Here is my review of
Charade...
The pairing of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn is one of the greatest of the old Hollywood era and certainly one of my favorites. Working from a script turned down by seven studios that was then reworked and turned into a Redbook short story that found its way into a full novel that was finally turned into a script by Peter Stone, Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn find romance, suspense, murder, and money and not always in that order in Director Stanley
Singin' in the Rain Donen's
Charade.
The story begins as Regina Lampert (Audrey Hepburn) who is soon to divorce her husband but not as soon as he turns up dead. The death of one Charles Lampert has the unfortunate or in our case fortunate cause of bringing out every enemy of Mr. Lampert. Enemies that Mr. Lampert made when he backstabbed and stole $250,000 from 4 old army buddies.
Regina or Reggie as she is often called by the ever graces of Cary Grant's character Peter Joshua has the honors of consouling or cheering up the unexpected widow. With Cary Grant's pure believable performance we are left to believe his interest in Regina's well-being is nothing but heartfelt.
But this is only where the aptly titled
Charade begins.
Major Spoliers Prevail the next paragraph...
[Show spoiler]
Inspector Edouard Grandpierre begins to question Regina Lampert and begins to plant a seed of doubt in her mind as to her true relationship with her deceased husband.
From here the plot thickens at every turn. The old army buddies ensure that Mr. Lampert is deceased and it is clear that no love has been lost. Miz Lampert is then contacted by C.I.A. man Bartholomew (Walter Matthau) and we along with Miz Lampert are clued into who we or as to say Regina is up against.
The group of Tex Penthollow (James Colburn), Leopold W. Gideon (Ned Glass), and Herman Scobie (George Kennedy) are shown in an old army photo to Regina. It is not until later that we learn why the $250,000 was stolen and how they had it in the first place.
To begin Cary Grant's Peter Joshua is Regina's saving grace. But that soon changes when Peter confronts Scobie in Regina's hotel room. Later a phone call from Scobie reveals to Regina that sweet talking Peter is actually Dyle, the brother of their deceased army buddy.
So Peter is now Dyle until later when C.I.A. man Bartholomew informs Regina that Dyle had no brother. What was once Peter and once Dyle is now Adam Canfield, professional scoundrel.
Only Tex remains as Adam tries to shake Regina for any last bit of information that may have been overlooked. This leads to the Jardins des Champs-Elyses and the fair that appears every Thursday. It is here that the location of the $250,000 is revealed to Tex, Adam, and Regina. It is here that we also find Jean-Louis. Who doesn't love a chubby little french boy that speaks anglais.
The final confrontation is in full flux when Regina agrees to meet Bartholomew at the Palais Royale with Adam in hot pursuit. Tex is found dead and Regina only has one suspect left, Adam. What follows is a clever ending to a very clever movie.
Charade is filled with every kind of ingredient and the last cherry is one of the best of all as Regina returns to the U.S. Embassy to turn over the $250,000 to one treasurey agent Brian Cruikshank. And we know that poor widow Regina will not be unhappy for very long.
I have loved
Charade since my first viewing in the early 80s and remains one of my favorite Audrey Hepburn movies to this day, along with another Stanley Donen directed Audrey piece,
Two For the Road.
It is a shame that Cary and Audrey never teamed up again as I'm sure I and other audience members would have loved to view more sparks and chemistry between these two fine actors.
Too bad that the extras on this
Criterion blu are not as robust as other releases, but the wonderful looking print is worth its weight in gold. Ms. Hepburn's outfits by Givenchy have never looked better and much of the same can be said of Cary Grant's
drip dry suits. But what we do get is a funny little trailer that involves a blender and an even more wonderful commentary by
Charade screenwriter Peter Stone and Director Stanley Donen.
There is much to be learned from these long time friends who first met while shooting
Charade and went on to work together again on
Arabesque (1966) with Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren. Their banter is playful and charming and never dull while viewing
Charade with these two wonderful artists.
Through the commentary we learn a many interesting facts of the film and other events that surrounded them at the time of and before creating
Charade.
The things we learn while listening to Peter and Stanley;
the importance of Cary Grant's stunt double,
the source of Punch and Judy,
which is the right side of Cary Grant's face,
why Cary Grant refused to chase Audrey Hepburn,
the importance of D.O.P. Charles Lang and Audrey Hepburn,
why Jean-Louis' voice was played by a girl,
why Jean-Louis has the hand of a man,
why Cary Grant does not do exposition and the importance of Cary Grant's
chalkboard,
how Peter Stone and Stanley Donen didn't meet and become friends,
the Den Gula Fyraskillingen, the Hawaiin Blue, and the Gazette, Maldave,
why Walter Matthau runs like a duck and is only funny while eating,
and why
you can't even be honest about being dishonest.
To say the least I had a real blast watching
Charade again and again over the past few days. I take extensive notes while watching cinema in hopes that I too fully understand every moment set before us on screen and that I may discuss it with you here in this forum.
Talk amongst yourselves.
Here's a link to my abbreviated review... feel free to destroy me as you wish...
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Chara...5/#UserReviews
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