Review of The Prize (1963) by Roger T — 14 Aug 2010
If you liked "North By Northwest," which debuted four years earlier, you'll like this film - because you can hardly tell the difference!
"The Prize" is an intentional replica/homage of NBN and similar Hitch content such as "The Man Who Knew Too Much" and "To Catch a Thief" (and foreshadows "Torn Curtain"), with Paul Newman reprising the dry-wit of Cary Grant.
In fact the NBN 'art auction disruption' scene is shamelessly copy-catted, but here set inside a nudist convention meeting for additional chuckles. In it, Newman, who's allowed to hide himself inside a sauna-towel, even parrots the very same payoff line to the police: "But EYE called YOU!".
Newman's the innocent victim caught up in a murder mystery (at the Nobel Prize ceremonies) that's really none of his business. The nudist scene allows Newman to end up naked in the hotel room of semi-icy blonde love interest Elke Sommer - just as Grant did in Eva Marie Saint's room in NBN.
The screenplay comes from Ernest Lehman, who - guess what - whipped up the NBN screenplay. Another NBN parallel is the appearance of the ever-grousing Leo G. Carroll. Another Hitch vet, Diane Baker (Sean Connery's sister in "Marnie") holds a key, though more sinister, role. Even the soundtrack contains certain phrasing almost exactly duplicating that of NBN. Camerawork/costuming also extremely reminiscent.
Sorry, but this film, nearly forgotten by both Hitch and Newman fans, never DVD-released. I soaked it up courtesy of TCM; you may have to fetch the VHS issue.
TRIVIA: the basic plotline of this film was used as the framework for the 1991 Leslie Nielsen comedy/satire "Naked Gun 2 1/2.".
RECOMMENDATION: OK, it's not as good as NBN, but still quite excellent knock-off entertainment. Catch it if you can.
This review of The Prize (1963) was written by Roger T on 14 Aug 2010.
The Prize has generally received positive reviews.
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