Charada

"I don't bite, you know. Unless it's called for." "How would you like a spanking?"

A woman on a ski holiday (Audrey Hepburn) talks about getting a divorce, but it turns out she doesn't have to, because her husband has been murdered. Worse yet, three men are now after her because of some money they think she might have gotten from him. They were with her husband behind enemy lines during WWII as part of a covert operation to give a quarter of a million dollars to the French Resistance, but decided to bury the money instead, and dig it up after the war. Another man (Cary Grant) has turned up as well and seems to be her protector, but is he really on her side?

It's a fantastic concept, and as everyone and their grandma has noted, the film is reminiscent of Hitchcock. We see that in its tension, shots like the view from the perspective of a corpse as a morgue drawer closes, and dramatic scenes using the environment, like the fight on the roof behind the giant neon sign, or the chase down in the Paris Metro. Maybe it's also got a bit of Clouzot's Diabolique in a bathtub scene, or just how long the viewer is held in suspense before knowing who the bad guy is.

It's lighter than the average Hitchcock fare and in ways that sometimes border on silliness, but on the other hand, the chemistry between Hepburn and Grant is far greater than anything Hitch ever produced with his obsession over icy blondes. The banter is risqué and Hepburn's come-on's to Grant are steamy, even though Grant's character regularly reminds Hepburn's how much younger she is. This has to be one of my favorite performances from Hepburn, as she ranges from comedy to flirtation to frightened for her life seamlessly. Meanwhile, you have Cary Grant at 59 still getting it done as a debonair romantic lead, and also cutting loose with silly faces, getting into a shower in his suit, and trying his best not to grope women as he plays Pass the Orange with them in a nightclub.

Does it all hold together? Hepburn's character knowing so little about her husband, falling in love again so quickly, or how several characters figure out how the money is hidden? Maybe not completely, but I don't care. It's a rare film that has fantastic moments as a thriller, comedy, and romance, and the star power is through the roof. Besides the leads, the supporting performances from George Kennedy, James Coburn, and Walter Matthau make for a very strong cast. There is depth in other ways as well, e.g. Little moments of humor in places like Matthau asking Hepburn if she knows how much cigarettes cost when she wastes one, or the lovely shot of the reflection of the lights from a boat going down the Seine. Hey, I'd love for the 60's animation style over the opening credits to make a comeback too; between the dead body being tossed from a train and the snazzy graphics, this film hooked me from the beginning. All in all, it's a charming package.

I'll be brief. This romantic comedy thriller hybrid is an absolute treat. Starring the classiest of actors in both Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn and directed with continental style and flare by the incomparable Stanley Donen, this film is not to be missed. The photography (especially noticable in the new DVD version), Henry Macini's score, the taught and crisp script, the perfect supporting cast all add up to make a perfect piece of entertainment. I agree with many of the other IMDB writers- it is criminal that this film is not respected more. It is a blueprint of what makes a movie fun. A perfect 10 out of 10.

I was one of those people who was convinced this was a Hitchcock movie when I first saw "Charade". I think this is because the idea of the plot, some of the set pieces and the style of direction are remarkably similar. The director here is Stanley Donan(co-director with Gene Kelly of "Singin' In The Rain"), and I thought he did a great job directing.

The real stars of this classy, entertaining and I think underrated Hitchcockian-like comedy thriller are the clever plot(with an ingenious McGuffin) and the marvellous romantic score from Henry Mancini. The cinematography is skillful enough and the Parisian locations are ravishing. Not to mention some truly wonderful set pieces such as Grant taking a shower fully clothed, Grant and Hepburn falling in love on a river boat, a hair-raising cliffhanger on the roof, the priceless funeral scene and the sequence under the stage.

The acting is marvellous, with charming, brooding and urbane Cary Grant and lovely and equally charming Audrey Hepburn making a dream pairing and making the most of a crisp, funny and sophisticated script. James Coburn makes a star-making turn, Ned Glass is deliciously obnoxious and Walter Matthau, a wonderful comic actor in his time, in an understated performance here that I personally think is the strongest one of the film. In fact, while I have nothing against George Kennedy, I did feel as though he was slightly phoning in his performance here, but considering how good this film is that is a minor criticism.

Overall, this film is terrific, not the best movie ever made but a long way from the worst. It is such a shame people have to be so derogatory to not only this film in general, but also about Grant, Hepburn and other movie stars like James Stewart when they have a lot more talent than most of the actors working today and that is a fact. Not trying to sound opinionated, but I'd rather watch any Hitchcock or this than any of the Friedberg-Seltzer spoofs or Steven Seagal's most sloppily paced, lazily acted film. 9.5/10 for "Charade". Bethany Cox

Let's see: what we got here is one of the best romantic-comedy/thriller scripts ever made, one of the best Hollywood directors from 50's and 60's, the more elegant and classy actress ever (Audrey Hepburn), the more elegant and classy actor ever (Cary Grant), two of the best "tough guys" from the big screen (G. Kennedy and James Coburn), one of the best comedy actors ever (Walter Matthau), and the city of Paris. Nothing could possibly go wrong, don't you think?

Audrey Hepburn is Reggie Lambert, an American girl married to a swiss guy called Charles Lambert (at least that's what she thinks)... She's spending her holidays in some ski resort with her best girlfriend Sylvie and the son of hers. Reggie has decided to divorce her husband, so she gets back to Paris. Once there she found out that her husband's been killed. From this moment on she gets involved in the funniest spy plot ever.

Watching Charade you'll have an smile on your face from the beginning till the very end. And you'll burst out laughing in many moments of the movie. Stanley Donen gets out of every sequence very skillfully and, as he did before in Seven Brides or Singin' In The Rain, he probes he's an outstanding filmmaker. There're two names that come into my mind every time I watch this movie: Alfred Hitchcock and Blake Edwards. In Charade, Stanley Donen merged suspense and romantic-comedy in the best possible way. Actor's selection is just perfect, the chemical between Hepburn and Grant is simply unbeatable. One more perfect couple to add to Hollywood's Couple's Hall Of Fame: side by side with Katharine Hepburn-Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn-Cary Grant (him once again!), Lauren Bacall-Humphrey Bogart... It's not easy to find two actors so compatible. What to say about George Kennedy or James Coburn? Best known for their roles in action movies, they do their best as CIA agents. And least but not less, we got Walter Matthau, one of the best comedy actors ever (I should've put Walter Matthau-Jack Lemon in my Couple's Hall Of Fame!) doing the best he can (that is a lot!) as (in principle) an American Embassy employee.

So if you liked North By Northwest or Breakfast At Tiffany's, if you think that there's never been a more classy actress than Audrey Hepburn, if you do believe that Cary Grant's been one of the more talented actors ever (and one of the funniest ones)... please, don't miss Charade. You'll spend one of the times of your life.

Aur Voir, Mon Amis!

My Rate: 10/10 or even higher.

Terrific movie that can be perceived both as a first-rate piece of straight entertainment, and as a meditation on the thin line separating truth and lie. Ingenious script, dialogue filled with funny interplay, great chemistry between the two charismatic stars, vivid and fast-paced direction by Stanley Donen. Not quite in the league of "North By Northwest", but still a very entertaining and recommendable picture. (***)