Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

Charade Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 4, 2011

Stanley Donen's "Charade" (1963) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Park Circus. The supplemental features on the disc include the film's original theatrical trailer and a gallery of stills. In English, without optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Do you need me?

While relaxing at a fancy ski resort, Reggie Lampert (Audrey Hepburn), a not so happily married American beauty, meets Peter Joshua (Cary Grant), a charming gentleman. The two chat and then Reggie heads back to Paris. There she is shocked to discover that her husband, Charles, was murdered immediately after he apparently auctioned all of their possessions without telling her.

Strange things begin to happen. Reggie learns that Charles had a secret life in which he did strange things with strange people – some of which are now very angry that he is dead because they want the money, approximately $250 million dollars, which he made from the auction. Reggie does not know where the money is but Charles’ friends (James Coburn, George Kennedy, Ned Glass) believe she does.

Reggie and Peter meet again and she asks for help - at this point, she does not know what to do or think because if what everyone says is true, she apparently lived with a man she did not know. Reggie also meets Hamilton Bartholomew (Walter Matthau), a CIA operative, who informs her about her husband’s illegal dealings and friends. He also warns her not to trust Peter because like the rest of Charles’ friends he is after the money from the auction. But Reggie already likes Peter a lot, and after he chases away a man who attempts to hurt her, she begins to fantasize about having a serious relationship with him. Meanwhile, all of Charles’ friends are killed and the only men left standing are Peter and Hamilton - both of whom Reggie has trusted.

Stanley Donen’s Charade is a light, absorbing thriller that has the glamour of old-fashioned Hollywood films and the raw energy of classic 60s spy films. With Grant and Hepburn in the leading roles, Charade also has the look and feel of a big budget, serious production meant to appeal to a wide variety of viewers.

The plot is rather complicated (at least for a 60s film). There are a number of excellent twists in it that effectively transform Charade into a guessing game of sorts in which perceptions and expectations routinely have to be revised. Nothing is what it seems and no one is to be fully trusted - not even Hepburn’s character.

Hepburn and Grant’s flirtations, however, are what makes Charade a great film. They clearly enjoy each other's company and despite the age difference share the same playful state of mind. Naturally, when halfway through Charade Grant confesses to Hepburn that he is having a tough time keeping his hands off her, it is obvious that he speaks the truth.

Charade also benefits from a strong supporting cast. Matthau is terrific as the knowledgeable CIA operative, though his time in front of the camera is quite limited. Coburn, Kennedy, and Glass, are also excellent as the "friends".

For Charade, director Donen collaborated with legendary cinematographer Charles Lang, who in 1934 won an Oscar for his contribution to Frank Borzage’s Farewell to the Arms (1932). Lang is also known for his contribution to Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot (1959) and John Ford, Henry Hathaway, and George Marshall’s How The West Was Won (1962).

Charade Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Stanley Donen's Charade arrives on Blu-ray courtesy British distributors Park Circus.

This is a wonderful Blu-ray release, one that is basically on par with the strong Blu-ray release Criterion produced for the U.S. market. Unsurprisingly, detail and clarity are very good, while the blockiness that plagues the various DVD releases of Charade that are still floating around has been effectively addressed. The color-scheme is also very pleasing - the variety of reds, blues, greens, browns and blacks look fresh and natural, warm but not anemic. Furthermore, there are no traces of post-production sharpening. Some small dirt and noise corrections have been performed, but the film's grain structure is very much intact. Some mild flicker around the edges remains (also present on the Criterion release), but this is a limitation that has obviously been inherited. Finally, there are no serious stability issues to report in this review. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

Charade Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: English LPCM 2.0. For the record, Park Circus have not provided optional English subtitles for the main feature.

I ran a few quick tests with my Criterion Blu-ray release, which has an English LPCM 1.0 track, but could not hear much of a difference. The two loseless tracks sound identical to me - the dialog is equally crisp, clean, and stable, and Henry Mancini's music score carries the same dynamic characteristics. This said, it is disappointing to say the least that Park Circus have not provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. At this point, they should be a standard feature on every Blu-ray release.

Charade Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - the original theatrical trailer for Charade. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 1080p).

• Photo Gallery - a gallery of stills from the film, poster art, and additional production stills. (1080p).

Charade Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

British distributors Park Circus' Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release of Stanley Donen's Charade is a very good alternative for fans of the film and Audrey Hepburn who could not take advantage of Criterion's excellent Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. My only complaint is that it does not come with optional English subtitles. Really, at this point optional English subtitles should be a standard feature on every Blu-ray release. Nevertheless, if you like the film and have it on DVD, it is time to upgrade. Believe me, it is well worth it. RECOMMENDED.