Nothing like a classic whodunit film, and with legend silver screen stars at the hem, “Charade” is anything but a bore. Hollywood’s Golden Age stars Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant take the lead in this mystery-comedy full of twists and turns that is simply unforgettable. From Hepburn and Grant’s upbeat chemistry to the puzzling murder-mystery, the film is a whirlwind of fun that leaves the audience wondering, who done it?
Directed by Stanely Donen, “Charade” is a 1963 mystery thriller that also ploys as a romantic comedy starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. After returning home from a ski trip, Regina Lambert (Audrey Hepburn) finds herself a widow in the coming news of her husband’s murder. She is told that her husband was not at all what she thought, as he was one of five men who stole a quarter of a million dollars from the U.S. government during World War II. CIA agent Hamilton Bartholemew (Walter Matthau) sends Regina on a mission to recover the missing money for the U.S. government before the remaining members of her husband’s group find it, or her. Soon after her meeting with the CIA agent, she bumps into Peter Joshua (Cary Grant) whom she briefly met while on her skiing trip. With the help of Peter, the two are set on an elaborate charade, in which nothing— and no one— is as it seems.
I was immediately intrigued by the genre of being a whodunit film, not to mention it has been labeled “the best Alfred Hitchcock film which he didn’t direct.” The raving reviews were not wrong, as I had the most entertaining time trying to unravel the mystery before the big reveal. It also helped that the film starred one of Hollywood’s most prominent actresses, which made the appeal all the more enticing.
Stanley Donen, who is best known for directing the musical classic “Singin’ in the Rain,” crafted a smart, sophisticated and funny thriller that never left a dull moment. Right from the opening shot of a gun being pointed from the shadows at Hepburn, which is revealed to just be a boy holding a water gun, to the relentless chase of the villains after Hepburn’s character, the action never ceased. Not to mention that Donen never let up on who really done it.
The audience is excitedly led through a puzzling, jaw-dropping game where no one can be trusted. The plot exceeded my expectations, as the story beautifully falls into place. Once the final twist occurs, the audience cannot help but be shocked. Especially since the shock-value reveals do not stop, even minutes from the credits rolling. Nothing about this film is predictable, as everything you think you know is wrong. The rug beneath your feet will be constantly pulled with this movie!
“Charade” is a film that no one should pass up. From the charming and stylish leading pair to the complicated and intriguing plot, the film is nothing short of non-stop entertainment for all ages.
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