Charade on DVD (1963)

A customer from Bristol, England. , 09/02/2004

Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn are two of my favourite actors and so I relished the chance to see them together when I rented 'Charade'.

30 seconds into the movie, I switched it off and sent it back.

Why? The picture and sound quality of this DVD is awful. The sound is muddy and distorted, the picture blocky, murky and isn't even framed properly!

If you're looking to watch this movie, try a different version.

  15 out of 15 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Cambridge , 24/03/2004

The film is terrific fun but sadly the dreadful quality of the dvd makes it a one star rental

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

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SAI81 from Tonbridge [Highly rated reviewer] , 19/08/2005

The con movie is a balancing act. It has to be surprising, but its twists also have to be plausible when you step back and look at the film as a whole. Few pull it off, for every Usual Suspects there is a Criminal. Charade is an exceptional example of the genre. When Reggie Lambert (Hepburn) returns from holiday to find her home empty and the news that her husband has run away with $250,000 dollars in stolen money, before being murdered. When her life is threatened by the men her Husband stole the money with she goes on the run with a new friend (Grant) who says his name is Mr Joshua. To say more about the plot would be to spoil the surprises of this fine film. The casting is sublime. Cary Grant brings both dramatic resonance and the light touch he displayed to such great comedic effect in Bringing Up Baby to the table and it is to both his and the scripts credit that the slapstick sequences that occasionally crop up don't feel out of place, instead breaking the tension for a moment in a joyous way. Audrey Hepburn demonstrates that she was as talented as she was beautiful, something of a feat. In Reggie she provides us a way into the film, a character who knows as little as us and discovers the plot with us. Walter Matthau also makes an impression as a Government agent who Reggie is trying to return the money to. But the genius of the film is in the writing, revelations are well paced and, when you step back to look at the plot as a whole, all of them make sense. The relationship between Grant and Hepburn, even if it doesn't seem completely natural at times, adds charm and gets by on the palpable chemistry between the actors. Charade mixes genres; mystery, romance, comedy and is that rare hybrid which manages to be a great example of all those things. You can't simply let it wash over you but if you engage with this film you'll find it a highly entertaining experience.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

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Rob from London , 07/10/2004

I chose not to take the advise of the other reviewers when reading about the poor video quality. How wrong I was.

This is perhaps the worst covertion to DVD I have ever seen. The quality is almost unwatchable. I watched no more than 3 minutes worth before sending it back. It's far worse than VHS, and films I have dating back to the 1940's have a better picture.

Only rent this DVD if you really have to. Otherwise I'd try and find a different release of the film.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Bristol, England. , 09/02/2004

Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn are two of my favourite actors and so I relished the chance to see them together when I rented 'Charade'.

30 seconds into the movie, I switched it off and sent it back.

Why? The picture and sound quality of this DVD is awful. The sound is muddy and distorted, the picture blocky, murky and isn't even framed properly!

If you're looking to watch this movie, try a different version.

  15 out of 15 people found this review helpful

Read all highest rated reviews