# Cary Grant Line About Turning Gay **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 16, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834 "2003-03-16T20:43:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/1 "2003-03-16T20:43:37Z")
Guys, I’ve tried to Google this, but my combinations of words is bringing nothing up. I believe there is a line in **The Philadelphia Story** where Grant says something like: “I just woke up this morning and decided to turn gay.” But I can’t find it. I’ve found a couple pages of quotes from the film, but can’t find that one. Is this the right movie? I need the exact quote. Perhaps **C. K. Dexter Haven** could help… 😃 Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/2 "2003-03-16T20:54:26Z")
It’s in **Bringing up Baby** … and it’s hard to hear because everyone is always laughing so hard. Cary Grant is in a very flowery, gossamer-type bathrobe (it’s a long story) and, amidst three or four simultaneous conversations (including a barking dog) is asked by the matronly aunt, “Why are you wearing that ridiculous robe?” He cracks under the pressure, leaps in the air and says, “Because I just went gay all of a sudden!” ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/3 "2003-03-16T20:56:54Z")
“Gay” didn’t equal “homosexual” in common 40s slang (_The Gay Divorvee_), although the two words have an association that goes back to the Renaissance. I suspect you’re misremembering the line. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/4 "2003-03-16T21:04:52Z")
Nope, that’s the line. And although “gay” wasn’t exclusively “homosexual” in 1938, it clearly has that undertone in this situation. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/5 "2003-03-16T21:06:52Z")
Mrs. Random: Well, you look perfectly idiotic in those clothes. David: These aren’t my clothes. Mrs. Random: Well, where are your clothes? David: I’ve lost my clothes! Mrs. Random: But why are you wearing _these_ clothes? David: Because I just went gay all of a sudden! As quoted by the [IMDB](http://us.imdb.com/Quotes?0029947) ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/6 "2003-03-16T21:07:04Z")
Wow. I thought “gay” only became associated with “homosexual” much later, like in the 60s. I didn’t know it could mean homosexual as far back as the 30s. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/7 "2003-03-16T21:20:11Z")
Thanks, y’all. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/8 "2003-03-16T21:22:56Z")
**Sir Rhosis** , are you the same Sir Rhosis of Theliver? ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/9 "2003-03-16T21:24:11Z")
😃 Yeah, I figured that out as well. Doesn’t beat “Sue Denym” though! ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/10 "2003-03-16T21:24:41Z")
deliver. I use this name or variations of it on a number of boards. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/11 "2003-03-16T21:26:25Z")
All thanks to Warner Bros, of course. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/12 "2003-03-16T21:36:04Z")
Naturally. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/13 "2003-03-16T21:36:10Z")
Anyone who might like to read an earlier thread about early uses of"gay" can do so [HERE](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55582&highlight=homosexual) ---
**Author:** ![Gjorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@Gjorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gjorp)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/14 "2003-03-17T00:16:34Z")
For what the professionals have to say on the subject; > **[Penguin Random House](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/)** > > Committed to publishing great books, connecting readers and authors globally, and spreading the love of reading. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/15 "2003-03-17T00:33:00Z")
Well, wasn’t Grant bisexual, anyways? Mmmmm…Cary Grant… ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/16 "2003-03-17T00:43:08Z")
> [@](#): > > There isn’t one clear answer to this one. That’s the opening statement over at the Random House article. And it’s true. Hard to prove, one way or the other. > [@](#): > > A Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang citation is ambiguous: “They were…gay, they learned little things that are things in being gay…” (1922, Gertrude Stein) While I haven’t read Ron Butters’ article which evidently suggest that the usage doesn’t mean “homosexual”, I think that the coincidence between Getrude Stein being gay and her use of the term _over and over_ in her 1922 article carries a lot of weight for me. But Ron Butters _IS_ a professional. I’ll have to read that article before I totally disagree. **Guin** said > [@](#): > > Well, wasn’t Grant bisexual, anyways? Cite?😃 ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/17 "2003-03-17T01:12:15Z")
Cary Grant rumored to be Bi throughout his life despite 5 wives.[E-online site](http://www.eonline.com/Features/Specials/Century/Apr/09.b.html) I am inclined to believe that he was likely bi due to all the rumours. Remember that Liberace was also rumoured to be gay until his death where it was finally confirmed. Putting “Cary Grant” bisexual into Google brings back roughly 100 sites that mention he was rumoured to be bisexual. However, there is nothing conclusive that I was able to find. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/18 "2003-03-17T01:32:39Z")
FWIW, Mr Grant passed away in my hometown. He was here to do a performance at the Adler theater…became ill and died at a local hospital. See [here](http://www.carygrant.net/articles/davenport.htm) ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/19 "2003-03-17T01:35:43Z")
I thought he lived with Randolph Scott for a while, and everyone knew them as a “couple”. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834/20 "2003-03-17T01:38:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yosemitebabe \* > \*\*I thought he lived with Randolph Scott for a while, and everyone knew them as a “couple”. \*\* Dyan Cannon says [nope](http://www.carygrant.net/faq.html#homosexual) and more about Grant and Scott [here](http://www.carygrant.net/biography.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cary-grant-line-about-turning-gay/161834.md?page=2)