Film Review: Charade (1963)

What could go awry when one pairs the epitome of feminine grace and beauty with the consummate matinee idol of years past? In the case of Charade, nothing! Charade, a 1963 offering from Stanley Donen, matches the charms of Audrey Hepburn with the elegance of an aged Cary Grant in what was sadly their sole collaboration.

The multi-layered plot involving a gang of rogues out to retrieve a fortune stolen by Hepburn's late husband is surprisingly free of plausibility gaps. Hepburn and Grant are aided by a remarkable cast consisting of James Coburn as a loutish Texan, Walter Matthau as the bumptious man of mystery who may or may not be Hepburn's protector, and several others who add to the richness of this romantic thriller.

Charade is a winsome, fast-paced spectacle that recalls a sophistication often lacking in modern cinema. As important as its principals is the city of Paris, used superbly as the backdrop for the intrigue at the center of the film.

Absorbing, perfectly scripted, splendidly acted and brilliantly photographed, Charade is a jewel from a by-gone era awaiting a new generation of viewers.

Charade (1963)
Directed by Stanley Donen
113 minutes
Color