Torn Curtain & Topaz

Torn Curtain (1966) - Hitchcock. Co-stars Paul Newman and Julie Andrews. 128 minutes. An American scientist-spy (Newman) defects to East Germany to steal a scientific formula. But his fiancee (Andrews) upsets his plans by following him. Pros: The killing in the farmhouse, Gromek, Lila Kedrova. Cons: Sluggish pace, lack of humor and romantic chemistry, mediocre script, Chilly distant acting by Newman and Andrews, too much back projection Summary: Second-rate Hitchcock - the beginning of the end for Hitchcock Rating **

270. Topaz (1969) - Hitchcock. Co-stars Frederick Stafford and Dany Robin 143 minutes. A French intelligence agent becomes embroiled in the Cold War politics first with uncovering the events leading up to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and then back to France to break up an international Russian spy ring.Cossack. Cons: Sluggish pace, mediocre script, no big stars, an abrupt emotionless ending. Incredibly Hitchcock wanted an even worse ending - a duel! Pros: The Russian defector's escape and interrogation, the stealing of the documents (Roscoe Browne), the entire Cuba sequence, Phillipe Noiret (Jarret)Summary: Second-rate Hitchcock but still better than "Torn Curtain" or "Saboteur" Rating **1/2