Charade Reviews

• Old Style Hollywood Glam in Gorgeous DVD Transfer

  
  By A3J25OUM3MHKTN on 2000-02-13
  This is an exceptional DVD transfer of an exceptional movie. Criterion has done a magnificent job of restoring Charade to its colorful glory. The film is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The print is clear, crisp, and beautiful to behold. You feel as if you can reach out and touch the actors.

  And what actors! The film features the dashing older version of Cary Grant and the youthful gamine Audrey Hepburn, with enough chemistry between them to ignite a fireworks factory. The plot is a convoluted and flimsy trifle about cold war spy shenanigans, with cases of mistaken identity and episodes of grave danger for Miss Audrey. But Cary, the classic good guy in cad's clothing, is there to save the day. In addition to which he provides chaste romance that sizzles beneath the civility.

  Audio commentary is provided by director Stanley Donen and screenwriter Peter Stone. While interesting and funny in spots, it does drag a bit over the length of the film. It may be better to check it out when you find something in the film that you would like to hear dissected. Otherwise, you'd be better to stick with the delightful, corny dialogue spoken in the dulcet tones of Cary and Audrey. The soundtrack music is to also to be savored, done up in classic '60s spy movie style by the movie maestro Henry Mancini.

  If you have nothing to do on a rainy day and own a DVD player, this is the movie you want to have on hand to pop in the machine and deliver you from care. It's a keeper (and it comes in a keeper case!).
  
  

• I second the first review!

  
  By on 1999-12-07
  Amazon did indeed refund me for this DVD, but as above, be aware. This DVD is made from the same old lousy public domain print that you see on PBS every few months. This is a great film, and deserves a great copy. I'll be ordering the Criteria version soon (after x-mas shopping), and hope that lives up to expectations. This one doesn't even deserve to be on videotape!
  
  

• Criterion scores again!

  
  By A2ULDDL3MLJPUR on 2000-12-28
  I got this DVD for Christmas and I wasn't disappointed. Stanley Donen, director of musicals such as "Singin' In The Rain" starring Gene Kelly, brought together Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn (who looks luminous, as always) in this wonderfully-written story about a Parisian widow (Hepburn) who is being pursued by three dangerous men (two of which are played by George Kennedy - an excellent "heavy" - and James Coburn at his most menacing) who want to find out about a large sum of money her dead husband supposedly had. Grant is the helpful stranger but eventually you begin to wonder: is he working with these men? Does he want the money for himself? Or is he really the handsome, older man Audrey finds herself falling in love with?

  Enhanced by a lush score by the late Henry Mancini, photographed beautifully in Paris and containing first-rate acting and deliciously wicked dialogue by writer Peter Stone, "Charade" is a film that should be in every serious DVD collection. Grant is older but better, like fine wine, and Ms. Hepburn ... well there have been millions of words used to describe her and I can't add to them other than to say the world lost a marvelous talent at her death.

  You'll enjoy "Charade" for a long, long time.
  
  

• BEWARE!

  
  By on 1999-11-30
  Do not buy this DVD! This is a very bad print and the master contains video drop outs. If I can't return it for credit and buy the Criterion version, I will burn it and chalk it up as a reminder never to buy a low cost version of anything worth watching. I am sorry, Criterion, I will never waste my money on lower quality versions again.
  
  

• Charade

  
  By on 1999-12-05
  Bottom line is you get what you pay for, DO NOT BUY this version, it wasw made from a very bad copy of the movie! The ones that have played about a million time trough a projector. Spend the money and get the criterion version.
  
  
• Third Time Is A Charm
  By A2NSEHGMUSE2U2 on 2001-05-04
  Anybody else out there own three copies of Charade on DVD?
  
  It's a great movie, yeah, but not worth three copies. Well, maybe the lesson was worth three copies. The first one took me by surprise. Front Row Features put it out. Nice looking jewel case with the word LETTERBOX EDITION across the top. I had to have it. Couldn't wait to watch it. It was the worst piece of crap I'd ever seen shoveled onto DVD. Faded colors. Blurry pictures. Horrid sound that kept breaking up. It was worse than my ten-year-old VHS copy. I was mortified. Then someone told me there was a copy out there by a company called Criterion Collection, but the price was $40.00. No way, I thought, am I paying that much for a movie.
  
  Next copy I bought was put out by Diamond Entertainment. I'll give them their due. They did a fairly good job of cleaning up whatever print they used. The picture is pretty good; color still slightly washed out, some flickering that's annoying. The sound has been repaired. So what you get is about a C+ to a low B- for this DVD. I like Diamond. And compared to the road kill that Front Row Features served up, the Diamond Entertainment version is a seven-course meal in the finest restaurant.
  
  At last, I couldn't stand it any longer. I went for the Criterion Collection version. I know, I know. Three copies. But the Front Row Features DVD will be thrown into the trash; I won't even subject a stranger at a garage sale to that basement torture trash. The Diamond Entertainment version, which is not a bad copy, just not the best, I'll hand over to my brother as a free-bee gift. He likes the movie, as well, and is even less likely than I to put out the cash.
  
  But then there's the Criterion Collection version. This IS the SEVEN COURSE MEAL AT THE FINEST RESTAURANT, topped off with the finest drinks and entertainment, and a check at the end that says ON THE HOUSE! Everything great anyone has said about the Criterion Collection DVD of Charade is true. It's beautiful. The sound is perfect. The color heavenly. There are no age spots what so ever, no dropouts, none of the flickering that indicates the film was damaged and had to be spliced. It's a beautiful widescreen transfer from a 33mm interpositive. I'd never seen the original trailer for this film till I bought this DVD; it's funny, it's charming, it gets you primed for the movie. There is an Audio Commentary with director Stanley Donen and screenwriter Peter Stone. And some great career highlights on Peter Stone's career.
  
  It took me three times to get it right (and that won't happen again, at least with DVDs), but get it right I did. Don't ever buy the Front Row Features version; if you already have it, burn it. NOW. If you can't afford the Criterion version, go ahead and get the Diamond Entertainment version; as always, they do a good job for a low price. But if you want the absolute best presentation of this movie, if you want to see the movie as it has not been seen since it was in the theater almost 40 years ago, find the Criterion Collection DVD. You will not be disappointed.
  
  
• Nothing is really what it seems...
  By A1Y0RLMBP8I7VK on 2000-02-27
  And that includes the quality of this release. It just goes to show that you can take a great screenplay from a great book, cast some stellar Hollywood performers at their peaks, add clear expert direction, stunning location sets, stir in a Mancini score, and still end up with a painfully disappointing experience. Especially when you consider the promise of the new DVD format, and today's digital remastering techniques. Re-released through several small-time distributors (Front Row Entertainment of Canada, etc) Charade has been reduced to a sad caricature of it's original beauty. By using worn-out, poor-quality source for the transfer to DVD these distributors have marketed a product that is not only inferior to the existing VHS tape versions, but an insult to the DVD format. To see this type of travesty is to know the real tragedy of copyright expiration and it's resulting offspring--corporate greed at the expense of art, businesses reaping profits at the expense of unaware consumers, and worst of all...sometimes the loss of great examples of cinema magic. Thank goodness Criterion was able to resurrect what appears to be close to if not original film, and produce a release of Charade that shows what DVD is all about. If you haven't seen Charade, I won't spoil it by telling you the plot here. But whether you've seen it or not, I will tell you this: Spend the money and get the Criterion version for DVD, or save your money and buy the VHS tape version. Avoid the budget DVD versions at all costs--they're no bargain...just a waste. Enjoy!
  
  
• A great classic!
  By AI0OAQ6E2O8VF on 2004-05-05
  This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

  First of all, there are two pressings of this DVD. the original went out of print a few years ago, It was re-realesed early this year and is virtually identical to the original release. The most noticable difference is the enhancement for widescreen DVD's There are some other subtle differences including an update on the biographic information to include the death date of the film's writer, Peter Stone.

  The film itself is very famous and has an all star cast, including Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, James Cubrun, George Kennedy, Walter Matthau, and Ned Glass. Their performances are excellent and the film has numerous surprises in the plot. The soundtrack, by Henry Mancini is also very well known and popular.
  The music has been likened to the theme song for the James Bond films.

  The film is about a woman whose husband was murdered. His fortune of $250,000 stolen from the government is missing and all that was with him was a small tote bag with some personal articles. Later 3 crooks are after her thinking she has the money.

  The DVD has audio commentary by the director Stanley Donen and writer Peter Stone. It also has a theatrical trailer of the film, and a biography and filmography of Stanley Donen and Peter Stone.

  The first printing, now out of print, is still worth more than it originally sold for and is vbecoming a collector's item as well.
  
  

• LOOKING GOOD! BUT IS IT WORTH THE PRICE?
  By A1M9DQDGE07Q0U on 2003-03-11
  I have a problem with Criterion charging an arm and a leg for their DVD's when so many of them are released with little more than bare bones in the way of extra features. The company's issue of this classic thriller from director Stanley Donen, "Charade" is no exception. Plot wise: Regina Lampert (Audrey Hepburn) returns home to discover that her apartment has been cleaned out, her husband is dead and that she was married to a double agent who had embezzled a ton of money. Into this mix comes the mysterious, savy stranger with too many names played by Cary Grant. He is determined to put Regina's mind at ease but is he or isn't he working for the same men who killed Regina's husband. Also in the cast, James Coburn and Walter Matthau in an uncharacteristically serious role.
  "Charade" is a classic in every sense of the word, but Criterion has done a rather lack luster job on mastering the DVD. Although colors are exceptionally vibrant and sharp, there is a considerable amount of edge enhancement and fine shimmering that is detected in horizontal and vertical details. Also, while "Charade" is presented in its widescreen aspect ratio, this disc has not been enhanced to take full advantage of hi-resolution, widescreen televisions. In the way of extras we get a bio on Stanley Donen that you can (of all things) read like an essay by using your advance buttons on your DVD player. (Really, I don't know of a single individual who reads extensively from their television screen)and a theatrical trailer. That's it. Criterion's packaging makes it sound like RSDL DVD engineering is a big plus but actually all DVD's are mastered in this format. Criterion as advertises the film as being offered in a "pristine new digital transfer". The actual transfer falls short of this high praise. What Criterion really needs to do is get studio approval from the company that produced the film and then do a definitive documentary on the making-of, if they really want their Canadian consumers to shell out [$$$]for their movies. They also need to do a better job on the actual mastering of the print. Then, they might be worth the money!
  
  
• great movie, great extras, great media
  By A2YQVH5XGGWBHP on 1999-12-16
  First and foremost, this is a very enjoyable movie. It was very enjoyable in 1963 and it remains enjoyable today. The actors, the story, and the cinematic craft are all first rate.

  This Criterion release is fantastic. Most of the video is absolutely flawless with well-saturated colors and an absence of artifacts. Even shots of Coburn's checked shirt are free of compression artifacts or aliasing which is common to this kind of shot. The audio is fine considering it is mono and mastered in 1963. There are a few rare blemishes noticeable on the screen that look like problems with the source media but that is nowhere near as offensive as artifacts or aliasing.

  The fun bonus on this edition is the writer and director commentary! For those of us that like this sort of thing, this is a very enjoyable example. Listening to these two, what?, 70-year-olds bicker back and forth is a complete crack-up!
  
  

• a nifty cat and mouse caper
  By AQ8DU6XVA3USJ on 2002-05-09
  This is an entertaining thriller/comedy with a great cast. Audrey Hepburn, with incredible beauty and grace, gives another of her sparkling performances, and is perfect for this clever plot that actually keeps us guessing until the very end.
  Cary Grant is as smooth as always, Walter Matthau looks super sleazy in a scrappy mustache, Ned Glass is funny as a sneezing crook, and it's rounded out with George Kennedy and James Coburn, who drops lit matches on our lovely Audrey !

  It's well written by Peter Stone, with some funny lines...my favorite is: "you fell for it like an egg from a tall chicken".
  Henry Mancini's score is delightful, and the Oscar nominated theme song is the kind of melody one is humming long after the film is over...and it's given several interpretations, like the "James Bond" version for the titles.

  Director Stanley Donen, who makes a Hitchcockian appearance as one of the two men in the elevator (he's the one on the left), keeps a good pace, and makes this light and stylish film a treat, with Audrey its main treasure.
  
  

• Great movie - TERRIBLE dvd version!
  By on 2003-10-23
  As noted by other viewers, this movie is a lot of fun - sure to be on any Cary Grant or Audrey Hepburn fan's list. I am not writing about the film but about this particular DVD version by d3kfilms-- it is unwatchable, BOOTLEG quality, in my opinion. I had the misfortune of trying to rent this movie on DVD at my local video store, and this is the version they had in stock. It hadn't occured to me that a reputable video store would be stocking poor quality, unofficial versions of films, so I didn't at all expect what I saw when I watched this DVD. The image and sound quality are EXTREMELY bad-- picture is grainy and muddy-looking, with MAJOR scratches and jarring skips in the film. It was as if someone went to a revival theatre showing an extremely worn-out print of "Charade" and recorded the movie as it was playing on screen with their video camera, then burned what they recorded onto a DVD! That is how terrible the quality is, and this classic film deserves so much better. In fact, any film deserves better-- so watch out for DVDs that have this company's name (d3kfilms) on them or that do not have the original, legit studio's name on them. I noticed that amazon.com sells other versions of this movie on DVD-- try those before wasting your money on this one. I'd even recommend buying an official VHS version of the movie over this one. I was so shocked by what I saw that I got a refund of my money from the video store and then felt compelled to go online and warn people about it-- and I've never done either thing before.
  
  
• That's Entertainment!
  By A9I40WFF40R4 on 2004-06-02
  I saw this movie in 1963 when it was released. I was captivated by it then and remain so. The kaleidoscopic opening credits are as beautiful as I remember, and the chase scenes-- on foot here-- are still exciting. We will never see anyone like Audrey Hepburn again. A total original, she and Gary Grant-- showing considerable skill as a comedian here-- are magnificent as a couple, having both style and electricity, often forgotten qualities in many of today's leading actors. Heburn and Grant are assisted by the likes of James Coburn, a young Walter Matthau and George Kennedy in supporting roles. Then there's Henry Mancini's score and direction by Stanley Donen. The plot takes many interesting twists and turns as Ms. Hepburn tries to figure out just who the dashing Mr. Grant really is-- a criminal or her savior or perhaps both or neither.

  If you've seen this movie before, you'll enjoy a replay. If this is your first time, you'll in for a real treat, a delightful way to spend an evening.
  
  

• CHARADE
  By A1HNFAVCWANAUW on 2000-09-18
  CHARADE is a witty Hitchcock-type romantic thriller from ace musical director Stanley Donen. It stars Cary Grant at his peak, the inimitable Audrey Hepburn (of course dressed by Givenchy) & a who's who of supporting character actors who eventually became stars. A man is killed but his booty is missing. Both the French police & his partners in crime are looking. Grant & Hepburn who meet in the ski resort of Megeve, Walter Matthau in the US embassy, James Coburn & George Kennedy are some of those searching for missing fortune. Where is it & who's got it? They look all over Paris (it's never been more beautiful) before the meat markets of Les Halles were torn down, with memorable background music by Henry Mancini also at his tops. It is both suspenseful mystery & romantic comedy. They just don't make them like this anymore. When asked what movie he'd like to be stranded with on a desert island, Michael Caine replied, "Charade!" I agree. Review based on the Criterion DVD trasnfer.
  
  
• A Perfect piece of classy entertainment
  By A1LP6O85Z894GT on 2001-02-16
  Firstly I must strongly urge all folks interested in adding this classic, classy and effortless piece of entertainment to thier libraries that they be sure that they are purchasing the Criterion Collection edition of this DVD. Charade has fallen into the public domain and there are a vast multitude of horrendous versions out there. Drop the few extra dollars and get this edition. Criterion did a magnificent job transfering this film technically.

  That said, Charade is a prototype of what makes movies fun. Firstly there is a beautiful, intelligent, innocent, witty and urbane heroine played here by the ultimate in feminity Audrey Hepburn. Audrey is the mold for all movie stars to follow and here she is no exception. Radiant is an adjective that is perhaps over used in describing this angel of the screen, but that word is most appropriate. Hepburn's beauty is not skin deep. She completely shines from within and when placed into the trecherous machinations of this delightfully complicated plot, our sympathies are immediately and completely with her. Maybe she wasn't the most versitile actress. Maybe she did enjoy a career based solely upon her style and class, but what style and class she does have here.

  Cary Grant's rascal of a character manages to be shaded, charming and, when need be, tough. Grant is the abosolute perfect match for Hepburn. Casting these two luminaries was a casting coup of the rarest order. The sheer sexual power they both exude is animalistic and civilized at the same time. These two forces of nature must be together and their combined energies really do ignite the screen. They manage all this power with out a single on screen sex scene. It is all done through gesture, dialouge and expert staging.

  As he did with the equally perfect Singin' in the Rain, Director Stanley Donen uses color, composition and movement to celebrate life. I know that sounds crazy when discussing a film filled with suspense and real danger as Charade but it is true. Donen takes us to exotic places (Paris in this film can really only exist in film!) and fills his frame with an unbridled joy and energy.All these characters are filled with passions (justice, romance, avarice, revenge) that drive this narrative. Donen has a unique gift for insighting super charged (energetically speaking) performances from his casts. Few films are as much fun to watch as Charade.

  The supporting cast is both comic and dangerous. James Coburn, George Kennedy, the sadly forgotten Ned Glass and of course, the bumbling Walter Matthau all deliver expert performances that are most generous while serving the script and keeping much to the vest. Everybody has a game of charades to play here and play it they do to the hilt.

  Peter Stone's script is funny and tight without resorting to the obvious one liners prevailing in so many comedy thrillers- which Charace may have been the hybrid. Stone's script also manages to be continental without resorting to snobbery. Something Stone himself can't avoid in the commentary included on this disk.

  I've read that they are planning a remake of this classic. I'm sorry to hear that. Why remake perfection?

  Charade is reccomended for all who desire to suspend disbelief and willingly fall into a delightful maze of danger, romance, suprise and suspense. Don't miss this one.
  
  

• Beware Of Which Transfer of Charade You Buy
  By A7PNZBMR17BGH on 2001-07-04
  Charade has seen several different releases on DVD. Most of the releases use inferior masters. The only release that offers a clear picture and sound is the Criterion Collection release. The other releases are budget releases, and while watchable, are vastly inferior to the Criterion release. I do have one of the budget DVD's as the Criterion release is very expensive, and I enjoy the DVD, but I'm saving my pennies for the Criterion release for this one, or if the Criterion transfer is made available at a more reasonable price. Charade is a classic thriller/mystery with comedic touches that will leave you guesing to the end. Mancini's score is fantastic, and the chemistry between Grant and Hepburn is electric.This is one of Grant's finest on-screen moments. 5 stars for the movie and 2 stars for the budget transfer equal a total rating of 3.5.
  
  
• Don't get me Wrong, GREAT Movie.... but Bad DVD Quality
  By A27TB97NDQ95UK on 2003-01-09
  As I love this movie , I was really disappointed with this DVD: The SOUND is TERRIBLY BAD. I goes up and down, sometimes you can't even ear Cary Grant talking... the sound is even worse than on a VHS.

  I think the people who released this DVD are just plain idiots and do not care about quality.
  
  

• This is the definitive version of this film.
  By A32ZB2H049QYV5 on 2000-01-06
  A must see film for any Cary Grant or Audrey Hepburn fan, the chemistry between the two is wonderful. This has always been a great film and on DVD it is nothing short of stunning. The film is shown in its original widescreen 1.85.1 aspect ratio for the first time ever since its theatrical release. The image quality is superb when you consider the age of the film and the appalling video quality of previous releases of the film. The sound has been improved, yes it is mono but it sounds better than ever. The director's commentary on this DVD is one of the best I have ever heard, with some arguing between the writer and director of the film and some wonderful insights into the making of this film. Highly recommended.
  
  
• My favorite film of all time.
  By on 1998-11-23
  I'm not generally known for my romantic streak. In fact I'm pretty jaded and cynical. This film sucks me in to the romance and mystery every time I watch it. By now the end is no surprise to me, but I doubt that any one will figure it out at first viewing.The plot is complex and will leave you wondering. At no time will you be confused as to WHAT'S going on, often you'll be wondering WHY. Don't worry. This movie has the best ending I've ever seen. It Also has Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn(who never looked more beautiful), Walter Matthau, James Coburn and George Kennedy. All excellent at different stages of thier careers and at thier best in this movie. It's been called the best Hitchcock film that Hitchcock never made.Stanley Donen directed this picture as if he was Hitch's lost twin. He even manages to insert himself in a cameo role a la Alfred(pay attention to the two men in the elevator). Mancini's score is incredible and worthy listening on it's own. Buy this film and the soundtrack. You will not be disappointed.
  
  
• CRITERION--YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN!
  By on 1999-11-10
  I just watched this DVD and listened to the commentary. This is one of my favorite movies of all time, and it's such a treat to see it with the great picture and sound restored. The director's and writer's commentary was insightful and funny. I think commentary tends to be more interesting if there are two or more people discussing the movie. The playful banter (at least I hope it was playful) between Donen and Stone held my interest for the full two hours. Keep up the good work Criterion! I'll keep buying them as long as you keep making them. Anybody know what's next from Criterion?
  
  
• Quality film poor print
  By on 2001-08-16
  There's nothing wrong with the plot, the stars of thisamusing thriller. However it's a pity about the print which was used for the transfer, which looks like an old drive-in print which has seen better days.
  
  
• Goofy as all get out
  By A2I17T9XB6LSGW on 2002-03-01
  CHARADE is definitely one of the most fun films that I've seen in a long time. The actors and actresses must have had a whale of a time. The story is engrossing and fast-moving. The direction is confident and engaging. A lot of movies will try to dazzle the audience with a lot of excess complexity and subplots that are ultimately pointless. However, CHARADE is a film that takes its simplicity and goofiness for what it is and runs with it. The movie may sacrifice the plot for entertainment purposes, but the effect is well worth it.

  Watching this film, one gets the impression that most of the cast were having a wildly entertaining time of it. They relish every line, and each joke is delivered perfectly. Even lines that don't seem to be obviously funny are dispensed with a certain amusing flair. Walter Matthau steals every scene he's in, which is particularly impressive given that he spends a fair portion of his screen-time talking to Audrey Hepburn through a prop phone. Cary Grant clearly enjoyed playing a character of apparently questionable loyalties and attacks the role with everything he's worth. The mysterious three men who show up also add a lot of amusement value. Of the main cast, only Hepburn plays her character utterly straight, though it completely suits the movie so it's probably just as well that no one seems to have told her that it was a goofy comedy.

  The plot is a little weak, and there will be nothing here that you haven't seen before in other, more conventional, thrillers. There's a lost fortune totaling a quarter of a million dollars. There's a widow searching for her cash with three ominous men on her trail. The men want the money. So does the FBI. The woman is attracted to a much older man whose help she so desperately needs. Absolutely nobody is really who they seem, yadda yadda yadda. The advantage that this film has over the many similar movies that contain the identical plot is that it plays to its strengths. The bad guys are so obviously evil that the script went the extra mile of giving one of them a metal claw for a hand. Loyalties change amusingly at every opportunity. Characters, at times, will do things that don't seem to be quite logical. Yet the film confidently bounces forward, ignoring the details, and compensates for the occasional lack of substance with whole cartloads worth of style. At times, you're not even sure if you're laughing with the movie or at it, but that doesn't seem to matter; the film knows what its weaknesses are, displays them proudly for all to see, and thus provides the audience with great entertainment value.

  Even the story gets a bit confused as to who's on which side, but it's entertaining enough that we forgive any flaws in the plot. At the conclusion we actually get a fairly standard, and surprisingly effective, thriller-type ending. Had the entire film been carried out in this fashion, it simply wouldn't have worked, but as a small, bite-sized ending to an entertaining film, it's a successful change.

  The film quality on this DVD was not terribly good. It's certainly watchable for the most part, but there are several annoying jumps and skips. The picture quality is fairly clear, though I wouldn't go as far as to say it was sharp. The sound quality is acceptable, but for some reason there are portions that are completely out of sync with the picture. This gap varied in visibility throughout the feature, becoming more and less annoying as time went on. Also, this is the first Laserlight DVD without an amazingly over-the-top and hammy introduction (or, indeed, any introduction) by Tony Curtis. What gives? Give the people what they want!

  As an inexpensive purchase, this DVD seems to hold up fairly well. The movie is quite a bit of fun and the disc itself is relatively good considering that you're paying for a budget release. This is definitely recommended as a movie that doesn't require much thought, but which is miles away from being mindless filler.
  
  

• Diamond Entertainment version
  By on 2002-10-28
  The Diamond Entertainment release of this movie is a very poor copy. The film frequently "jumps" where it has been spliced, there are vertical lines on the screen in some parts, light specks, etc.
  
  
• How to do it ...
  By AL4MKKO24563R on 2004-04-29
  Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, to put it mildly, are two of the most irreplaceable stars in Hollywood history. Grant did everything so well, he made acting look effortless to the point he was vastly underrated as an actor. Audrey Hepburn was a refreshing breath of fresh air her whole career -- a delicate flower of a woman physically who possessed an iron core of inner strength.

  It's unfortunate that Charade is the only film Grant and Hepburn made together. Despite the difference in their ages (which is a running joke in the movie), the two have a great chemistry that positively crackles onscreen. Grant reportedly worried about seeming like a dirty old man going after the much younger (25 years) Hepburn. He needn't have worried -- the only time the issue becomes obvious is when the age difference in mentioned onscreen.

  Add to this mix beautiful location photography in Paris, a stellar supporting cast including Walter Matthau, James Coburn and George Kennedy and a great score by Henry Mancini, and you get a classic picture. Many critics have said that the plot is too convuluted and complex for its own good. To be sure, Grant's constant identity changes throughout the film do get annoying at times. But this film is so stylish and so classy that that's a minor quibble. Grant and Hepburn are magic together and make you wish Grant hadn't retired in 1966 so the two could have made more cinematic magic together.

  (The five star rating is for the film itself. The DVD is a little disappointing by Criterion standards. It has very few extras beyond the usual director's notes, commentary by director Stanley Donen and screenwriter Peter Stone and the theatrical trailer.)

  See The Truth About Charlie to see how not to do it.
  
  

• DVD is a treasure
  By A17E0YDU5YRHPP on 2000-02-09
  Having suffered watching a poor print of this film on VHS for years, the DVD was a revelation. The image quality is simply superb. Finally, the technical aspects of the film do justice to its fabulous stars. Extra added bonus: The commentary of Stanley Donen and the writer Peter Stone is hilarious and insightful. What a treat!
  
  
• Dynamic Movie with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn!!!
  By A3MCQSIBV7QW8Q on 2001-08-23
  Audrey Hepburn play in this Alfred Hitchcock style movie as Reggie Lambert. When she returns home back to Paris after a skiing trip in the Alps, she finds that her husband has been murdered. From then on, Reggie is on the run from a group of sinister crooks who are searching for her husband's fortune and are convinced that she has them. But she has no idea what they're talking about! Everyone is on the search for the missing fortune. During this time Reggie is becoming very fond of a certain Peter Joshua (Cary Grant) who has come to her aid. But Reggie is having trouble distinguishing who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. Before she married her husband, was he involved in the stealing from the government? Did the gang members kill her husband? If not, who did? And more importantly, is Peter Joshua really who she thinks he is?

  A wonderful blend of mystery and comedy, "Charade" will keep you fully entertained. The music is also wonderful, score by Henry Manicini, the song "Charade" which nominated an Academy Award for best song. Not only does it have the superb acting skills of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, it all stars Walter Matthau, James Coburn, George Kennedy, Ned Glass, and more. If you like Alfred Hitchcock movies, trust me, this is a movie you just have to watch!!!
  
  

• Lousy Print detracts from Great Film
  By AZTHT2NPOVLKH on 2001-09-01
  Too bad the DVD distributor couldn't find a better print of this great film. Spots, scratches, and lines distract the viewer and detract from the over all quality of the viewing experience. If money isn't an object, go for the Criterion version.
  
  
• Watch Out!
  By on 2002-04-16
  This is a WONDERFUL film, but this copy of the print is NOT good, and not worth the savings. Pay a little more if you have to to a distributer who bothered to do a good job.
  
  
• stylish and suspenseful
  By on 1999-12-29
  In "Charade," the sleek and lovely Audrey Hepburn is paired with the equally elegant Cary Grant; add suspense, humor and romance to the mix, and you've got one of the most sparkling thrillers ever made. Watch for supporting performances by Walter Matthau and James Coburn (the whole cast, in fact, is terrific) ... and enjoy Audrey and Cary romping through 1960s Paris in this intriguing cat-and-mouse scenario. All in all, a witty and delightful caper that pays homage to Hitchcock while also serving as a very stylish send-up of the spy-movie genre. (P.S.: The on-screen chemistry between Hepburn and Grant is irresistible.) A triumph!
  
  
• Very good classic, but a relatively low-quality dvd
  By AECELIF5YCT6O on 2002-04-22
  I love Cary Grant and I'm working on building up my collection of dvd classics, "Charade" is a very welcome addition. This movie is a 'whodunit' that leaves you speculating the entire time - not only for the identity of the murderer but also what name/occupation Cary Grant is finally going to end up with. I didn't realize until the end that this was the movie Julia Roberts was watching in Pretty Woman, just before she goes downstairs in her robe looking for Richard Gere.

  I didn't give this movie 5 stars because the quality was somewhat lacking - mostly this should be expected in such an old movie. But my biggest irritation was that, although it had been advertised as a full-screen format and the ratio wasn't too bad, it was NOT full-screen. Unlike seemingly the majority of the population, I prefer full-screen and when a dvd is advertised as such, that's what I expect to get.
  
  

• His Girl Friday
• To Catch a Thief (Special Collector's Edition)
• How to Steal a Million
• My Man Godfrey - Criterion Collection
• House on Haunted Hill