TV and Movies

[Oznell]

Noon Eastern:  "Charade" Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau

Finally TCM is showing this in steamy August, when we can most fully appreciate those lovely, frosty opening scenes at a glamorous European ski resort...

Those of us who love this, know why we love it.  Perhaps the most "stylish" of Sixties' romantic thrillers, this has the intrinsic shimmer of Audrey and Cary, amping up its allure to the max!

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/1083070/Charade-Movie-Clip-Everything-Is-Secrecy-And-Lies.html

[spiderw]

I have seen Charade and it  is a good one !  Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant are well matched and this movie fits them as thy fit it.  It was a film with mystery and some comedy and of course romance mixed in.  Hepburn always had impeccable taste in clothes like Doris Day and Grace Kelly in their films.  Charade is an entertaining movie to escape to, love those type offerings!

[cimeranrose]

This is a good movie. Audrey and Cary had great chemistry together, even with their age difference - fun and flirty. I don't remember Cary Grant having a bad performance with any of his leading ladies.

P.S. TCM is featuring Doris Day this Sunday which I'm looking forward to. I know you're a film noir and Eddie Muller fan @Oznell. Have you seen the commercial-like segment TCM has shown lately with the 4 TCM hosts sitting together and discussing movies/stars? Eddie Muller said something like, "Do I have to hand in my film noir card if I admit I'm a huge Doris Day fan?" (I'm a huge Doris Day fan too, so points for Mr. Muller! LOL).

[Wobin]

I read once that Cary Grant was concerned about their age difference and suggested Audrey's character pursue him.  It worked.

[trenet]

And don’t forget the wonderful music by Henry Mancini.  

The haunting title song- music by Mancini, lyrics by the great Johnny Mercer.  

Morning teatime for me!  

[Oznell]

Ha, ha, so glad you mentioned that segment, alert @cimeranrose!  I've caught it on the fly, not seen the whole thing, but did see Eddie's little "bon mot" about Doris.

Eddie was cute, but I wonder if he's forgetting Doris' authentically frantic and hysterical performance as the mother of an abducted son in Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew Too Much"?  Or her California coastal film noir, "Julie", with Louis Jourdan? Or another too-little-seen noir, "Storm Warning" with the explosive Steve Cochran?

I always think that the right director was able to bring out the complexity in otherwise sunny, seemingly all-American performers, very notably in Jimmy Stewart and yes, Doris Day in noir...

By the way, what do you think of the TCM hosts they've assembled?  The guy with the agreeably punk, prize-fighter mug (sorry I don't know his name!) has been a bit of a cipher to me, but he seemed more interesting on that panel.  Ditto the woman with the Aussie-New Zealand-or South African accent.  Of course Ben Mankiewicz is a known quantity.

Not to be uncharitable, but none of the TCM "personalities" seem to have the depth and passion for the medium that Eddie Muller has.  Ben Mankiewicz has his illustrious family background, but....  I just think, with new hosts, there are many genuine, colorful, infinitely knowledgeable cinephiles from which to choose. 

Rant over.  Well, time will tell whether any of these newbies besides Eddie will be the asset to the channel that he is...

[StylishLady]

Thanks for the heads up. It was the first movie that DH and I saw together. Loved the story and of course the great outfits that Audrey wore.

[Caaareful Shopper]

I've seen Charade nearly 25 times!  It's still one of my all-time favorite movies.  Yes, that Henry Mancini soundtrack is indeed perfection.

The way movies like this used to be made makes me sad about all the remakes and tired old sequels today.

[cimeranrose]

I agree @Oznell, I think Eddie Muller is the best of the 4 TCM hosts. I think they would do well to expand his role there and have him introduce a variety of films. He actually might be a good choice if they decided to bring back "The Essentials" on Saturday nights (they tried Alec Baldwin for awhile, but I'm afraid I'm not a fan of his at all - he always seems on edge, impatient and a little cranky to me). I agree about Ben Mankiewicz, he has the family backround, but...

Alicia Malone is OK - she's got a sunny disposition but I feel like she's just reading off a card so far. It's almost like TCM has a tight leash on her but if they would just let her go, so to speak, I think she could develop into a good host.

I have to admit I didn't recognize the 4th TCM host. I guess he hasn't made any impression on me yet, although on the panel he seems like a nice enough person...

Robert Osborne has been irreplaceable for me so far...you just knew he had the passion and knowledge about movies and the old movie stars and he loved sharing it with the audience. He was relaxed, calm and comfortable in his role and he made you feel like you would be comfortable sitting down with him and having a conversation about the old classic movies. He also was a great interviewer - he seemd to be able to make actors feel at ease so he could have a conversation with them. I remember him saying the one person he always wanted to do an interview with but never got to was Doris Day. He was a big fan of hers. I wish he could have interviewed her too!

[Oznell]

Excellent points, @cimeranrose.  Agreed, Robert Osborne was the gold standard.  Their guests (and some hosts) have been so hit and miss.  I too found Alec Baldwin a no-go, but even he was slightly better than David Letterman-- that was a baffling disaster!

The best commentators they've ever had were long-time director William Friedkin, and film critic Molly Haskell-- soft-spoken, witty, clever and Southern.  I'd hire them as hosts!  (Who cares if Friedkin is probably pushing 80-- he's knowledgeable, very opinionated, drily funny.)

Along with Friedkin and Haskell, I'd hire Dennis Miller as the third.  He's a fanatic about old movies, has talked fascinatingly about them on his radio show, and we all know how amusing he can be!  He's even obsessed with the interiors and houses of old movies, has his favorite "set decor" that he loves-- he's totally hard core!

That's what TCM needs, I believe...