Stewart Granger

Last updated on the 25 June 2024 by Maeve

Mini Biography

Born: 6 May 1913, Kensington, London, England. 

Born James Lablache Stewart, the future matinee idol Stewart Granger initially charted a course far from the silver screen. Destined for a life in medicine according to his family, young James attended Epsom College. However, the call of the stage proved too strong. He abandoned his pre-med studies and enrolled at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and adopting his soon-to-be-famous stage name.

Stewart Granger’s career began humbly, with bit parts on the London stage in the mid-1930s. His charm and good looks eventually landed him roles with prestigious repertory companies, including the Birmingham Repertory Company. His film debut was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance in a 1940 war film. World War II further interrupted his burgeoning career as he served in the Royal Air Force.

Upon returning from the war, Granger’s career took a significant turn. He signed with Gainsborough Pictures, a British studio known for its lavish costume dramas. His rugged good looks and charismatic presence were perfectly suited for these melodramatic productions. Films like “Fanny by Gaslight” (1944) and “Caravan” (1946) established him as a popular leading man in Britain.

Hollywood came calling in 1950. Signed by MGM, Granger transitioned to swashbuckling roles. He brought a dashing intensity to films like “King Solomon’s Mines” (1950) and “Scaramouche” (1952), becoming a major box office draw alongside Deborah Kerr. He continued to excel in historical epics like “The Prisoner of Zenda” (1952) and “Young Bess” (1953), often paired with his real-life wife, actress Jean Simmons.

Stewart Granger was married three times, with his union to Jean Simmons being the longest-lasting (1950-1960). He remained active in film and television until the early 1990s, finally succumbing to cancer in 1993.

Stewart Granger’s legacy lies in his ability to embody the classic Hollywood hero. From the dashing adventurer to the brooding romantic lead, he entranced audiences with his charm and presence. Though his career waned towards the end, his swashbuckling performances remain a testament to his enduring appeal.

Suggested viewing

The Man in Grey (1943)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.5

A beautiful heiress trapped in a loveless marriage finds solace in an old friend, now an actress. But the friend’s ambition and hidden resentment ignite a love triangle, leading to betrayal, heartbreak and a shocking twist that ties the past to the present.

Top cast: Margaret Lockwood, Phyllis Calvert, James Mason, Stewart Granger, Harry Scott, Beatrice Varley, Martita Hunt, Helen Hayes, Raymond Lovell.

Fanny by Gaslight (1944)

Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.5

A young woman in Victorian England stumbles upon a dark secret about her past, uncovering a web of deceit spun by her own father and leading her on a journey of self-discovery and true love amidst looming gaslights and hidden dangers.

Top cast: Phyllis Calvert, James Mason, Wilfrid Lawson, Stewart Granger, Jean Kent, Margaretta Scott, Nora Swinburne, Cathleen Nesbitt.

Saraband (1948)

Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.5

Original title: Saraband for Dead Lovers

Trapped in a loveless marriage, a young princess finds solace and forbidden passion with a dashing count. Their secret affair ignites jealousy and threatens their very lives as they plot a desperate escape from a ruthless court.

Top cast: Stewart Granger, Joan Greenwood, Flora Robson, Françoise Rosay, Frederick Valk, Peter Bull, Anthony Quayle, Michael Gough.

Captain Boycott (1947)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.4

In 19th-century Ireland, a ruthless landlord’s cruelty sparks a community’s non-violent rebellion. A passionate farmer leads the fight against eviction and injustice, igniting a love story and a social movement that forever alters the meaning of a single word: boycott.

Top cast: Stewart Granger, Kathleen Ryan, Cecil Parker, Alastair Sim, Mervyn Johns, Noel Purcell, Niall MacGinnis, Maureen Delaney, Eddie Byrne.

Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.2

An aging Roman conqueror finds himself charmed by a young, fiery Egyptian queen vying for her throne. Their unlikely bond blossoms as he mentors her in leadership, but their deepening connection threatens his duty and challenges her naivete in the face of political intrigue.

Top cast: Claude Rains, Vivien Leigh, Stewart Granger, Flora Robson, Francis L. Sullivan, Basil Sydney, Cecil Parker, Raymond Lovell, Anthony Eustrel.

Bhowani Junction (1956)

Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.4

In 1947 India, a mixed-race woman caught between cultures grapples with love and identity as the British depart. Torn between a charming British officer and a passionate Indian nationalist, she navigates a future clouded by political turmoil and the fight for independence.

Top cast: Ava Gardner, Stewart Granger, Bill Travers, Abraham Sofaer, Francis Matthews, Peter Illing, Edward Chapman, Freda Jackson, Lionel Jeffries, Alan Tilvern.

More set in India

Waterloo Road (1945)

Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.5

A soldier on leave hunts for his wife in war-torn London, suspecting her of infidelity with a draft dodger. The suspenseful chase through bombed-out streets forces him to confront the harsh realities of war and the complexities of love and loyalty.

Top cast: John Mills, Stewart Granger, Joy Shelton, Alastair Sim, Alison Leggatt, Beatrice Varley, George Carney, Leslie Bradley, Jean Kent.

Madonna of the Seven Moons (1945)

Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.2

Haunted by a childhood trauma, a respectable wife leads a hidden life as a fiery temptress. When her daughter discovers this secret world, their peaceful facade shatters, forcing both women to confront the darkness that binds them.

Top cast: Phyllis Calvert, Stewart Granger, Patricia Roc, Peter Glenville, John Stuart, Reginald Tate, Peter Murray-Hill, Dulcie Gray, Alan Haines.

Stewart Granger full filmography @ Wikipedia