Charade (1963): Thriller, Comedy, Brutal Deaths

Charade is a mix in styles, with a romantic comedy pervasive throughout the film, a thriller about where the money is, and a comedy in parts.  I'm never one to mind when a film mashes genres, especially when it's done effectively.  Thanks to the stars of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, I think they pull off the weird tone.

Cary Grant plays a debonair, clever man of mystery who seems to seamlessly and effortlessly fit into unusual circumstances.  So pretty much what you think of when you think of a Cary Grant character.  Audrey Hepburn plays a fashionable woman of wealth who carries herself with class and seems bewildered by everything happening around her.  So.. well you get the idea.  The two actors played roles presumably written specifically with them in mind.

The supporting cast is surprisingly fantastic.  The three men vying for Audrey's fortune include James Coburn and George Kennedy (most recognized for Cool Hand Luke).  Both are pretty shallow characters, but thanks to the actors playing them, they work way better than they should, particularly Coburn (who is awesome).  Walter Matthau is also featured in this film and he's solid enough.

This is the second movie I've seen this week that I think I'd like better on second viewing, weirdly enough.  And this movie is remarkably similar to How to Steal a Million, so watching them back-to-back leaves a certain repetitiveness.  Because How to Steal a Million came first, it left a better impression, but I suspect Charade is a better movie.

3.5/4 stars

Sabrina (1954): The Titans of Hollywood

Well this movie is what happens when you have an All-Star cast in a extremely classic story.  Poor girl goes unrecognized by rich guy, poor girl changes so she looks rich, rich guy notices her, and then she falls in love with her true love.  This has a slight trick in that the "true love" is only going out with her so she will get over the rich guy at first.

Anyway, all's that needs to be said in order to be convinced to watch this movie is: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden, Billy Wilder.  One of the greatest directors ever with AFI's #1 star of all-time, Audrey Hepburn is certainly one of the icons of film, and then William Holden is sort of underrated normally, much less amidst the other three.

I don't think Audrey Hepburn could have pulled this off at any other time in her career.  This was basically her breakout role, and I'm as surprised as anyone that her poor girl who doesn't get noticed essentially works.  Who knew?  (I think a lot of it is that the clothes she wears as the chauffeur's daughter are really unflattering.

And I suppose I can't be the only one who's sort of creeped out by the age difference between Hepburn and Bogart, am I?  I mean Bogart was 54 and at best, he looked like he was approaching 50.  Hepburn was 23 and she looked even younger.  Different time, and it's not that distracting to the movie, but it's still sort of odd.  (Though Bogart did marry a 20-year-old Lauren Bacall about 10 years earlier)

Here's yet another film that uses a well-worn romantic comedy trope and succeeds in spite of it, possibly because it did it first, but also because of the talent.  And it just doesn't feel well-worn when you watch it like newer movies that use it would.  Not much to say, except that it's a pretty enjoyable film.

3.5/4 stars

How to Steal a Million (1966): Star-Driven Caper

I enjoyed this film much more than I expected, largely off the backs of the charism of Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole.  I'm also a sucker for a good caper film and while not completely innovative, it was still cool to see it in action.  Given the fact that this is a pretty simple concept, executed near perfectly by director William Wyler, I don't have much to say about this movie.

In addition to his role in Ben-Hur, Hugh Griffith makes a memorable role in the form of an art forger and father to Hepburn.  I will say this and this could just be a cultural and/or time period thing: it is obnoxious how many times Hepburn says "Papa" in this movie.  If you drink every time she said Papa and nowhere else in the movie, you might die.

I think this is my first Peter O'Toole film oddly enough.  Not sure what exactly I expected, I'm not surprised he's considered a legend.  His voice alone is legendary.  He seems to casually inhabit the carefree, smooth art expert, criminology expert, and whatever else he says he is.  I feel like in the wrong hands this role could be harder, but he pulls it off so easily and it doesn't even look like he's trying.

I have two relatively minor complaints about the movie.  The first is that it's a little long for the type of movie it is.  They could have shed about 20 or 30 minutes without the movie suffering.  Secondly, the constant kissing between O'Toole and Hepburn got extremely irritating.  We get it.  You guys know love each other.  But overall, I am pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this light-hearted fare.

(Also, Audrey Hepburn's outfits kind of stole the show)

3.5/4 stars