Editing Grace Kelly (section)

=== 1954–1956: Critical acclaim and final films ===

[[File:Grace Kelly Promotional Photograph Rear Window.jpg|thumb|190px|left|Kelly in a promotional photograph for ''[[Rear Window]]'' (1954)]]

After the success of ''Mogambo'', Kelly starred in the television play ''The Way of an Eagle'' with [[Jean-Pierre Aumont]], before being cast in the film adaptation of [[Frederick Knott]]'s Broadway play ''[[Dial M for Murder]]'', opposite [[Ray Milland]] and [[Robert Cummings]]. Kelly played the role of the wealthy wife of a retired professional tennis player.{{Sfn|Haugland|2006|p = 956}}<ref name="Hölting2012">{{cite book|last=Hölting|first=Beatrice|title=The Destruction and Re-creation of the 'Hitchcock Blonde' in "The Birds and Marnie"|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9AExxHt83CEC&pg=PA5|access-date=June 7, 2013|date=June 14, 2012|publisher=GRIN Verlag|isbn=978-3-656-21762-6|page=5}}</ref> Alfred Hitchcock became one of Kelly's mentors during the last years of her career.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nicholson |first1=Amy |title=How Grace Kelly overcame shyness to become Hollywood royalty |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20171220-grace-kelly-was-the-family-failure |access-date=November 7, 2020 |agency=BBC |date=December 21, 2017 |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822233108/https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20171220-grace-kelly-was-the-family-failure |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lane |first1=Anthony |title=Hollywood Royalty |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/01/04/hollywood-royalty |access-date=November 7, 2020 |magazine=The New Yorker |date=December 29, 2009 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109020723/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/01/04/hollywood-royalty |url-status=live }}</ref> She was subsequently lent by MGM to work in several Hitchcock films, which would become some of her most critically acclaimed and recognized work.{{Sfn|Haugland|2006|p=956}}<ref name="Gottlieb1997">{{cite book|last=Gottlieb|first=Sidney|title=Hitchcock on Hitchcock: selected writings and interviews|url=https://archive.org/details/hitchcockonhitch00alfr|url-access=registration|access-date=June 3, 2013|year=1997|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-21222-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/hitchcockonhitch00alfr/page/71 71]}}</ref> Kelly began filming scenes for her next film, ''[[The Bridges at Toko-Ri]]'', in early 1954, with [[William Holden]], for [[Paramount Pictures]]. The story, based on the novel by [[James A. Michener|James Michener]], is about American Navy jet fighters stationed to fight in Asia. Kelly played the role of Holden's wife. [[Edith Head]], with whom she had established a friendly relationship, did her costumes.{{Sfn|Haugland|2006|p = 956}}

Kelly unhesitatingly turned down the opportunity to star alongside [[Marlon Brando]] in ''[[On the Waterfront]]'' (1954).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1645369/grace-kelly-biopic-fails-come-life |title=Grace Kelly Biopic Fails to Come to Life |publisher=scmp.com |date=November 22, 2014 |access-date=March 11, 2017 |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312065858/http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1645369/grace-kelly-biopic-fails-come-life |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Eva Marie Saint]], who replaced her, went on to win an Academy Award for the role. Instead, Kelly played the role of Lisa Fremont in ''[[Rear Window]]''. Kelly stated, "All through the making of ''Dial M for Murder'', he (Hitchcock) sat and talked to me about ''Rear Window'' all the time, even before we had discussed my being in it."<ref>{{cite book |last=Spoto |first=Donald |title=The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock |publisher=Boston: Little, Brown |year=1983 |isbn=978-0-306-80932-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/darksideofgenius00spot_0}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Spoto |first=Donald |title= High Society: The Life of Grace Kelly |publisher=New York: Harmony Books |year=2009 |isbn= 978-0-307-39561-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/highsocietylifeo0000spot}}</ref> Kelly's co-star, [[James Stewart]], was highly enthusiastic about working with her.<ref>{{cite book |last=Eyles |first= Allen |title=James Stewart|publisher=Stein & Day|date=September 1987 |isbn=978-0-8128-8298-8}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=November 2021}} The role of Lisa Fremont, a wealthy Manhattan socialite and fashion model who "never wore the same dress twice,"{{Sfn|Haugland|2006|p=956}} was unlike any of the previous women she had played. This marked her first performance as an independent [[career woman]]. In line with their previous collaborations, Hitchcock provided the camera with a slow-sequenced silhouette of Kelly, along with close-ups of the two stars kissing, finally lingering closely on her profile. Hitchcock brought her elegance to the foreground by changing her dresses many times, including: "glamorous evening short dresses, a sheer negligee over a sleek nightgown, a full-skirted floral dress, and a casual pair of jeans".{{Sfn|Haugland|2006|p=956}} Upon the film's opening in October 1954, Kelly was again praised. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''{{'}}s film critic remarked on the casting, commenting on the "earthy quality to the relationship between Stewart and Miss Kelly", as "both do a fine job of the picture's acting demands".<ref>{{cite news|first=William|last=Brogdon|date=July 14, 1954|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117794347.html?categoryid=31&cs=1|title=Rear Window|work=Variety|access-date=June 17, 2009|archive-date=May 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507063623/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117794347.html?categoryid=31&cs=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Grace Kelly & William Holden 1955.jpg |thumb|190px|right|Kelly with [[William Holden]] at the [[27th Academy Awards]] in 1955]]

Kelly played the role of [[Bing Crosby]]'s long-suffering wife, Georgie Elgin, in ''[[The Country Girl (1954 film)|The Country Girl]]'' (1954), after a pregnant [[Jennifer Jones]] bowed out. Already familiar with the play, Kelly was highly interested in the part. To do it, MGM once again would have to lend Kelly to Paramount Pictures. Kelly was adamant, and threatened the studio, saying that if they did not allow her to do the film she would pack her bags and leave for New York for good. MGM eventually relented. Kelly also negotiated a more lucrative contract in light of her recent success.{{Sfn|Haugland|2006|pages = 956–958}} In the film, Kelly played the wife of a washed-up, alcoholic singer, played by Crosby. Her character becomes torn emotionally between her two lovers, played by Crosby and [[William Holden]]. She was again dressed by Edith Head to suit her role in the film, initially appearing in fashionable dresses, shifting to ordinary-looking cardigans toward the end of the film.{{Sfn|Haugland|2006|pages = 956–958}}

As a result of her performance in ''The Country Girl'', Kelly won the [[Academy Award for Best Actress]]. Her acceptance speech was brief: "The thrill of this moment keeps me from saying what I really feel. I can only say thank you with all my heart to all who made this possible for me. Thank you."<ref>{{cite web |title=Grace Kelly Wins Best Actress: 1955 Oscars |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsE1P9-nZOk | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/HsE1P9-nZOk| archive-date=October 28, 2021|website=YouTube | date=November 24, 2009 |access-date=November 7, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Her main competitor was [[Judy Garland]] for her performance in ''[[A Star Is Born (1954 film)|A Star Is Born]]''. After receiving the Oscar nomination, Kelly won the [[New York Film Critics Circle]] Award for best actress for her performances in her three big movie roles of 1954: ''Rear Window'', ''Dial M For Murder'', and ''The Country Girl''. At the [[Golden Globe Awards]] in 1955, Kelly won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama|Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama]]. ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised her performance in ''The Country Girl'' as "excellent", and ''Rear Window'' got her [[Marquee (structure)|marquee]] credits on par with, and beyond, those of Stewart and Hitchcock.<ref name="Surcouf1992">{{cite book|author=Elizabeth Gillen Surcouf|title=Grace Kelly, American princess|url=https://archive.org/details/gracekellyameric0000surc|url-access=registration|access-date=June 4, 2013|date=November 1, 1992|publisher=Lerner|isbn=978-0-8225-0548-8}}</ref>

In April 1954, Kelly flew to [[Colombia]] for a 10-day shoot on her next project, ''[[Green Fire]]'', with [[Stewart Granger]]. She played Catherine Knowland, a coffee plantation owner. Kelly told Hedda Hopper, "It wasn't pleasant. We worked at a pathetic village&nbsp;– miserable huts and dirty. Part of the crew got shipwrecked&nbsp;... It was awful."<ref name="Hedda Hopper Collection" /> After the consecutive filming of ''Rear Window'', ''Toko-Ri'', ''Country Girl'', and ''Green Fire'', Kelly flew to the [[French Riviera]] to work on her third, and last, film for Hitchcock, ''[[To Catch a Thief]]''. Loaned to Paramount for the fifth time, Kelly played the role of a temptress who wears "luxurious and alluring clothes", while [[Cary Grant]] played the role of a former cat burglar, then looking to catch a thief who is imitating him.{{Sfn|Haugland|2006|p=957}} Kelly and Grant developed a mutual bond and admiration for each other. Years later, when asked to name his all-time favorite actress, Grant replied: "Well, with all due respect to dear [[Ingrid Bergman]], I much preferred Grace. She had serenity."<ref>{{cite book |last= Nelson |first= Nancy|title= Evenings With Cary Grant|publisher=Citadel|date=December 2002 |isbn= 978-0-8065-2412-2}}</ref>

In 1956, Kelly resided in a home rented from [[Bill Lear]] in the [[Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles|Pacific Palisades]], California for the duration of her filming.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grace Kelly home sold! Palisades Today – February, 13, 2020 |url=https://palisadesnews.com/grace-kelly-home-sold-palisades-today-february-13-2020/ |website=Palisades News |date=February 14, 2020 |access-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-date=February 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215143659/https://www.palisadesnews.com/grace-kelly-home-sold-palisades-today-february-13-2020/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Celebrity Homes: Grace Kelly's Rental Hideaway in the Huntington |url=https://www.palipost.com/grace-kellys-rental-hideaway-in-the-huntington/ |website=Palisadian-Post |date=September 10, 2015 |access-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127022523/https://www.palipost.com/grace-kellys-rental-hideaway-in-the-huntington/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She portrayed Princess Alexandra in the film ''[[The Swan (1956 film)|The Swan]]'', directed by [[Charles Vidor]], opposite [[Alec Guinness]] and [[Louis Jourdan]]. Her final role was in [[Charles Walters]]'s musical film ''[[High Society (1956 film)|High Society]]'', a re-make of MGM's ''[[The Philadelphia Story (film)|The Philadelphia Story]]'' (1940). She portrayed Tracy Lord, opposite [[Bing Crosby]], [[Frank Sinatra]], and [[Celeste Holm]] in the other leads.<ref>{{cite book|last=Curtis|first=Jenny|title=Grace Kelly: a life in pictures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MkTo5qQ0x9cC|access-date=June 7, 2013|year=2002|publisher=Barnes & Noble Books|isbn=978-0-7607-3571-8}}</ref> When it was released in July 1956. ''Variety'' stated, "Miss Kelly impresses as the femme lead with pleasantly comedienne overtones," and that it was "possibly her most relaxed performance."<ref>{{citation|title=Variety|date=July 18, 1956}}.</ref>