Charade

Name: Charade
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Comedy, Romance
Released: December 5, 1963
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 83
Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Dominique Minot, George Kennedy, Jacques Marin

1963

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Ratings

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Charade

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: December 5, 1963 | Approved

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Dominique Minot, George Kennedy, Jacques Marin, James Coburn, Ned Glass, Paul Bonifas, Thomas Chelimsky, Walter Matthau

Summary: Romance and suspense ensue in Paris as a woman is pursued by several men who want a fortune her murdered husband had stolen. Whom can she trust?

Director: Stanley Donen

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Comedy, Romance

Rating: Approved

Runtime: 113 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Chris Nashawaty

Hepburn doesn’t know whom to trust and neither does the audience, which is what makes this Hitchcock-lite thriller so much fun. The chemistry between the two leads — something surprisingly missing between Depp and Jolie — is electric. Read full review

100

G. Allen Johnson

Few thrillers create as much sheer joy and happiness as Charade, in which Cary Grant spoofs his Alfred Hitchcock persona, Audrey Hepburn exudes her usual magnetic charm, and Paris is as scenic as ever. [18 Jan 2018, p.E4]

The Guardian Michael Newton

For all of its 113 minutes, Charade presents us with a temporary entry into that brighter place, into the possibility of adventure, the vicarious possession of beauty. Acted by two Europeans in a mythic, dangerous, beguiling Paris, it remains a quintessential Hollywood film. Read full review

Cleaver Patterson

Ahead of the pack must be the winning duo of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, whose performances in director Stanley Donen’s masterpiece Charade is as intoxicating as a dry martini. Read full review

Josh Larsen

This sounds a bit like Hitchcock, but Charade—written by Peter Stone and directed by Stanley Donen—isn’t nearly interested enough in humanity’s dark side to qualify. The movie just wants to have fun. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

While hardly as sturdy or provoking an entertainment as North by Northwest, say, it remains an entertainment. Read full review

Bosley Crowther

There's a lot to be said for it as a fast-moving, urbane entertainment in the comedy-mystery vein. Read full review

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User Reviews

Cynthiajoy

Jul 20, 2020

What could be more delightful than the lovely Audrey Hepburn and the humorous, handsome and charming Carey Grant? Charade is the perfect vehicle to enjoy them. It has a fascinating thriller plot, which is presented quite seriously with convincing bad guys, while the stars keep the romanceWhat could be more delightful than the lovely Audrey Hepburn and the humorous, handsome and charming Carey Grant? Charade is the perfect vehicle to enjoy them. It has a fascinating thriller plot, which is presented quite seriously with convincing bad guys, while the stars keep the romance light and funny. It's the Hitchcock movie that he didn't make, but anyone who loves those movies simply must see Charade. There's a noticeable age difference between these blockbuster stars, and I love how it is handled directly with humor. One of my all-time favorite movies.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JLuis_001

Apr 9, 2022

When I saw the poster for this I really thought it was a Hitchcock film, and then the comparisons started, so I definitely had to see it.

The script is light but the mix of drama, romance and mystery is effective, fast paced and above all entertaining. The chemistry between Cary Grant andWhen I saw the poster for this I really thought it was a Hitchcock film, and then the comparisons started, so I definitely had to see it.

The script is light but the mix of drama, romance and mystery is effective, fast paced and above all entertaining.

The chemistry between Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn is great and when your lead characters work so well with the story you're telling, you get a film that doesn't seek anything extraordinary, but more importantly, seeks and succeeds in being a good one.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Aug 14, 2019

Here we have a movie that, as a simple pitch, wouldn't grab me at all. You're trying to do Hitchcock and Wilder at the same time? In the same movie? With screwball elements added on top? Get real. Remarkably though, "Charade" manages fairly well for itself, juggling murder scenes (some ofHere we have a movie that, as a simple pitch, wouldn't grab me at all. You're trying to do Hitchcock and Wilder at the same time? In the same movie? With screwball elements added on top? Get real. Remarkably though, "Charade" manages fairly well for itself, juggling murder scenes (some of which are pretty graphic for the time, by the way), snappy dialogue passages, and characters goofing off with a noted amount of skill. And, although the final product may not be entirely even all around, it's an absolutely valid effort from a tonal standpoint. Let's not kid ourselves here, however. You came here for the all-star cast, but you're going to stay for the bendy, twisty, and malleable caper narrative in play. I love it when movies get cute with the plot like this. Sure, some of it is predictable, but I'll always feel better when a writer or director feels they have to escalate what they're doing from scene to scene, whether that's with the action, the visuals, or -- in this case -- the plot elements. No character is who they seem to be and the audience's understandings of these characters are constantly pushed, pulled, and poked at, always giving us something to doubt, consider, or simply think about. It's a damn fun time and I'm glad I finally got around to seeing it.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Broyax

Apr 20, 2022

Film d’espionnage ou film policier… on ne sait pas trop. Simplement une petite comédie qui mélange les genres et se fout de nous avec ses rebondissements tout droit sortis d’une blague carambar. Ouais, faudrait pas nous prendre pour des canards sauvages non plus, car au énième retournementFilm d’espionnage ou film policier… on ne sait pas trop. Simplement une petite comédie qui mélange les genres et se fout de nous avec ses rebondissements tout droit sortis d’une blague carambar. Ouais, faudrait pas nous prendre pour des canards sauvages non plus, car au énième retournement de situation, on pourrait bien prendre la mouche !

Il n’y a donc pas grand-chose qui tienne debout dans cette pantalonnade et son parterre de stars, à part le sémillant Cary Grant et les James Coburn, George Kennedy et Walter Matthau, excusez du peu… Quant à la cruche anorexique (la cruchette endimanchée) aux yeux de Bambi, elle tape carrément sur les nerfs : tais-toi un peu et va plutôt manger un gâteau, histoire de te remplumer un peu.

On a tout de même (aussi) la jolie musique d’Henri Mancini et un passage comique -le seul du film- dans lequel on peut constater un jeu apparemment très prisé à l’époque, le jeu de l’orange. C’est quelque chose !

Notons tout de même la duplicité très appréciable (si elle n’était aussi surexploitée, la pauvre) de ce bon vieux Cary qui passe d’un registre à l’autre avec une aisance déconcertante. Cela ne sauve pas le film pour autant, ni ce Paris d’antan dans lequel s’éparpille ce scénario abracadabrantesque… et grotesque !… Expand

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