Jan 16, 2011

CMBA Hitchcock Blogathon: Torn Curtain (1966)

The event we all were looking forward to is finally here. Yay! At the end of this post I'll add all the links to the other reviews, try to check them all and comment, I'm sure you will be pleased. 

Let me start this review by saying that one of the reasons I became a Classic Movie lover was Mr. Hitchcock. You can read all about that in Hitchcock or how I became a Classic Movie Lover (duh). I've seen more than 30 of his films, even lesser known movies like Family Plot (I don't remember much about it though).
I decided to review Torn Curtain, a movie that critics didn't love and fans don't remember, but I really like. Probably, if it had been made by any other director, it would have a different reception, but hey, it has to compete with films that always are at the top of the lists of best films ever. It's not its fault that it was made by a genius. Maybe you've heard something about it because it marked the end of the collaboration between Mr. Hitchcock and the great composer Bernard Herrmann, but not because it was a correct suspense film.

My dissection of this underrated film, next:



The story:
I know you'll agree with me, Hitchcock was a romantic guy. In my opinion, all his movies are romantic films set in a suspense climate. This one is no exception. In the middle of the Cold War, an American scientist (Paul Newman) and his assistant (Julie Andrews) are in love. They're spending time together in cruise ship heading to Coupenhagen, where he has a scientific conference. She says that they should marry before honeymooning, but they don't seem to care because in the sixties the movie censorship was practically over. Anyway, Julie doesn't know about the "real" plans her fiancé has. He is going to East Berlin (tearing the Iron Curtain) to try to finish his super duper experiment, Gamma 5 aka The MacGuffin of this film, that was cancelled by the American government. With it, the Cold War would be over. The script had many writers and never completely convinced Hitchcock nor Newman.
 I overall liked it because it was never boring.


Suspense:
A lot. Warning, spoilers ahead. Like in every movie from Mr. Hitchcock, there are several sources of tension: the main relationship, the many situations that a normal man has to face in a unknown country, the people they meet, the music, the way Hitch shoots some scenes, etc. At the beginning, from Julie's point of view, we are intrigued by the way Newman starts acting, receiving strange phone calls, lying and being aggressive. Then, when the couple finally arrive to East Berlin (and we learn that Paul was working to steal a formula for the benefit of his own country), he has to face really dangerous situations, even killing a man in one of the most remembered scenes of this movie, plus trying to get vital information for his experiment. Finally Paul and Julie, now reconciled but number one on the most wanted list of the country, have to escape from East Berlin.


The last part is the best and contains my favorite scene in the whole movie: the bus scene. The couple is helped by an organization called "Pi", which has a fake bus in which Paul and Julie have to travel in their escape. To make things look real, "agents" of Pi travel in this bus. Well, the whole sequence is great: the real bus approaches and if the officers on the road notice it, they might suspect. It's one of the best examples of Hitchcock's work and just because of it I would recommend this movie.

Newman and Andrews were the studios' choice.

Leading actors:
When I think about improbable casting, I always remember this movie (and well Robert Mitchum + Katharine Hepburn + Robert Taylor in Undercurrent and some others). The thing goes this way: Hitchcock wanted Eva Marie Saint and Cary Grant, but Universal, "suggested"  Julie Andrews who had just released The sound of music and Paul Newman. So, there you have, four incredibly blue eyes put together for the first and only time in a movie. But not everything is great. I've thought a lot about this, and came to the conclusion that maybe some people don't like this movie because Paul and Julie don't seem to have a grrrreat chemistry. They look great together, they're even shown in bed together, but in my opinion their relationship was cold as the Cold War. But I really don't mind, because it works anyway, since they are arguing, being chased or just in different places most of the time. 

With Lila Kedrova who plays one of my fave characters of the movie.

Supporting Cast:
Terrific, they really stand out. We have Wolfgang Kieling as the German agent that follows Paul Newman everywhere. He's tough, solid, menacing, but has charisma. Then there's Tamara Toumanova, who plays a Russian ballerina who's jealous of Paul Newman because he's stealing her all the attention of the press. She's mainly a comic relief at some points, but also represents a menace. Also great was Lila Kedrova as the extravagant Polish woman that needs a "sponsor" to go to America. Lila gave her character such a pathetic quality, that I always remember her.


Plus Ludwig Donath who plays Professor Lindt, the guy who knows the formula and all the "Pi" agents are really great because all of them seem to have a background and not only a being a random character.


Music:
Hitchcock wanted a more commercial score for this movie and didn't like what Bernard Herrmann had done. So he fired him, ending one of the greatest collaborations between a director and a music composer. He hired English composer John Addison, who did a great job in my opinion and it even sounds like something Bernard would have composed. The main theme, a fast melody which features tense violins with some reliefs coming from the clarinets, is one of my favorites and it fits in a great way the bus scene. I also love the Love Theme. 

Some people say that Herrmann's score would have been a great addition to this film; some DVDs include bonus scenes with this score and even people in Youtube have made the experiment with the Intro, After Gromek's deathThe Formula, etc. Well, I think it would have been great too, but I don't have problems with Addison's music. You can read more about Herrmann and Hitch in this great article.

Final Thoughts:
This movie should definitely be more appreciated. It contains all the signature elements from Mr. Hitchcock's movies and it's never boring. Maybe Paul and Julie didn't have the greatest chemistry ever but it's not a tremendous con; I've seen Torn Curtain many times and it has never bored me.
I like the fact that Hitch continued using his usual methods even in the mid sixties, like shooting in front of screens.
I don't mind it at all, because his works were from a parallel world, a wonderful world constructed entirely by him and with his own rules.


 CMBA Hitchcock Blogathon: The complete list 

(Updated with the published entries)

Official site: http://clamba.blogspot.com/

1. The Birds – Classic Film & TV Café 
2. Dial M for Murder – True Classics: The ABCs of Film 
3. The Lady Vanishes | North by Northwest | Under Capricorn – MacGuffin Movies 
4. Lifeboat – Classicfilmboy’s Movie Paradise 
5. The Man Who Knew Too Much – Reel Revival 
6. Mr. and Mrs. Smith – Carole & Co.
7. North By Northwest – Bette’s Classic Movie Blog 
8. Notorious – Twenty Four Frames 
9. The Pleasure Garden – Thrilling Days of Yesteryear 
10. Rear Window – Java’s Journey 
11. Rebecca­ – ClassicBecky’s Film and Literary Review 
12. Rope – Kevin’s Movie Corner 
13. Shadow of a Doubt - Great Entertainers Media Archive
14. The 39 Steps – Garbo Laughs 
15. Three Classic Hitchcock Killers – The Lady Eve’s Reel Life 
16. Torn Curtain - Via Margutta 51 
17. The Trouble with Harry – Bit Part Actors 
18. Vertigo – Noir and Chick Flicks 
19. The Wrong Man – The Movie Projector
20. Marnie - My Love for Old Hollywood

24 comments:

  1. I haven't seen TORN CURTAIN in years and your review definitively makes me want to see it again. I agree that Paul Newman and Julie Andrews lacked chemistry and that the supporting players pretty much stole the film. The fight scene with the bad guy Gromek at the farm is what I remember best about TORN CURTAIN. It's a gripping scene and seems to go on forever (which I think was Hitch's intention... it makes the killing uncomfortable). So glad you spotlighted one of Hitch's lesser-known works for the Blogathon!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Rick, you should definitively check it again. Uhm, yeah, the fight scene was intended to be long and the idea was to show how difficult is killing a man (that's why they use pretty much all the methods available to kill him). It's just great.
    Thanks for organizing this blogathon in such a great way, can't wait to read all the reviews :)
    Thanks for dropping by.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well done Clara!
    I have to admit that I haven't seen Torn Curtain! I don't know how I've missed it since I try to catch Hitchcock's lesser known films. And theres the fact that I don't miss anything with Paul Newman either. You have certainly peaked my interest with your excellent review. : )
    Page

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great review, Clara! I haven't seen this one either, but I love Paul Newman (and Hitchcock, of course!) so I'll have to check it out. I like Julie Andrews but she doesn't seem like she'd have good chemistry with Newman, which you confirmed in this review. Still, it sounds like a really interesting film!

    -Caroline

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have been meaning to watch this film but haven't had a chance yet (so I skipped past your spoilers section :D). Great post as always! Your blog is amazing by the way.

    ~Bette

    ReplyDelete
  6. Torn Curtain is a flawed film to be sure...but there's something about it that keeps me coming back to it time and time again. Much has been said about the miscasting of stars Paul Newman and Julie Andrews but the other elements like the two set pieces of suspense--the murder of Gromek and Michael and Sarah's flight out of East Berlin (by bus)--more than make up for its shortcomings. Honest to my grandma, if I come across Curtain in the TV listings I'm powerless to keep from tuning in and watching it to the very end.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I need to see this one again, it's been far too long. But your post is a good incentive to take another look at it.

    There's a documentary on Bernard Herrmann which shows the murder scene with Herrmann's music and sans music. I've shown the sequences to friends and it's split down the half as to which is more effective. Myself I prefer it with the Herrmann music, but there's no denying how painful the scene is to watch.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hitchcock's "flawed" films are often more watchable that good films from others. That farmhouse scene is intense -- one of his most intense ever. I wish the chemistry worked better. Showing the woman who played Mary Poppins and Maria the postulate in bed with Paul Newman was shocking enough in 1966! But these two great actors did their best, with a fine supporting cast.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hola, esta película la he visto varias veces y aunque no es una de mis preferidas no está mal. Es cierto que la secuencia del autobus me pone nerviosa con tanta tensión, y la pasajera aquella tan agria.
    Sobre el personaje de la polaca, no se por qué motivo siempre que la veo me recuerda a Marlene Dietrich.
    Saludos y que tengas una buena semana.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I only saw this movie once and remember my first impression was, "Wait, Julie ANDREWS is in this?" She seemed like such a strange fit for Hitchcock, and I think that was borne out in the final product. Though I'd ordinarily never miss a chance to catch a glimpse of Newman's baby blues, I have to admit I haven't had an overwhelming urge to rewatch this one. But your post is so entertaining and enthusiastic about the movie, I might need to give it another shot!

    ReplyDelete
  11. For me this has always been one of my least favorite AH films. The one time I watched it I saw no chemistry not only between Newman (one of my favorite actors) and Andrews but between the two actors and Hitchcock. I probably should give it another try and I admire you taking up its cause.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Page: Thanks a million, I really appreciate your comment! Oh, and yes, watch it, I'd like to know what do you think about it.

    Caroline: Go ahead and check it out. Yeah, Paul & Julie don't have a terrific chemistry, but I bet you'll like it anyway. Tell me when you do ;) THANKS for you comment :)

    Bette: You're so kind, girl! I really appreciate your comment, and please check this movie, I liked it :) Thanks for dropping by!

    Ivan: Same here, I've seen it many times, and I like it more and more. I also love the scene in which Paul is being followed by Gromek in a museum, and he stops to hear his footsteps. So cool! Thanks for your comment :)

    Kevin: Yes, I think you should see it again, it's pretty good. My dvd copy had a bit of the scene with Herrmann's music in a great documentary about the film, with tons of pictures. And yes, it sounded great :) Thanks for stopping by, Kevin!

    Classicfilmboy: Yes, I agree with you. This film is better than the average films around, it's better than most Bond films, etc. LOL, yeah, that scene is kind of shocking! Thanks for dropping by, I really appreciate it!

    Lola: Pienso lo mismo. Obviamente, hay muchas pelis de Hitch para ver antes que esta, pero después de todo es bastante entretenida. Jajaja, tiene algo, me recuerda a Marlene en "Testigo de Cargo" cuando se disfraza de una mujer con una cicatriz para engañar al juez. Una linda semana para ti Lola, muchísimas gracias por comentar.

    trueclassics: Yes, she was kind of miscast. Maybe if they had give her a song, like Doris Day's "Qué será, será"...anyway, it's not really terrible either, I mean, is Julie Andrews after all. Yes, you should see it again, and if you think you wasted 2 hours come back and throw tomatoes at me :) Thanks for dropping by, your comment about my review was really kind!

    John: Well, yes, I think most Hitch films deserve a second opportunity. The first time I saw "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" I found it terribly boring but now I love it. "Torn Curtain" is really entertaining, you should totally see it again. Thanks a million for your comment.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I admire your enthusiasm, Clara, and you've inspired me to one day blog on "Secret Agent," another Hitchcock film that tends to be neglected but one that I like very much. I don't remember much about "Torn Curtain" other than the famous fight in the farm house...and, of course - Paul Newman.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have to admit that Torn Curtain was not one of my Hitchcock favorites, but perhaps I should give it another try. It's been years since I saw it. I am a huge Bernard Herrmann fan, and remember thinking Hitchcock made a mistake not continuing with him.

    Wonderful article, good enough to make me want to see it again!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I haven't seen all of this movie, only part of it--the well-known killing scene you mention and some others with Lila Kedrova, who was so good in "Zorba the Greek" but whom I've never seen in anything else. But you make it sound so interesting that I'll be sure to catch it the next time I come across it. The bus scene you describe sounds particularly appealing. Paul Newman is my favorite American actor of the 60s and although I can't quite picture him as a Hitchcock hero, I'm curious to see how he fared in a Hitchcock movie. I must say that I found your post quite well written--articulate, clearly organized, and thoughtful, all of which made it a pleasure to read.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I haven't seen all of this movie, only part of it--the well-known killing scene you mention and some others with Lila Kedrova, who was so good in "Zorba the Greek" but whom I've never seen in anything else. But you make it sound so interesting that I'll be sure to catch it the next time I come across it. The bus scene you describe sounds particularly appealing. Paul Newman is my favorite American actor of the 60s and although I can't quite picture him as a Hitchcock hero, I'm curious to see how he fared in a Hitchcock movie. I must say that I found your post quite well written--articulate, clearly organized, and thoughtful, all of which made it a pleasure to read.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I admire your enthusiasm, Clara, and you've inspired me to one day blog on "Secret Agent," another Hitchcock film that tends to be neglected but one that I like very much. I don't remember much about "Torn Curtain" other than the famous fight in the farm house...and, of course - Paul Newman.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Page: Thanks a million, I really appreciate your comment! Oh, and yes, watch it, I'd like to know what do you think about it.

    Caroline: Go ahead and check it out. Yeah, Paul & Julie don't have a terrific chemistry, but I bet you'll like it anyway. Tell me when you do ;) THANKS for you comment :)

    Bette: You're so kind, girl! I really appreciate your comment, and please check this movie, I liked it :) Thanks for dropping by!

    Ivan: Same here, I've seen it many times, and I like it more and more. I also love the scene in which Paul is being followed by Gromek in a museum, and he stops to hear his footsteps. So cool! Thanks for your comment :)

    Kevin: Yes, I think you should see it again, it's pretty good. My dvd copy had a bit of the scene with Herrmann's music in a great documentary about the film, with tons of pictures. And yes, it sounded great :) Thanks for stopping by, Kevin!

    Classicfilmboy: Yes, I agree with you. This film is better than the average films around, it's better than most Bond films, etc. LOL, yeah, that scene is kind of shocking! Thanks for dropping by, I really appreciate it!

    Lola: Pienso lo mismo. Obviamente, hay muchas pelis de Hitch para ver antes que esta, pero después de todo es bastante entretenida. Jajaja, tiene algo, me recuerda a Marlene en "Testigo de Cargo" cuando se disfraza de una mujer con una cicatriz para engañar al juez. Una linda semana para ti Lola, muchísimas gracias por comentar.

    trueclassics: Yes, she was kind of miscast. Maybe if they had give her a song, like Doris Day's "Qué será, será"...anyway, it's not really terrible either, I mean, is Julie Andrews after all. Yes, you should see it again, and if you think you wasted 2 hours come back and throw tomatoes at me :) Thanks for dropping by, your comment about my review was really kind!

    John: Well, yes, I think most Hitch films deserve a second opportunity. The first time I saw "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" I found it terribly boring but now I love it. "Torn Curtain" is really entertaining, you should totally see it again. Thanks a million for your comment.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hitchcock's "flawed" films are often more watchable that good films from others. That farmhouse scene is intense -- one of his most intense ever. I wish the chemistry worked better. Showing the woman who played Mary Poppins and Maria the postulate in bed with Paul Newman was shocking enough in 1966! But these two great actors did their best, with a fine supporting cast.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I need to see this one again, it's been far too long. But your post is a good incentive to take another look at it.

    There's a documentary on Bernard Herrmann which shows the murder scene with Herrmann's music and sans music. I've shown the sequences to friends and it's split down the half as to which is more effective. Myself I prefer it with the Herrmann music, but there's no denying how painful the scene is to watch.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Torn Curtain is a flawed film to be sure...but there's something about it that keeps me coming back to it time and time again. Much has been said about the miscasting of stars Paul Newman and Julie Andrews but the other elements like the two set pieces of suspense--the murder of Gromek and Michael and Sarah's flight out of East Berlin (by bus)--more than make up for its shortcomings. Honest to my grandma, if I come across Curtain in the TV listings I'm powerless to keep from tuning in and watching it to the very end.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Well done Clara!
    I have to admit that I haven't seen Torn Curtain! I don't know how I've missed it since I try to catch Hitchcock's lesser known films. And theres the fact that I don't miss anything with Paul Newman either. You have certainly peaked my interest with your excellent review. : )
    Page

    ReplyDelete
  23. Clara, while I readily admit TORN CURTAIN isn't one of my favorite Hitchcock films (I thought THE PRIZE was more enjoyably Hitchcockian than TORN CURTAIN, as I mentioned in my review in my TALES OF THE EASILY DISTRACTED blog post), it did have a number of individual memorable in individual scenes, like that classic sequence at the farmhouse where we viewers see how hard it really is to kill someone. I loved John Addison's music, too (been a fan of his since SLEUTH, which I also recently reviewed :-)), although I'm sure my hero Bernard Herrmann's score was nothing less than awesome! But the lack of romantic chemistry between Julie Andrews and Paul Newman was the weak link in TORN CURTAIN, in my opinion. Although Newman and Andrews looked pretty together in and out of bed, they just didn't have that *ZING* between them. Now you have me daydreaming about how great TORN CURTAIN might have been if Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint had reunited for it! Wonderful post!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Just discovered your fine review of this Hitchcock film which is better than a lot of folk give it credit for. Although I like Julie Andrews, I think she was miscast.
    So many good scenes - Gromek's death, the wonderful Lila Kedrova,( so moving), the scene when Paul Newman explains to Julie what is going on without dialogue.
    And of course the final scene with the two buses.
    And I love the titles at the beginning - especially with Hermann's music!

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...