The Film
Being the father of a handsome 6-year-old boy, I've already begun preparing myself for "The Talk" and the inevitable conversations following Daniel's impending realization that girls aren't gross, that in fact they're quite the opposite. One of the first chats I expect to have is How to Talk to Girls, where we'll review the fundamentals: don't be too eager; make them laugh; above all else, quit while you're ahead and know when to stop talking. Now I could sit him down and teach him all of these things - or we could just watch Charade:
Man: Do we know each other?
Woman: Why, do you think we're going to?
Man: Well I don't know. How would I know?
Woman: Because I already know a lot of people and until one of them dies, I couldn't possibly meet anyone else.
Man: Hmph. Well, if one of them goes on the critical list, let me know.
Woman: Quitter.
Is that not some of the best dialogue you've ever read? Replace "Man" and "Woman" with the unrivaled pair of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn and it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Yes indeed, my son could learn a thing or two from Cary Grant (so could I for that matter) - but he should be so lucky to be striking out with a gal the likes of Hepburn. She's easily the best thing about Stanley Donen's Charade, standing toe to toe with Grant, her tongue equally sharp and equally quick-witted.
Stanley Donen's Charade centers on the lovely Regina Lampert (Hepburn), an American tourist vacationing in France. When her husband turns up dead, Lampert has little time to mourn before she's soon confronted by three criminals who insist she has the $250,000 her dead husband allegedly stole from them. Faced with solving her husband's murder and finding a quarter of a million dollars, she turns to the only two people she trusts - a local CIA agent (Walter Matthau) and a handsome but mysterious stranger (Grant) whom she meets on the slopes. Is the latter her knight in shining armour, or a wolf in sheep's clothing?
The Picture
Like the film itself, this Blu-ray presentation from Criterion isn't always what it seems. Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, this high definition version of Charade has moments of incredible clarity and remarkable color while suffering from some intermittent ugliness.
For example, the opening scene - which features a train barreling along and Regina Lampert's dead husband being thrown from said train -- looks downright awful. Excessive grain, some apparent print damage and murky shadow detail quickly had me worried what was in store for the rest of the film.
However, moments later, after a crisp and colorful credit sequence, the bright, yellow umbrellas of the ski lodge's outdoor restaurant pop magnificently against the snow-covered mountains in the background. Meanwhile, Hepburn's black fur coat, dark hat and sunglasses reveal impressive black levels and much improved shadow delineation. By the end of the film, this new high def transfer had handily won me over, but do expect a few hiccups along the way.
The Sound
Criterion presents Charade in its original monaural sound, so don't plan to show off your new surround speakers with this one. The linear PCM track is uncompressed and generally sounds pretty good. Henry Mancini's Oscar-nominated score comes through clearly, serving as a moody backdrop for Grant and Hepburn's crisp and intelligible banter.
The Extras
After its practically bare-bones DVD release, I was hoping the Criterion Collection might be able to assemble some exciting new content for Blu-ray. Unfortunately, they went in the other direction. Gone is "The Films of Stanley Donen" filmography as are the [screenwriter] "Peter Stone Career Highlights." We're left with only a Donen/Stone commentary and the original theatrical trailer. The trailer looks terrible too, but it does serve as strong reminder of what Charade has looked like in previous home video incarnations.
Final Thoughts
Equal parts Spy Thriller, Romantic Comedy and Murder Mystery, Charade is absolutely a must own title for any lover of cinema. Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn are at the top of their games here and their on-screen chemistry is second to none. Criterion's new high definition master suffers from a few print-related hiccups but overall looks better than ever before. Still, Criterion's easy-on-the-extras Blu-ray makes it seem a bit overpriced. Wait for a sale, then snatch it up before they sell out - because they will.
Product Details
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