Cary & Audrey Bring Charisma to “Charade” 1963

 

Cary Grant & Audrey Hepburn charm in 1963's suspense-comedy "Charade."

 The Stanley Donen comedy-suspense film Charade was filmed late ‘62/ early ‘63, and released for 1963's Christmas holidays. At age 65, my first time watching Charade was during 2024’s Christmas holidays, and I’ve been watching classic movies since I was in my early teens!

My impression had always been that Charade was a bland version of Alfred Hitchcock, so I'd just watch North by Northwest for the millionth time. This is especially inexplicable even to me, because I enjoy Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn a great deal. I’m so glad I corrected my Charade situation.

Once again, Cary Grant is the charming stranger, in 1963's "Charade."
Should Audrey Hepburn's heroine trust him?

Charade really is like Hitchcock’s more mainstream works because there are none of the emotional undercurrents that often suffuse Hitch's more serious work. I’d compare the mix of suspense, romance, and comedy along the lines of Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief and North by Northwest. Likewise, Charade is smart entertainment. Much of this is due to director Stanley Donen, one of the best for grown-up entertainment. Donen’s humor and intelligence made him versatile in musicals, comedy, and drama. In Charade, Donen brings all the ingredients of this cinematic confection together beautifully. Peter Stone got his first screenwriter credit at 33 from his own story, and it’s quite smart, leading to an association with director Donen. Also, Stone had a solid career in film, on television and stage, winning an Oscar, Emmy, and two Tony awards.

Here's a Hitchcock-esque shot from Stanley Donen's 1963's "Charade." Definitely in
 the Hitch style, Donen does a fine job mixing suspense, comedy, and romance.

I knew right from the start I should have watched Charade eons ago. The opening titles are by Maurice Binder, famed for his 16 opening titles for the James Bond film series, starting with the first, Doctor No. The colorful graphics would make Hitch fave Saul Bass green with envy. The insinuating score is by Henry Mancini, a subtle contrast to Bernard Herrmann’s booming scores for Hitch. 18-time Oscar nominee Charles Lang supplies the glamorous cinematography of the stars and locales.

I love this romantic shot of Cary Grant & Audrey Hepburn in 1963's "Charade."

Charade’s opening scene shows a dead body dispatched from a moving train. That would be Charles Lampert, estranged husband of Audrey Hepburn’s “Reggie.” When we first meet her at a ski resort, she doesn't know yet. What Reggie does know is that her marriage is over. She meets cute with mystery man Cary Grant, who introduces himself as Peter Joshua. Not so cute is when Reggie returns home and finds it emptied of all belongings. Then Cary shows up again, very much the Hitchcock mystery man, who finds her a modest hotel. And there are three men also in residence, who feel she has money from her hubby that is due to them. And they aren't nice about it: Ned Glass is Gideon; James Coburn is Tex; and George Kennedy plays Scobie. They are former WWII soldiers, who want their share of money from absconded war time gold that Charles cheated from them. A fourth man, Carson Dyle, was wounded and left for dead at the time. Soon after, Walter Matthau is introduced as a CIA administrator, who also wants the money, as it belonged to the US OSS.

James Coburn, as bad guy Tex, who just has a revelation, in 1963's "Charade."

Walter Matthau with the CIA? In "Charade," most of the characters don't even know
 what the agency stands for. Such innocent times!

Reggie doesn't have the money, but the thugs don't believe her. Cary's character’s identity changes practically scene by scene, and Audrey’s widow doesn't know whether to believe him or not. There are a number of alternately thrilling scenes and amusing moments, which leads to a genuinely suspenseful climax. The real villain is no surprise, but that's not Charade is really about—it’s the ride, not the destination.

Audrey Hepburn's widow gets an eyeful about her husband's past,
in 1963's "Charade."

Audrey Hepburn is most endearing as the beleaguered heroine. Audrey is amusing in her exaggerated reactions to the extreme situations, warm in her attraction to Grant’s mysterious stranger, and natural in her dramatic moments. It takes subtle skills to go from the various moods this type of movie offers. Hepburn also embodies flawless early ‘60s style here: stylized hair and makeup, plus simply chic clothes by Hubert de Givenchy. The look is ultimately timeless and Audrey puts the glamour girls of today in the shade. A running gag in Charade is when famously thin Audrey’s heroine is anxious, she starts eating! Hepburn would reunite with director Donen in one of their best films, 1967’s Two for the Road.

Audrey Hepburn's look is timeless in 1963's "Charade."

There are moments that foreshadow Hepburn’s 1967’s Wait Until Dark. Like when the thugs torment her, especially James Coburn’s Tex, as he accosts her with lit matches in a phone booth. Or characters who misrepresent themselves to Audrey’s trusting character. Reggie drolly wonders if her husband’s tooth powder is actually heroin, a substance that was a strong plot point in Dark.

Audrey Hepburn gets a rehearsal for the torment to come, in 1967's "Wait Until Dark."
Here, James Coburn is the villain terrorizing Hepburn, in 1963's "Charade."

There’s been criticism of Cary Grant as too old for the role opposite Audrey. Well, 60 at Charade's release, he was. But he was also perhaps the best preserved male star of his era. Grant's tan, lean, and stylish. Look at the three big male stars that have just passed 60 in recent years: Depp, Cruise, and Pitt. Cary Grant is in better form than any of them, in my opinion. I think that Cary Grant has great chemistry with Audrey Hepburn in Charade. Cary had more in common with Audrey than he did with Doris Day in the previous year’s That Touch of Mink. Grant’s role in Charade is as perfectly tailored to his persona as his suits. Grant is most cool and charming. But the role also gives him some humorous moments to off-set Cary’s aloofness.

To me, Cary Grant looks like a million at 60, when 1963's "Charade" was released.

It's interesting that James Coburn, Arthur Kennedy, and Walter Matthau play supporting roles here. They are all quite good, no doubt. And soon movie stars like Grant and Hepburn would be obsolete; Cary and Audrey would soon retire. And realistic actors like the first three would become big stars—for a while. Of the trio, Walter would retain his star status. Coburn would later play villains, and Kennedy character roles, after the “realistic” trend of late ‘60s and early ‘70s played out.

George Kennedy & Cary Grant: '60s realism meets 60-year-old classic leading man.
1963's "Charade."

Charade is like a snapshot of an era, when “Camelot” at its peak, with some shots of stars Grant and Hepburn giving off a Jack and Jackie Kennedy vibe. Actually, the film icons made their style imprint first. Anyway, after 1963, life and movies became increasingly realistic and less romantic than the charming Charade.

Cary Grant & Audrey Hepburn give off a JFK & Jackie vibe here, stylish & classy,
in 1963's romantic suspense comedy, "Charade."

Here’s Cary Grant, in one of his and Hitchcock’s best, my take on 1959’s North by Northwest: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2020/08/north-by-northwest-1959.html

And here’s one of Audrey Hepburn’s latter day best, my look at 1967’s Wait Until Dark: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2022/10/wait-until-dark-slick-thrills-stellar.html