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Betsy Drake and Cary Grant were married to each other. The marriage unraveled in 1956 when Grant became entranced with Sophia Loren while they were making a film in Europe. Betsy Drake was there and saw the writing on the wall. She left for the United States on the ocean liner ANDREA DORIA on its last, disastrous voyage. She survived—there is a photo of her on the rescue ship, neatly dressed but shoeless and wearing men’s crew socks. A friend who met her at the Chelsea Dock said she appeared calm but wasn’t really handling the experience well. She eventually left acting to study and then practice psychology.

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I could relate to so much of it. A bunch of kids squished in a car without seatbelts, riding double on bikes without helmets. Youngest bringing hot coffee to his dad, babysitting without experience ,the simplicity of Christmas, kids who listened to their parents and helped raise each other. Lovely movie.

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Jan 26Liked by Debra Esolen

If more "sharp dialog", and more of Cary Grant at his very best as he navigates his way among children, and if the sparkling presence of Sophia Lauren all intrigue you, please please view the movie Houseboat. After viewing it more times than I can count, I continue to notice additional details. The way we were? Absolutely.

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