Conference bookie::movies

93.0. "Charade" by DECWET::SHUSTER (Egad! An Adage!) Tue Mar 23 1993 17:51

    Made in 1963.  Audrey Hepburn plays a widow livng in Paris whose
    recently deceased  husband was mixed up in post-war espionage and a
    theft of gold.   Three men (including a young George Kennedy and James
    Coburn) are after  Hepburn, who they believe has the gold.  Cary Grant,
    who Heburn meets at a  ski resort in a wonderful scene of witty dialog
    (they just don't write dialog like that anymore), comes to help her. 
    Or does he?  It's one of  those films that always keeps you guessing,
    right up to the last scene.   Very well done.
    
    And what a great pair, Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.  Those
    sophisticated, cool-under-all-circumstances demeanors.   The acting of
    each was just perfect.  Heburn, even when she just breathed, exuded
    charm, and here it was no exception.  In a small elevator, with the two
    of them cramped together, she gently touches Grant's famous cleft in
    his chin, and  says, "How do you shave in there?"  I nearly fainted on
    my couch.  ;^)   (Which led me to consider how often lines are written
    especially for an actor/actress's special physcial characteristics.  Has
    anyone in a film ever mentioned Redford's prominent facial moles, for
    example?  The only other instance I can think of is Harrison Ford's
    scar, which was mentioned in Temple of Doom, I believe.)  
    
    Later, as Grant and Hepburn are going into separate hotel rooms, she 
    says to Grant (who has resisted her): "You know what's wrong with you?"
    
    "What?" Grant shrugs indifferently.
    
    "Absolutely nothing," Hepburn sighs.
    
    A wonderful film.  Even the opening credits are good (when's the last
    time you actually saw interesting credits?  Sneakers is the only film I
    can think of.)
    
    -Rob
    
    
     

A film that owes a lot to Hitchcock, I've always enjoyed it. The only time
Grant and Hepburn appeared together, unfortunatly. Us laserdisc fans are
still awaiting a release on disc.

Another instance of a reference in the script to a famous cleft chin was
in _The War Wagon_ and referred to Kirk Douglas. In reply to a question
about it he said he slept with his ring there, inplying that's what caused
it. :^)


Randy

    Speaking of Audrey Hepburn, I saw a movie with her and Peter O'Toole
    the day after she died, coincidentally enough, called "How to Steal a
    Million".  It was terrific, even though a bit dated.  Hepburn and
    O'Toole worked well together.  Highly recommended.
    
    NAZZ

    Yes, How to Steal a Million is similar to Charade, teaming another
    classy actor with Hepburn in Europe.  Like Grant, O'Toole plays the 
    sophisicated crook, and trades numerous witticisms.
    
    -Rob

>     ...  The only other instance I can think of is Harrison Ford's
>     scar, which was mentioned in Temple of Doom, I believe.)  

    Actually, there's a scene in Working Girl where Melanie Griffith asks
    Ford how he got his scar.  This is after they've, uh, gotten close
    enough to discuss such things.... :-)

    Another explanation for it is at the beginning of IJ and the Last
    Crusade, during the young Indy scene....

    -- Cathy

    A superb movie that deserves only kind comments.