Rating: 
Summary: Hitchcock's under-valued Cold War drama
Review: TORN CURTAIN was a film which Hitchcock never wanted to make; he still owed Universal one more film under his contract and was waiting for the right story to come along. At Universal's insistence, he made this under-valued Cold War thriller.Michael Armstrong (Paul Newman - CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF) is a world-famous scientist to goes to an international congress in Copenhagen with his fiancee/assistant Sarah Sherman (Julie Andrews - STAR!, DARLING LILI). While there, Sarah mistakenly picks up a message meant for him and discovers that he is defecting to East Germany. Or is he? As Armstrong goes undercover to glean top-secret information, the couple are swept up in a heart-pounding chase to escape with their lives.... Hitchcock reportedly hated working with Newman and Andrews (he did not personally cast them, they were assigned to the film by the studio). The music was provided by John Addison, although Hitchcock veteran Bernard Herrmann was originally going to provide the score. However, the film does have some very good scenes: the bus ride, the post office, the climactic MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH-esque ballet sequence and the fight in the cottage. Also starring Lila Kedrova, Tamara Toumanova, Ludwig Donath and David Opatoshu. The DVD includes the making-of documentary "Torn Curtain Rising", a condensed version of the film with Bernard Herrmann's original score, an art gallery and the trailer.
Rating: 
Summary: Superb movie, classic Hitchcock!
Review: Why are all the film critics so down on this one? This is my favorite Hitchcock film, except for maybe Rear Window. Julie Andrews and Paul Newman are excellent in this Cold War thriller. So many suspenseful scenes in this...the bus scene, the Lindt scene with the Gamma 5 project, the ballet ruse, etc. This is much better than the appraised "North by Northwest," and "Notorious." Such a great plot, with more complications as it progresses. Everyone should see it! (Just beware of the farm scene)
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