Starring Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Walter Matthau and James Coburn
Screenplay by Peter Stone
Directed by Stanley Donen
USA 1963
113 mins
Stanley Donen was one of the finest Hollywood musical directors - the man behind 'Singin' In The Rain', 'On The Town', 'Funny Face' and many other classics. He started out as a dancer and choreographer, lived a long life and in his seventies was presented with an honorary Academy Award for which he gave one of the all time great acceptance speeches including a song!
Donen's films are characterised by a lightness of touch and playful humour as well as some of the most iconic and memorable song and dance numbers ever captured on celluloid. He was also an experimenter and innovator with special effects, animation, editing and cinematography. Even his lesser movies are distinguished by fascinating stylistic touches.
Donen directed only a handful of non musicals and 'Charade' is one of them. It's a comedy thriller of the Hitchcock variety - in the same vein as 'North By Northwest' and 'Topaz' - full of exotic locations, a twisty plot and two fabulous stars in the lead roles. The whole movie has its tongue very firmly its cheek...
Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn play a mysterious American in Europe and the translator who gets mixed up with him and a complex plot involving stolen gold, wartime intrigue and single, double and triple crossing. Both actors had worked with Donen several times before and are clearly enjoying themselves enormously. A terrific supporting cast includes Walter Matthau and James Coburn.
As we find ourselves stuck at home in the current lockdown this elegantly-choreographed entertainment will help keep the blues at bay and put some much needed glamour into our lives.
