Why Alfred Hitchcock Walked Away From a Cary Grant Reunion

Few director- actor duos have left a mark on Hollywood quite like Alfred Hitchcock and Cary Grant. Their creative partnership brought out the best in both men, with Hitchcock orchestrating suspense from behind the camera and Grant delivering charm and wit on screen. Together, they redefined what a thriller could be, starting with 1941’s Suspicion, where Grant took on a rare villainous role. Their collaboration continued to evolve, with Grant helping Hitchcock push boundaries in Notorious five years later. By the time they teamed up for To Catch a Thief in 1955, their chemistry was undeniable, especially alongside Grace Kelly. Their final act together, North by Northwest, remains a masterclass in cinematic spectacle.

Hitchcock was known for working with familiar faces, often returning to actors he trusted. But after the success of North by Northwest, the director and his favorite leading man faced a challenge that even they couldn’t overcome.

Dreaming Up a New Classic

In the early 1960s, Hitchcock began developing a new project with screenwriter Evan Hunter. They set out to adapt Daphne du Maurier’s story about a quiet coastal town suddenly under siege by flocks of aggressive birds. Hunter pitched the idea of starting as a screwball comedy before shifting into a full-blown thriller. Hitchcock immediately pictured Grant and Kelly as his leads. Kelly’s cool elegance and sly humor were exactly what he wanted, and Grant had already proven his knack for screwball comedy in films like Bringing Up Baby and The Awful Truth. Hunter wrote the script with their dynamic in mind, drawing inspiration from their previous work together.

But reality got in the way. Kelly, now Princess of Monaco, was unavailable to return to acting. Hitchcock, undeterred, decided to cast a newcomer instead, choosing model Tippi Hedren for the role. She would go on to deliver a memorable performance, but the search for a leading man was far from over.

The Deal That Broke the Partnership

Grant was technically available, but he had a condition: he wanted not just his standard pay, but half of the film ’s total profits.

“It was impossible,”

Hunter recalled in a 1999 interview.

“Hitch would never give him anything like that.”

The director refused to meet Grant’s demand, and just like that, one of Hollywood’s most successful collaborations came to an abrupt end.

With Grant out, Hitchcock turned to Rod Taylor, an Australian actor with the looks Hitchcock favored but lacking the magnetic presence Grant brought to the screen. While The Birds became a standout film of the 1960s, it’s hard not to wonder what might have been if Hitchcock and Grant had reunited for one more classic.