Charade (The Criterion Collection)

 

 

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Cary Grant. Audrey Hepburn. A hidden megafortune. Three nasty pursuers. A slick, chic thriller with a Hitchcockian edge.

With that kind of formula, it's not surprising that "Charade" deserves every shred of praise it receives -- and over the years, this classic has received a lot. Director Stanlet Donen had his finest moment when he created this funny, witty, tightly-plotted little thriller, where you're left with questions right up to the final scene.

While on vacation at a ski lodge, Regina Lampert (Hepburn) decides to get a divorce. But when she returns home, she finds that her husband has been tossed off a train -- and even stranger, she finds that he was mixed up in a gold robbery many years ago. To get her mind off her problems, Reggie goes out on the town with Peter Joshua (Grant), a guy she met at the resort.

But during her outing, she's cornered by three strange, creepy men -- and the worst part is, she finds that Joshua may be in on their plot. Unsure whom to trust, Reggie starts digging to find out where the gold is -- and then her pursuers are murdered one by one. Will she be the next target?

It's a sharp, taut little thriller, reminiscent of the more commercial thrillers by Hitchcock, though set in a chic 1960s Paris setting, and with a New Wave edge. Stanlet Donen did mostly comedies in his career, which makes the tight plot and wry wit of this movie stand out even more.

The movie moving along at a fairly steady pace, with one or two dead spots, but mostly just following the twisted plot threads. There are some really harrowing moments, like Regina being attacked by the Hook-man. By the tense finale, a lot of the odd little clues suddenly fall into place, especially the murder of the three thugs. It's a brilliant piece of scripting, even if the storyline is a bit unreal.

Fortunately it's not all spy-thrills and revenge. Donen could change from action to horror to comedy in a moment, and he keeps the quieter moments lively with funny dialogue and some sophisticated slapstick, like Grant showering fully-clad. The witty dialogue is full of glorious one-liners. "You won't be able to lie on your back for awhile," Reggie quips, "but then you can lie from any position."

Though Grant wasn't wholly comfortable playing opposite Hepburn, the two actors have kinetic chemistry. Whether they're goofing off, or chasing a kiss in a nightclub, they feel entirely real and romantic. Better yet, nobody knows who Grant really is or what he's doing, so there's an added element of danger to their relationship.

This tightly-plotted, fast-moving thriller deserves to be as well-loved as it is, and cinephiles should be ashamed of themselves if they haven't yet seen it. A must-have.

This is a masterpiece in and around itself- really. 'Charade' really showcases Audrey Hepburn's acting talents and versatility. She really showed audiences what she could do as Regina 'Reggie' Lampbert. (did I spell her last name right?)

Charade will keep you glued to the screen until the end... and at no point in the movie are you ever thinking about what you are going to do tomorrow, or what is happening. It's right there in front of you. 'Charade' made me look at Audrey as not just a style icon, but a talented actress. Not like a cut-out doll that most of the actresses of her time were like. (Excluding some) I mean, the plot is so rich and entertaining- you just can't go wrong with this movie!

The quality of this particular DVD is pretty bad, so I recommend 'Cary Grant Double Feature'. It has 'Charade' and 'Amazing Adventure'. You get 2 in 1 and the quality is WAY better.

This was the first Audrey Hepburn movie I watched and I fell in love with her. This movie was the best I have seen in a long time. The plot is so packed with excitement, you will be on the edge of your seat the whole time. It is also full of comedy. A great movie for the whole family (not just a chick flick!). A truly great film!

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5.0 out of 5 stars more than satisfied
Thank you. I really meant to write and let Amazon know how absolutely pleased I was with your service. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Shirley Curle

4.0 out of 5 stars Charade (Criterion edition) Blu-ray
This is a great classic movie. Hepburn and Grant work very well together. Walter Matthew was very good too. Read more

Published 11 months ago by N. Lush

4.0 out of 5 stars good fun
simple great enjoyment .. 2 masters of yesteryears in the starring roles .. and production quality that keeps us interested

Published 17 months ago by Murray Lemmerick

3.0 out of 5 stars Classic suspense movie...poor quality DVD
Charade is a classic. Cary Grant and Audry Hepburn at their best.

Unfortunately the DVD quality is rather poor. Read more

Published on Jan 7 2010 by captaincanuck65

3.0 out of 5 stars Great film. Weak DVD.
A wonderful film badly hurt by a weak transfer to DVD. It plays like an old TV version, with lines occasionally running up the frame, skipping a few frames here and there costing... Read more

Published on Jun 30 2009 by Zen Archer

1.0 out of 5 stars Excellent film, poor DVD version
The Passport Video version of this DVD (white and gold cover) appears to be a transfer from a VHS copy. Read more

Published on Dec 31 2007 by ShakespeareLA

5.0 out of 5 stars "You fell for her like an egg from a tall chicken"
Beginning credits play a Henry Mancini's score and we are swept back to the sixties.

The opening scene is of a metro train rolling down the track in Europe. Read more

Published on Aug 19 2006 by bernie

5.0 out of 5 stars "You fell for her like an egg from a tall chicken"
Beginning credits play a Henry Mancini's score and we are swept back to the sixties.

The opening scene is of a metro train rolling down the track in Europe. Read more

Published on July 3 2006 by bernie

5.0 out of 5 stars "You fell for her like an egg from a tall chicken"
Beginning credits play a Henry Mancini's score and we are swept back to the sixties.

The opening scene is of a metro train rolling down the track in Europe. Read more

Published on July 3 2006 by bernie

4.0 out of 5 stars Small Technical Flaws
This review applies only to UPC 018111236997 produced by Delta Entertainment (LaserLight).

This bargain-priced version is very good for the price. Read more

Published on Nov 12 2005 by Jon Pearkins

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