HE WAS the debonair star of some of Hollywood’s greatest films and for one glorious evening in a Sauchiehall Street cinema, Cary Grant held Glasgow film-lovers spellbound.

It was July 11, 1958 – the same day on which murderer Peter Manuel was hanged at Barlinnie Prison – and Grant was in town to publicise his latest movie, Indiscreet, in which he starred alongside Ingrid Bergman.

The Evening Times reported that he wandered around the aisles of the Regal Cinema, encouraging audience members to ask questions, which came thick and fast.

“I’m open to questions, anything you like to ask,” he said. “There must be something you want to know about the film industry?”

Grant said at one stage that he disliked being idle – “I tried it once for 18 months but I found it was more fun working” and said he had accepted the role in Indiscreet on faith, because it was Bergman’s first attempt at a comedy film.

He also touched on audience reactions to film comedies. “With a comedy you get the verdict the minute it goes on the screen. If people don’t laugh, it’s a flop for all time and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Thankfully, Grant said, he was “particularly happy” about Indiscreet because “though it was made entirely in Britain it has been breaking all house records in New York – something that very seldom happens to a British film.”

Among the many photographs taken of Grant that day was one with him crouching to talk to two-year-old David Marshall, from Dunoon, who happened to be in town with his mother.

Cary Grant was born Archibald Alexander Leach on January 18, 1904 in Bristol. He left school at age 14, lying about his age and forging his father’s signature on a letter to join Bob Pender’s troupe of knockabout comedians.

He starred in many Hollywood movies, including To Catch a Thief with Grace Kelly in 1955 and another Hitchcock movie, North by Northwest, in 1959. He died in 1986.

This Q&A at the Regal was not Grant’s only visit to Glasgow.

In February 1960, the star came to Clyde naval submarine base Faslane to publicise his movie Operation Petticoat.

He had lunch on a depot ship, HMS Adamant, before boarding the HMS Narwahl at Arrochar, and spent more than two hours talking to the crew. He was photographed chatting to the submarine’s commander, Lieutenant-Commander K.Vause.

Evening Times columnist Eric de Banzie wrote of the “crazy” feeling of sitting in the submarine beside Grant, “watching a film about a submarine in which Cary stars”.

This newspaper’s film critic said hardened filmgoers would have little difficulty in recognising any of the film’s characters, including Grant’s harassed captain and Tony Curtis’s “handsome lieutenant”, “but in this case the playing is unusually expert, particularly from Cary Grant, who has been doing this sort of thing superbly for more years than he probably cares to count ... All in all, the two hours for which the film lasts slip by very pleasantly.”

The Evening Times’ sister newspaper The Herald received a letter many years later from a reader who recalls Grant’s visit to Glasgow that same day.

Ian Lyell wrote in to say that publicity from the Odeon on Renfield Street had announced a special evening in the cinema.

“A personal appearance by a Hollywood star and a preview of his latest film were promised. But it was all hush-hush,” wrote Mr Lyell.

“I went along that evening and enjoyed Midnight Lace with Doris Day but the highlight was when the cinema manager, on stage, introduced Cary Grant, who was greeted with a standing ovation. The final treat of the evening was a preview of Cary’s film The Grass is Greener. Happy days.”

Do you recall Cary Grant’s visits to Glasgow? Share your memories by writing to Ann Fotheringham, Features, Evening Times, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3QB or by emailing ann.fotheringham@heraldandtimes.co.uk

Which famous faces have you seen in Glasgow over the decades? We would love to hear if you spotted them.