Review of Charade (1963) by The Critic ( — 30 Jan 2013

I must admit that I am fairly new to Audrey Hepburn's work so I may be amiss by saying this but after watching Charade I can't see how anyone could think she was a good actress. Same goes for Carey Grant who I have seen in a few films.

Neither felt like real people and their characters came off as forced and unnatural. Grant does have one moment towards the end where he makes a funny face at Hepburn after revealing who he really is that almost had me buying into him being one of the most respected actors of all-time but one moment is not nearly enough for me to believe it.

Stanley Donen falls into what I have come to refer as the Hitchcock form of directing as everything he captures seems to be choreographed, over-acted and melodramatic. All these things are a shame as Peter Stone offered a fine script that was very ahead of its time.

Twists and turns at every corner and an intense climax that is spoiled by Donen's poor direction. Charade's script is so strong that even with all these setbacks it is still a movie worth watching.