Plot Synopsis

Executive produced by Jennifer Grant (Cary Grant's daughter) and Dyan Cannon (Cary Grant's ex-wife and Jennifer's mother), ARCHIE is a four-part drama series that outlines the life of the infamous Cary Grant. Born in Bristol, England in 1904, to parents Elsie and Elias, Archie narrates the story of a young Archibald Alexander Leach's troubled childhood and how extreme poverty, his father's adultery and the loss of his older brother, John, tore the family apart and sent his loving mother into a downward spiral of grief and depression. At 14 he auditioned for the music hall act, the Bob Pender Troupe, a band of acrobats, stilt walkers, clowns and comedians after seeing them perform at the Bristol Hippodrome. Lean and athletic, he learned the art of stilt walking, and when the troupe went on tour to the US, teenage Archie was intoxicated by the land of opportunity. Believing he had no family to return to in the UK, he decided to stay in the US to try to make his way in showbusiness. With no thoughts of acting, a chance meeting with the comedian George Burns helped him find his first footing on the acting ladder and a contract with a movie studio who felt he needed to change his name, and Cary Grant was born. The drama intercuts with scenes from 1961 when at the height of his fame, living in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, the legendary actor was breaking all box office records, but desperately unhappy in his private life. With two failed marriages behind him, he began to woo an actress he'd seen on a TV show, Dyan Cannon. Thirty-three years his junior, Dyan, didn't initially fall for his charms turning down his attempts to meet, because she didn't feel they could ever be a match. Dashingly handsome, suave and sophisticated, Cary continued to pursue her, with introductions to his famous friends, until they eventually wed in Las Vegas in 1965. ARCHIE made its U.S. debut on Thursday, December 7, 2023 on BritBox, which released the first two episodes. The remaining two installments dropped a week later on Thursday, December 14.

Episode 1 (US debut on Thursday, December 7, 2023): Young Archie Leach escapes his troubled childhood in Bristol and journeys to America while the 58-year-old Cary Grant falls in love with Dyan Cannon.

Episode 2 (US debut on Thursday, December 7, 2023): Archie Leach escapes from New York and heads to Hollywood, where his good looks are spotted by screen icon Mae West.

Episode 3 (US debut on Thursday, December 14, 2023): Cary and Dyan's relationship falters as he becomes more controlling and she objects to taking LSD with him. Dyan surprises him with some news.

Episode 4 (US debut on Thursday, December 14, 2023): Elsie still doesn't approve of Dyan, and Cary and Dyan's relationship with her stays rocky, but fatherhood provides the family security Cary has been searching for.