Writer: Brian Moore (Screenplay)
Starring: Paul Newman, Julie Andrews, Lila Kedrova, Hansjorg Felmy, Tamara Toumanova, Wolfgang Keiling, Ludwig Donath
Plot: An American scientist publicly defects to East Germany as part of a cloak and dagger mission to find the solution for a formula resin and then figuring out a plan to escape back to the West.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Strong Spy Thriller
Story: Torn Curtain starts as Professor Michael Armstrong (Newman) takes his assistant and fiancée Sarah (Andrews) on a business trip, Michael has plans of his own which Sarah would only get in the way off as he follows instructions left along the way for his own mission.
Michael is on a mission to go behind the Iron Curtain but as Sarah follows him it just makes everything become all that more difficult to complete his mission and get out alive.
Torn Curtain gives us a true old school spy thriller before all the technology took over the genre. We get everything coming through a cloak and dagger which add tension to every single meeting the characters go through. We get a brief glimpse into what it was like with the Americans trying to under what the Russians had but this is more about the chase to escape the situation over the actual information getting acquired.
Actor Review
Paul Newman: Professor Michael Armstrong is going undercover behind the Iron Curtain for his country, the plan has been laid out but when his fiancée follows him the mission takes a turn and now he must turn to Sarah to get the information needed to complete the mission. Paul is good in this role showing all of his skills without being too out of place in the settings.
Julie Andrews: Sarah Sherman is the assistant and fiancée of Michael that follows him on his trip. When she learns the truth we see just how far she will go to make his mission get complete becoming a crucial part in it. Julie is good in this role we never thought we would see her in.
Support Cast: Torn Curtain has a supporting cast that all help the final story unfold with non being more that certain moments in the film.
Director Review: Alfred Hitchcock – Alfred gives us a thriller that full does keep us guessing through the film.
Thriller: Torn Curtain keeps us wondering what will happen next and where they will end up on their journey.
Settings: Torn Curtain uses the settings excellently to make us feel like we are watching this spy thriller unfold.
Suggestion: Torn Curtain is one I do think all the Hitchcock fans should be watching. (Hitchcock Fans Watch)
Best Part: Spy element.
Worst Part: No subtitles for the German side of the talking.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $6 Million
Runtime: 2 Hour 8 Minutes
Tagline: It tears you apart with suspense!
Overall: Good spy thriller that really comes off very special.
Rating