Interviewer: “Everybody would like to be Cary Grant.”

Cary Grant, in response: “So would I.”

So goes the story about arguably Hollywood’s most debonair leading man ever. Archibald “Archie” Alexander Leach, known to the world by his stage name, died 25 years ago this month at age 82.

During his 34-year film career, he made 74 movies, beginning in 1932 with “This Is the Night” and wrapping up in 1966 with “Walk Don’t Run.” In all that time, he never played a villain — a good call!

In between, he earned two Best Actor nominations (for “Penny Serenade” in 1941 and “None But the Lonely Heart” in 1944) and five Golden Globe nominations. But he never won a major acting award — until 1970, when Frank Sinatra presented him an Honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement “for his unique mastery of the art of screen acting with the respect and affection of his colleagues.” He also was honored in 1981 by the Kennedy Center for his career achievements....