ridiculous rating

Absolutely amazing

A lot of fun.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Impossible to review this film without employing the term Hitchcockian so I'll get it over with right away. At times it seems as if all that's needed to complete the picture is for Audrey Hepburn to dye her hair blonde as elsewhere we have Cary Grant reprising his Roger Thornhill meets John Robbie persona, a plot with more twists and turns than a slalom ski-slope and more MacGuffins than you can shake a stick at.It helps when there's a supporting cast of the quality of Walter Matthau, James Coburn and George Kennedy all playing cherche-la-femme in Paris as the newly widowed Hepburn learns she's inadvertently in possession of a secret of her lately murdered husband worth $250000. Director Donen keeps the surprises coming with pleasing regularity keeping the audience on the hop throughout until a denouement somehow reminiscent to me of "The Third Man".Underpinning all the kills and thrills is the chemistry between Grant and Hepburn as both play their parts and act their ages with great aplomb. It's fun to see Hepburn chasing Grant in an inversion of the norm although I don't think you'd find too many men running away from her. There are some surprisingly shocking images of the deaths of Hamilton and Coburn in particular and liberal doses of the type of black humour of which the Master would have been proud, none more so than when early on in the film, a supposed mourner sneezes over the deceased in his open casket. Inventively and stylishly directed, it perhaps lacks those directorial flourishes of you-know-who which stay in the memory, but the dialogue is smart, witty and occasionally risqué, the Parisian locations highly attractive and the playing excellent by all throughout.A fine homage to Hitch but with enough of its own identity and flair to entertain satisfactorily on its own merits.

The Plot. Regina Lampert, a Paris based American, has decided to divorce her Swiss husband, Charles Lampert, because of the secrets and lies that have pervaded their marriage, she coming to the conclusion that she no longer loves him and really knows nothing about him. Before she can make that request to Charles, he is found dead, seemingly pushed off a Paris to Bordeaux train. While Regina was on holiday in Megève, Charles sold all their possessions making $250,000 in the process, and seemed to be on his way to the coast to leave the country for South America probably for good. The money, however, was not among his possessions on the train, those possessions which are returned to Regina. Regina further learns from Hamilton Bartholomew of the CIA that they were after him, Charles Lampert only the primary alias he has been using of late.So first of all, this is a VERY 60's film. The music and costumes are all "mod." which makes the movie rather dated. Cary Grant was pushing 60 when he made this movie. But he's never dated. The issue with the movie is the dialog which is snappy and out of place. It's as if they wanted to make this a pithy comedy drama instead of a straight dramatic presentation. It doesn't really work.Plus it's a rather slow and talkative movie low on action. And Audrey Hepburn is a think of the past. Her "acting abilities really don't fit today. As I said earlier, VERY 60's.

Audrey, Audrey--can't get (by now ancient) Cary to return her advances. He's obviously too embarrassed to get into a convo with her about the sexual inadequacies of elderly men. Cary looks like he's just doing a read through with the script around a table. He's not committed. He's relying on his humor to help him survive the filming. He's so tired looking--in fact, for most of the film he has a wan, grey pallor to his skin. Poor Audrey is flitting between murderers after her lost treasure while the audience waits for something to happen. The best actor is the little kid ("I berrcccchhhied it in zee gahden!"). Kennedy's fake hook hangs way too long for his body and he is prone to overacting. I like Coburn's cords. Between Audrey's breath (she was a chain smoker) and Grant's Polident odor, the kissing is rather bland and I'd say must've been tasteless. It's difficult to deep kiss a person with dentures. The scenery is great though. Aaaaaah, Paree!

This is a great whodunnit, using two of our most charismatic actors ever: Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Audrey has money that is hers due to the death of her husband. Once word gets out that she is loaded and is planning on giving the money to the government, three shady characters get into the act, pursuing her. There is a wonderful sense of humor to this film (much like the comic relief in the Hitchcock thrillers--usually delivered by the likes of Stewart or Grant himself). There is a masterful web of intrigue here and clever dialogue galore. Hepburn is beautiful, of course, and the photogenic Grant works his magic. Who are we looking for? Where does the danger lie? That's the question.