The famous American actor inspired more than one generation of Hollywood directors with his work. His manner of holding and speaking was copied by the boys, portraying dashing cowboys. And the style of clothing, elegant and at the same time brutal, has become the standard of taste and we alth. Harry Cooper stood at the origins of cinema and managed to work in silent films; with the advent of sound, he did not lose popularity, like many other actors of that time, but, on the contrary, became one of the greatest Hollywood stars. Widely known for his Oscar-winning roles in Sergeant York (1941) and High Noon (1952), this amazing man still fascinates people to this day. The composition named after the actor continues to be a musical hit, it was performed by Tako (Dutch singer). Harry Cooper is a name that has become almost synonymous with style and taste.
Childhood
(Gary or Harry) Frank James Cooper (1901-1961) was born in Helena, Montana to an English family. His father served on the Montana Supreme Court and owned a ranch north of the state capital. James' mother neverwas not enthusiastic about country life, and her main desire was to send her two sons to study in Britain so that the boys could receive a proper education. This became a source of constant contention between the spouses, but in the end the father gave in and allowed his sons to be taken to England. However, when World War I broke out, their mother hastily sent them back to the States.
Young years
Frank gained excellent riding skills while working on the ranch as his father's assistant. At Grinnell College, Iowa, he continued his studies, learning the art of graphics, with the intention of pursuing a career as an artist or cartoonist. To earn extra money and be less dependent on his parents, Frank worked as a cartoonist for a local newspaper and spent his summers working as a seasonal ranger in Yellowstone National Park. When his father retired from the State Supreme Court and moved to California, the young man followed him. Thanks to the occasion, Frank got into the crowd of a Hollywood film and realized that he had fallen in love with cinema forever. He abandoned his goal of becoming a commercial artist and took part in various screen tests for almost a year.
Career
The young actor's efforts were eventually rewarded, and Paramount signed him to a long-term contract after Frank appeared in a short film with famed silent film actress Eileen Sedgwick. Deciding to devote himself to cinema, Frank changed his name to Harry Cooper, under which he starred in more than a hundred films. Some of the many:"Wings", "The Man of the Plain", "Farewell to Arms", "Alice in Wonderland", "Sgt. York", "Friendly Admonition", "High Noon", "A Tree for the Hanged" and his last work "The Naked Blade"”- became classics of cinema and received awards and prizes. The handsome actor was loved not only by the movie camera, he was adored by the most beautiful and famous women in the USA.
Private life
Even after many years in Hollywood, Harry Cooper is still considered a model of masculinity and style. The photo, of course, cannot convey the charisma for which the public and ladies loved him so much. Cooper was credited with an affair with Marlene Dietrich, Ingrid Bergman and Grace Kelly. The actor's longest romance was with film star Patricia Neal. This relationship nearly destroyed Cooper's marriage to Veronica Balfe, who was a socialite and daughter of the head of the New York Stock Exchange. Despite many intrigues on the part of both spouses, the marriage still survived. Later, the actor settled down and even converted to Catholicism under the influence of Veronica. The main genre of films in which he played were westerns, and although critics did not always approve of Cooper's work, for the viewer he forever remained unsurpassed, courageous and dashing hero of the Wild West.
Last years of life
When, at the age of 59, Harry Cooper found out that he was seriously ill with cancer, his wife was by his side all the time. The actor underwent tedious treatment, and when he wanted to take a break from it, he often visited his friend Ernest Hemingway's ranch. The couple tried to fight the disease to the last and hoped forbest by trying to hide the diagnosis from the public. But when, in 1961, his friend Jimmy Stewart came out with a sad face instead of Harry Cooper for a special Oscar for his contribution to world cinema, it became clear to everyone that his favorite actor would soon be gone. Harry Cooper watched the Oscars on TV at home with his wife and daughter Marie, and died a few months later.
Legacy
The song Puttin' on the Ritz, written in 1929 and first performed by the famous Fred Astaire, with lyrics by Irving Berlin, was re-edited in 1946 and mentioned Harry Cooper in the lyrics. Since the words "dress like for the Ritz" (the most luxurious hotel of that time) and "look like Harry Cooper" meant to match the fashionable style, one can understand what an authority the actor was for a secular audience. The song is still considered an unofficial anthem " Dream Factories "- Hollywood. In 1981, her cover version appeared, performed by Taco. "Harry Cooper" - under this name the legendary song is now better known to the modern listener.
Tako's disc with this composition was sold in millions of copies and instantly raised him to the pinnacle of success, and the synthpop version of the song is still very popular to this day. By the way, thanks to this performer, our viewers began to pronounce and write the name of the actor more often as Harry, and not Gary Cooper.
It is interesting that in Russia the fans of the actor decided to express their admiration for hiswork and style, naming the enterprise in honor of the legendary performer of courageous heroes. Since the organization is engaged in the creation of interiors at a high professional level, it is not surprising that it has the name "Harry Cooper". Krasnoyarsk can now also be proud of its model of style and professionalism.
