Review: Charade

Audrey Hepburn is married to a workaholic husband, well at least until someone murders him that is. A French police inspector (Jacques Marin) thinks Hepburn knows a lot more about the murder than she’s letting on. However, the audience quickly deduces that she likely knows even less about her seemingly dodgy husband, and handsome Cary Grant seems to feel that way too, as they try to get to the bottom of it all. Meanwhile, three sinister men (James Coburn, George Kennedy, and Ned Glass) show up at her dead husband’s funeral. Walter Matthau plays a CIA administrator who informs Hepburn that her late husband screwed over the three funeral attendees and another man over a stash of gold during WWII (they were all serving in the same platoon). He also insists that Hepburn is in possession of the stolen fortune, even if she’s not aware that she has it and that she’s in great danger from the three sinister men.

 

Director Stanley Donen (“Singin’ in the Rain”, “Arabesque”) gets his Hitchcock on with this 1963 light romantic comedy-caper popular with both critics and audiences. Scripted by Peter Stone (“Mirage”, “Arabesque”, “Skin Game”, “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three”), it’d make for a perfectly enjoyable second half of a double bill with Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief”, both films happening to star Cary Grant. You’ve even got Maurice Binder doing his best Saul Bass with the titles design. The music score by Henry Mancini (“The Pink Panther”, “The Days of Wine and Roses”, “Wait Until Dark”) is solid, and the production/set design is terrific, as is the lovely cinematography by Charles Lang (“The Big Heat”, “The Magnificent Seven”, “Wait Until Dark”). It’s a very classy affair all-round, if a touch overrated by some. As for the Hitchcock factor, in addition to casting and plot, look for the shot composition in the rooftop fight, it has The Master all over it. That isn’t a criticism, as I believe it’s all fairly intentional.

 

The rather petite and fragile-looking Audrey Hepburn looks glamorous and not only convinces as the instantly sympathetic protagonist, but has solid chemistry with leading man Grant. Grant has an easy job to do here given it’s basically a light comic version of “North By Northwest” to some extent. Personally I was more invested in the supporting cast, as James Coburn, a hook-handed George Kennedy, and Walter Matthau are among my all-time favourite actors. Coburn particularly seems to relish being sinister here, especially in the scene where he starts dropping lit matches on Hepburn. The former two are amusing and intimidating (Coburn more insinuating, Kennedy more physically imposing), the latter an immediate scene-stealer.

 

The only flaw with the whole film – and for me it prevents the film from greatness – is predictability. You’ll figure things out pretty far in advance I think. That said, you’ll be enjoying this fine company too much to ultimately care. A crowd-pleaser that pleased critics too, this is a well-made caper with an excellent cast, and a witty, if predictable script. Good fun, pretty much everything works even if I don’t think quite as highly of it as most people do. It’s a good film, even if it’s not a great film.

 

Rating: B-