by Reid Williams, Contributing Writer
What’s better than two of the most iconic and charismatic stars in all of American cinema starring in a lighthearted Hitchcockian-style thriller filled with great supporting characters and more plot twists than one can keep track of? Not much, which is why I’m amazed at how little discussion I hear about Stanley Donen’s 1963 classic, Charade. Few thrillers are as unpredictable, charming, or light on their feet as this Cary Grant/Audrey Hepburn masterpiece, and there are numerous reasons why it’s one of the most endearing and watchable films ever made.
To begin with the obvious, few actors in all of history have had the charms of Cary Grant. Nearing the end of his legendary career, he still turns in a fantastic performance as the mysterious charmer with ever-shifting loyalties. Pairing him with Audrey Hepburn, one of the most iconic and magnetic women to ever grace the silver screen, brings all the fireworks and chemistry one could expect. Though they only ever made this one film together, the two reportedly got along famously and became fast friends. The chemistry between them only heightens the power of their combined gargantuan star status.
For numerous reasons, the film is often thought to be the product of the great Alfred Hitchcock, though he had no direct involvement with the film. His influence, however, is readily apparent. The murderous set-up, the mysterious MacGuffin, the encompassing air of suspense, and the presence of his frequent collaborator Cary Grant all make the mistake quite understandable. However, it is Singin’ in the Rain director Stanley Donen at the helm of this classic, which may explain how well the suspense is cut through with comedy and levity, making this a truly one-of-a-kind classic cinema experience.
The story follows Hepburn’s Regina in the wake of her wealthy husband’s death. She soon finds that his fortune was made from stolen government money, and finds herself pursued by the government, as well as the company of dangerous men who also took part in the original robbery. Her problems are only compiled by the fact that she has no clue where the fortune has gone, as well as the fact that her new friend and confidant (Grant) is quickly proven to not be who he says he is.
The film earns added layers of brilliance due to the rich cast of supporting characters. Walter Matthau plays a classic bureaucrat seeking to return the money to the U.S. government, Jacques Marin plays the French police officer who quickly finds himself fed up with the Americans and their deadly shenanigans, and the trio of James Coburn, George Kennedy, and Ned Glass each play a colorful fellow bandit that insists on getting their share of the money. Each character has their own flavor and fantastically mixes the film’s key elements of suspense and levity. In particular, Kennedy’s one-handed brute, with a metal claw serving as his other hand, feels like something out of a classic Bond film, and finds himself perfectly at home in the world of Charade.
From a technical aspect, the film is incredibly well-shot. From the scenic mountains of the opening to the suspenseful chase sequences of the finale, the camerawork perfectly captures the action and puts the viewer right in the heart of its scenic locations. Some of the transitions and style wow me even now, nearly 60 years after its release.
My final sales pitch before moving into spoiler territory is this: if you enjoy the Hitchcock style of suspense films, this is one of the films most clearly influenced by his style, and truly one of the best. The film gives its leads time to breathe and develop without ever slowing down the rapidly-evolving plot. Even if the light-touch murder mystery subgenre isn’t your first choice, you are scarcely going to find a pair more charming and pleasant to spend two hours with than Grant and Hepburn. All that said, I’ll move on to the things I love about this movie that give a good bit more away. If you’ve still not seen Charade, this is your spoiler warning.
One of the reasons this movie consistently leaves me smiling from ear to ear is the pitch-perfect dialogue. The banter Hepburn has with all the characters is fantastic, but especially her interactions with Grant’s character (whatever name you wish to call him). As she grows to trust him, distrust him, trust him again, then begin the cycle over through the course of the film, the ever-complicating nature of their relationship gives ample opportunity for double entendres and slick, biting remarks to be traded back and forth like playing cards. However, the dialogue does much more than add to the fun and brisk tone of the film. It is one of the best and most prominent ways that Hepburn’s character is established. She is put into the classic situation, but is far from being the classic damsel in distress. She seems just as competent and even more clever than just about anyone in the film, and this is apparent nowhere more than it is in her dialogue.
True to the Hitchcock style, the romance that develops between the two leads gives a beating heart to the increasingly deadly story. Though Hepburn’s Reggie is never sure if she can trust the man who seems to want to help her, their chemistry is palpable and their connection only seems to deepen with the exposing of each lie he tells. Regardless of whether he is Peter Joshua, Alexander Dyle, Adam Canfield, or Brian Cruikshank, they are clearly charmed by one another, and so is the audience.
All in all, there are few movies that I have ever seen that walk the line of suspense and comedy with such light-footedness and apparent ease. The dread of the moment never overrides the fun, and the comedy of the film never snuffs out the suspense. Adding in all the elements listed above, as well as a perfectly fitting musical score, Charade truly stands the test of time as a film that can entertain and enthrall over and over again. I truly believe it to be one of cinema’s all-time greatest treasures, which I find confirmed with each subsequent viewing.
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