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Amazon.co.uk Review
Paul Newman and Julie Andrews star in Torn Curtain, what must unfortunately be called one of Alfred Hitchcock's lesser efforts. Still, sub-par Hitchcock is better than a lot of what's out there, and this one is well worth a look. Newman plays cold-war physicist Michael Armstrong, while Andrews plays his lovely assistant-and-fiancée Sarah Sherman. Armstrong has been working on a missile defence system that will "make nuclear defence obsolete", and naturally both sides are very interested. All Sarah cares about is the fact that Michael has been acting awfully fishy lately. The suspense of Torn Curtain is by nature not as thrilling as that in the average Hitchcock film--much of it involves sitting still and wondering if the bad guys are getting closer. Still, Hitchcock manages to amuse himself: there is some beautifully clever camera work and an excruciating sequence that illustrates the frequent Hitchcock point that death is not a tidy business. --Ali Davis
Special Features
English
Region 2
Region 2
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Although originally looking forward to filming this one, it turned out to be little more than an acute disappointment for Hitchcock. He distrusted Paul Newman for his method acting and whilst delighting at the prospect of turning Julie Andrews sweet and innocent image upside down, when he got his hands on her he was eternally disappointed, lamenting that there was not much he could do with her after all.
It's by no means a dreadful film and it does have some characteristic Hitchcock touches; when there is tension between the two main characters, the film is effective, but once Newman and Andrews realise they are on the same side, that dissipates and as there is still half of the film to go, it does stymie it somewhat.
Still there are some standout scenes - especially the one where Newman, with help from a farmer's wife, kills his bodyguard (an amusing performance from Wolfgang Kieling) and at times it is excellently handled. Sadly it cannot keep it up for the duration and watching it is a frustrating experience.
It's by no means a dreadful film and it does have some characteristic Hitchcock touches; when there is tension between the two main characters, the film is effective, but once Newman and Andrews realise they are on the same side, that dissipates and as there is still half of the film to go, it does stymie it somewhat.
Still there are some standout scenes - especially the one where Newman, with help from a farmer's wife, kills his bodyguard (an amusing performance from Wolfgang Kieling) and at times it is excellently handled. Sadly it cannot keep it up for the duration and watching it is a frustrating experience.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is an odd film - neither Paul Newman nor Julie Andrews are the perfect choices for a Hitchcock, but it does work in the end. In fact it probably contains some of Hitchcock's lesser known but brilliant sequences.
The murder (for that's what it is) of the agent following Newman is one of his most chilling scenes - it's cold and desperate and very scary. The bus ride is thrilling and has the same kind of edge of the seat moments as the shoe in the pocket from Marnie and the walk to the plane from North by Northwest. And I just love Lila Kedrova wanting her 'sponsor'.
So it's totally unusual, very watchable, with impressive set pieces. Not Hitch's best, but far from terrible.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"Torn Curtain" is one of the lesser known of Hitchcock's American films. And while it's not as great as some of his best work, it's still very well made and has that Hitchcock feeling. It's not a fast paced story, and a less capable director might have made a forgettable, somewhat dull, movie, but Hitchcock effectively builds tension between the characters (also helped by good acting) and creates several quite suspenseful scenes. You might say that the direction is better than the story and that some of the parts are better than the film as a whole. Still highly recommended to Hitchcoch fans and also recommended to fans of cold war/espionage thrillers.
On a side note: Some DVDs are pan-and-scanned. Unfortunately mine was. Before buying the film, make sure you get the correct widescreen version.
On a side note: Some DVDs are pan-and-scanned. Unfortunately mine was. Before buying the film, make sure you get the correct widescreen version.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
hitchckock
Dated, not Hitchcock's best but interesting. Miss Julie Andrews totally miscast and quite bad but what a wig she's wearing! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Serge Cavanna
Hitchcock at his worst
Hitchcock made some great movies and also some real turkeys. This is in the latter category. Both Newman and Andrews are dreadfully miscast. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mike Heron
Too Much Set Up for Too Little Suspense
Michael Armstrong, noted American scientist, (Paul Newman) is in Sweden for a conference where he is to give a big speech. Read more
Published on 15 Sep 2009 by Mark Baker
A late great from Hitchcock
1966, and Paul Newman and Julie Andrews are nuclear scientists defecting to East Germany in a film that seems somewhat influenced by John Le Carre's The Spy Who Came In From The... Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2009 by The Big Pink One
WARNING: Pan-and-scan version of widescreen film
For resons best known to themselves, Universal UK have issued most of Alfred Hitchcock's 1960s/1970s films (The Birds, Marnie, Torn Curtain, Topaz, Frenzy) in pan-and-scan 1. Read more
Published on 13 Mar 2009 by Kenneth F. Mcara
Nostalgia it is today, that Cold War of old
Hitchcock was not brilliantly inspired with this film, even and maybe especially in 1966. It is true it was a very deep period in the Cold War, but because the trap of a war the US... Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2009 by Jacques COULARDEAU
Very poor show indeed
This film is the worst film I have ever seen from the renowned director Alfred Hitchcock. The director is very good, the cast is superb but what do you get from a very poor... Read more
Published on 10 Oct 2007 by Ogun Eratalay
"It takes a scientist to pick a scientist's mind"
"Torn Curtain" (1966) is a good Hitchcock movie, it just isn't an excellent one. From my point of view, this film is entertaining, but not something you will remember after... Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2006 by M. B. Alcat
No less than 5 stars * * * * *!
I'm surprised so many have been disappointed in the sleek witty stylish cold war thriller? A Hitchcockian masterpiece, easily on par with the spellbinding 'Notorious', and the... Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2006 by Mr. C. Bridgeman
Adequate Cold War Thriller
"Torn Curtain" is an enjoyable enough film , but it is certainly not as good as much of Hitchcock's other work. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2006 by L. Davidson
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