REVIEW: Charade (1963)
We are in the age of streaming, not only because of the readily available technology but also the current social distancing and stay-at-home orders keeping us indoors. There is no better time than now to take advantage of streamable movies and shows and finally getting around to catching up on cinematic classics. “Charade” is the perfect film to do this with.
Cinema darling Audrey Hepburn stars as the lead heroin Regina Lambert, wife to the incredibly rich and mysterious Charles Lambert. When Regina is first introduced vacationing in the Swiss Alps, she is downhearted as she comes to the decision she must divorce her husband because of the many secrets she knows he keeps from her. Unluckily (or perhaps luckily), her husband’s murdered body is found discarded near a set of train tracks before she can see him. Still in shock after his sudden and tragic death, Regina is approached by Hamilton Bartholomew, a member of the United States Embassy. He reveals Charles had robbed $25,000 dollars from the US Government, and now his three accomplices are after her, who they believe is in possession of the money. Regina is left in a complicated web of mystery as she tries to bargain for her life from the three ruthless men while at the same time struggling with growing feelings for the charming Peter Joshua (played by Cary Grant) who she does not know if she can trust.
Punctually advertised as a comedy, romance, mystery, suspense and thriller, the movie manages to combine multiple genres seamlessly for an instant classic which keeps the audience continually guessing who — if anyone— they can trust.
This eccentric film can be streamed for free on Amazon Prime Video.
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