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Post by wmcclain on Aug 19, 2019 11:47:03 GMT
Charade (1963), directed by Stanley Donen. New widow Audrey Hepburn discovers her husband was into some shady business. Several of his dangerous associates show up and demand "Where's the money?" Is dreamy Cary Grant one of them, or is he the one she can trust? A witty romantic thriller, if not quite as lively as Hitchcock, who owned the genre. We have good leads and colorful villains. Grant is 60 here and although as suave as always, the age difference with Hepburn bothered him and he insisted that she chase him so he wouldn't be a dirty old man. And with all of Paris to use, we spend most of the time in some hotel rooms. Curiously, the writer and director deny that this is a Hitchcock genre film. They say it harks back to romance/adventure films of the 30s, but couldn't remember any titles. My wife did not want to see it again; "too 60s", she said. I can see her point. Maybe it's Hepburn's fashions. Henry Mancini score with a famous theme song. Available on a Criterion Blu-ray with a light commentary track by the director and writer. They tend to squabble in a friendly way. A story: they were filming in Paris during the Cuban missile crisis, suspended the picture and retired to a bar to watch it on TV to see if there was any point in continuing. Another story: Donen got Grant to imitate an impersonator and say "Judy Judy Judy" but then lost the film. The Blu-ray is available from ClassicFlix but not from Netflix.
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Post by wmcclain on Aug 19, 2019 11:47:17 GMT
Arabesque (1966), produced and directed by Stanley Donen. Unwisely, a professor agrees to help an Arab prime minister in spy-vs-spy shenanigans in London. He must translate a scrap of ancient hieroglyphics, which must be important because people are being killed for it. He falls in with a beautiful if not entirely trustworthy adventuress and it's off to the races. Donen wanted to repeat his success with Charade (1963), which was inspired by Hitchcock romance/thrillers like North by Northwest (1959). We have all the usual bits: bewildered hero caught up in peril, wrongly suspected of murder, drugged and forced into traffic, menaced by flying machines, and a lady love who is sleeping with the enemy. This is lighter than anything Hitchcock did, tending toward the silly. It was written for Cary Grant and I wonder if Gregory Peck wasn't trying to imitate him. Which really can't be done: with Grant, "I didn't mean to interrupt your threat" would have packed comical punch, but with Peck it just slips by; he's too much the gentleman for sarcasm. As we proceed into the 1960s, the old romantic thriller conventions are subsumed into the 007 world. It can be fun, but is in some ways a decline. Next stop: Fathom (1967). End of the line: Year of the Comet (1992). Sophia Loren: anytime, anywhere. Most painful bit: Kieron Moore as the beatnik Arab revolutionary. Henry Mancini score. Available as an Italian all-region Blu-ray. I don't see any other Blu-ray version.
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Post by geode on Aug 19, 2019 12:26:05 GMT
I have always had a much higher opinion of "Arabesque" than most people, and I hold it in almost as much esteem as "Charade"... they are both delightful gems in my opinion. I think my favorite villain in any movie remains Nejim Beshraavi as played by Alan Badel in this one. I also think Gregory Peck is just fine in his part and has interesting chemistry with Sophia Loren.
I have a book by Stanley Donen where he attempts to basically disown this film completely. He attacks the script as being ridiculous and claims that he played with shooting many scenes as reflections in mirrors and did other atypical shot setups to distract from its shortcomings.
I have had the Italian Blu-ray release of this for several years. It is a good transfer except that it has noticable gate weave in places. Hopefully a new transfer will be done if this has a subsequent release.
Both "Charade" and "Arabesque" have excellent Henry Mancini scores.
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Post by politicidal on Aug 19, 2019 13:22:02 GMT
Somehow hadn't seen Charade yet at all. But I really liked Arabesque.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Aug 19, 2019 15:48:28 GMT
Charade was and IS one of my "forever" films... best to see it the first time without knowing any secrets it may hold but it is just as good as a re-watch. Arabesque I saw ages ago but have zero recollection of it. All that says is that I must not have hated it !
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Post by teleadm on Aug 19, 2019 18:00:21 GMT
Charade 1963 is one I liked over the years.
Arabesque 1966 I've only seen once, but I've read the book it's based on.
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Post by Archelaus on Aug 19, 2019 22:31:33 GMT
Charade is an absolute classic. I liked Arabesque, although Gregory Peck wasn't cut out to be Cary Grant.
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Post by mikef6 on Aug 20, 2019 13:50:20 GMT
I love Charade and watch it often.
Saw Arabesque probably in 1966 when it was released. All I remember about it are all the shots that show the characters being reflected in mirrors, shiny metal, or other surfaces.
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Post by vegalyra on Aug 20, 2019 14:36:27 GMT
Both films are entertaining. Charade does get the win though, it's a much better film. While I like Gregory Peck, Cary Grant is just the better actor (IMO). P.S. There is a new (not sure if it's a new scan though) US region bluray out for Arabesque: Arabesque US release
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Post by petrolino on Aug 30, 2019 1:24:52 GMT
'Charade' is a delight.
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