English actor. He is best remembered for his roles in Alfred Hitchcock's '' The 39 Steps'' (1935) and '' Goodbye, Mr. Chips'' (1939), winning for the latter the Academy Award f ...
and
Constance Cummings Constance Cummings CBE (May 15, 1910 – November 23, 2005) was an American-British actress with a career spanning over 50 years. Early life Cummings was born in Seattle, Washington, the only daughter and younger child of Kate Logan (née C ...
, as Tybalt *''The Good Natured Man'' by Oliver Goldsmith – Buxton Festival, September 1939 – with Robert Donat and Constance Cummings *''Autumn'' – with
Flora Robson Dame Flora McKenzie Robson (28 March 19027 July 1984) was an English actress and star of the theatrical stage and cinema, particularly renowned for her performances in plays demanding dramatic and emotional intensity. Her range extended from q ...
*''House in the Square'' – St Martins Theatre, London, April 1940 *''To Dream Again'' – Theatre Royal, August 1942 *''Rebecca'' *wartime tour of ''Gaslight'' with Deborah Kerr *''
The Power of Darkness ''The Power of Darkness'' (russian: Власть тьмы, Vlast′ t′my) is a five- act drama by Leo Tolstoy. Written in 1886, the play's production was forbidden in Russia until 1902, mainly through the influence of Konstantin Pobedonostsev. I ...
'' adapted from by
Peter Glenville Peter Glenville (born Peter Patrick Brabazon Browne; 28 October 19133 June 1996) was an English film and stage actor and director. Biography Born in Hampstead, London, into a theatrical family, Glenville was the son of Shaun Glenville (born J ...
from the story by
Leo Tolstoy Count Lev Nikolayevich TolstoyTolstoy pronounced his first name as , which corresponds to the romanization ''Lyov''. () (; russian: link=no, Лев Николаевич Толстой,In Tolstoy's day, his name was written as in pre-refor ...
– March–April 1949 – with Jean Simmons *''The Circle'' – 1989 – with Rex Harrison and
Glynis Johns Glynis Margaret Payne Johns (born 5 October 1923) is a South African-born British former actress, dancer, musician and singer. Recognised as a film and Broadway icon, Johns has a career spanning eight decades, in which she appeared in more than ...
*''The Circle'' - 1990 - with
Ian Carmichael Ian Gillett Carmichael, OBE (18 June 1920 – 5 February 2010) was an English actor who worked prolifically on stage, screen and radio in a career spanning 70 years. He found prominence in the films of the Boulting brothers, including ' ...
and
Rosemary Harris Rosemary Ann Harris (born 19 September 1927) is an English actress. She is the recipient of such accolades as a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. In ...


Partial radio performances

* ''Continuous Performance – the Film'', BBC (December 1946) * ''
Lux Radio Theatre ''Lux Radio Theatre'', sometimes spelled ''Lux Radio Theater'', a classic radio anthology series, was broadcast on the NBC Blue Network (1934–35) (owned by the National Broadcasting Company, later predecessor of American Broadcasting Company ...
'', ''
King Solomon's Mines ''King Solomon's Mines'' (1885) is a popular novel by the English Victorian adventure writer and fabulist Sir H. Rider Haggard. It tells of a search of an unexplored region of Africa by a group of adventurers led by Allan Quatermain for the ...
'' (1952)


References


External links

* * * *
Box office reception of Stewart Granger's films in France

Britmovie.co.uk

Photographs and literature

BBC interview with Gloria Hunniford
{{DEFAULTSORT:Granger, Stewart 1913 births 1993 deaths Male actors from London Alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art British expatriate male actors in the United States Deaths from cancer in California Deaths from bone cancer Deaths from prostate cancer English male film actors English emigrants to the United States English male television actors English people of Scottish descent English people of French descent English people of Italian descent Black Watch officers Gordon Highlanders soldiers People educated at Epsom College 20th-century British male actors British Army personnel of World War II