Torn Curtain - Rewatch

 Man, what a disappointment.  I'd hoped this  Hitchcock hit from the mid 60s would improve with one more view, but nope. I disliked it even more. 

Torn curtain a failed "Entertainment"

Grahame Greene divided his novels into serious ones and entertainments, and one could do the same thing with Hitchcock films. In the serious category you have films like: The Wrong Man, I confess, Shadow of Doubt, or Vertigo.  In the entertainment group:  The man who knew too much, 39 steps, north by northwest, sabotuer, rear window,  to catch an thief,  the lady vanishes. 

Torn Curtain was supposed to be a suspenseful spy thriller. But the failed casting and lack of fun and thrills dooms it.     

Julie Andrews and Paul Newman

These two were super-stars both are miscast.  Paul Newman as a scientist? Give me a break.  Not only that Newman is NOT a Hitchcockian leading man.  Newman was a star who could act. But he didn't possess the likablity or charisma of a Grant, McCrea, Stewart, or Fonda.  And that's what the part requires.  

The same is true of Julie Andrews. She was great singer and possessed some low key charm but she simply wasn't in the same league with Doris Day,  Grace Kelley, Ingrid Bergman,  or Tulluah Bankhead.  Needless to say, she isn't sexy and she has zero chemistry with Newman. 

Andrews and Newman  seem to be sleepwalking through their roles. Is this is due to their innate lack of warmth? Or because the script/direction doen't prop them up as they do in other movies.  Of course, neither was known for their wit/comedic acting 

Script Problems

Another problem with Torn Curtain is the complete lack of warmth or humor. . The rest of the dialogue is just blah.  There's a complete lack of fun and excitement. 

Direction Problems

Its hard to think of Hitchock film that has so many slack, tensionless chase scenes. Whereas Man who knew too much and North by Northwest had you on the edge of your seat,  Torn curtain's suspense scenes seem mechanical and overly familiar.  The amount of cheap, projection shots further decrease the enjoyment.

On the Plus Side

The villians of the piece - Kedrova, Wolfgang Kieling and Tamara Toumanova are excellent , and the death of the policeman, "Grommek" is the highlight of the movie.

Summary:  Other then the killing of the policeman scene,  Torn curtain isn't worth a 3rd watch. There's a complete lack of fun and excitement. Incredibly I'd rather watch Marnie,  since I find Connery and Hedrin a more attractive and interesting.