Tony Curtis and Cary Grant. A Tribute to Tony Curtis by Mario Martini.

When Tony Curtis was growing up in Manhattan he idolised Cary Grant. Years later, he went on the record as saying he loved the way Cary moved, spoke, and carried himself. Everything. He even went on to say that, at the age of 16, he joined the Navy after seeing his idol, a naval officer, in Destination Tokyo.

Years later, when the young Tony became a star, he borrowed Cary’s accent for Some Like it Hot. This movie proved to be such a big hit that it gave Tony the clout to ask for whatever he wanted for his next project. ‘’I want to make a service comedy with Cary Grant,’’ was his response. The result was Operation Petticoat.

At first, Cary was reluctant as he felt too old for the role. Robert Taylor wanted it so badly he promised Tony a cut of his salary if he was selected. Tony was adamant. It was to be Cary Grant, who eventually consented.

The movie was a massive hit. Tony was particularly thrilled that they recreated a scene from Destination Tokyo where Cary looked through a periscope. It seemed to him, he later wrote, that he was reliving a part of his youth in a darkened cinema. It was the biggest-grossing comedy up to then and the biggest financial hit of Cary’s career. As he owned a piece of it he made millions from it.

The two remained friends and Tony said of him, ‘’Cary was a caring and committed friend to me. The best of what a father would be. The best of what a brother could be.’’T