Cary Grant's Outrageous Demand Killed His Final Hitchcock Film
The legendary actor-director duo's partnership collapsed when Grant made an unprecedented financial demand that left Hitchcock with no choice but to walk away from their planned collaboration.
Alfred Hitchcock had a reputation for clashing with his stars, but Cary Grant was different. Their working relationship was smooth, professional, and incredibly productive. Grant became Hitchcock's perfect leading man - sophisticated, charming, and completely in sync with the director's vision.
Their partnership began with 1941's Suspicion, where Grant took on an unusual villainous role. Five years later, they pushed boundaries together in Notorious. Then came To Catch a Thief in 1955, showcasing Grant's electric chemistry with Grace Kelly. Their final collaboration, North by Northwest, produced one of cinema's most thrilling spectacles.
The Project That Never Was
By the early 1960s, Hitchcock was developing his next big project. Working with screenwriter Evan Hunter, he planned to adapt Daphne du Maurier's short story about birds attacking a small town. Hunter envisioned it as a screwball comedy that would shift into pure terror.
Hitchcock immediately pictured Grant and Kelly in the lead roles. Grant had helped define screwball comedy with films like Bringing Up Baby and The Awful Truth. Kelly brought the sophisticated wit Hitchcock loved. Hunter wrote the script specifically for them, drawing inspiration from their To Catch a Thief chemistry.
When Stars Align Against You
Kelly was unavailable - her duties as Princess of Monaco kept her from acting. Hitchcock adapted quickly, choosing unknown model Tippi Hedren instead. The decision proved brilliant, but then Grant presented his own obstacle.
Grant was interested in the project. But he wanted more than his usual salary. Much more. He demanded 50% of the entire film's profits - an unprecedented request that stunned everyone involved.
"It was impossible," Hunter recalled in a 1999 Fresh Air interview. "Hitch would never give him anything like that."
The Replacement
Neither man budged. Their friendship couldn't overcome the financial impasse, ending one of Hollywood's most successful partnerships forever.
Rod Taylor stepped into Grant's role. The Australian actor had the right look - sharp jawline, broad shoulders, classic leading man features. But he lacked Grant's natural charisma and screen presence.
The Birds became one of Hitchcock's strongest 1960s films anyway. Yet it's impossible not to wonder what might have been. With Grant and Kelly as the leads, the movie could have reached even greater heights. Instead, it stands as a reminder of how business decisions can reshape cinematic history.