Rating: 
Summary: Cold War Spy Thriller -- Underrated Cinema Treat!
Review: This Classic (even if lesser known) Hitchcock Thriller has all of the Master's trademarks: A young couple in love, dagerous twists and turns, mid-way revelations, murder, and certainly a good dose of constant suspense.
Paul Newman and Julie Andrews are a pair of top scientists on the verge of a breakthrough of nuclear proportions. Appearing to "defect" to East Germany, this assumption is soon erased. Many situations are given authenticity by pointing at the oppressive government under which citizens had to endure. Turning in their neighbors, even family members, to appease the "Volks Polizei" was a common thing. Communism (although the "Wall" had only recnetly been built) is in dark contrast to the booming "West". State authorities appear to enjoy a privileged life, even endulging in what middle class Americans at the time would consider luxury.
Several scenes are very moving to me, as I have visited the old "East Germany", and can relate to the fact that such situations certainly did occur in real life. The older lady who begged the young American couple to "sponser" her, so she could emmigrate to the US, gives voice to the millions of elderly East German citizens who were "cast off" as useless (as they no longer contribute taxes, but rather collect pensions provided by the sate), while the working masses and children were imprisoned until they, too, become useless, and are free to leave the country. Such realities are what made the countries behing the "iron curain" more detestable than any other factors combined. Freedom is worth fighting for. The main characters, as well as many others introduced in this film, show each in their way their conviction to fight for the Freedom of the ciizens of the world. Today aversion of nuclear warfare, tomorrow tearing down walls. After that there is no limit to what a united world community can accomplish.
A little on the long side (the version omitting parts of violent scenes still runs 132 minutes), the engaging story, beautiful color cinematography and an intoxicating score (beautiful!) more than make up for any shortcomings. I can recommend this film to fans of The Master, and to people who enjoy a pleasant thriller. Be warned about one or two scenes with graphic violence. I advise discretion showing this to pre-teens. Otherwise, enjoy!****
Rating: 
Summary: tense!
Review: This is a great Cold War movie with a great cast.
Rating:
Summary: You Know.....
Review: This is a great movie. It might not be the best movie ever made, and maybe not even the best Hitchcock made, but it's great. You can read these other reviews by pretentious "connoisseurs" saying it's a bore, talking about Paul and Julie sitting around looking puzzled, but you know, that might have something to do with the fact that they don't speak German. In my opinion, the fact that German is used profusely throughout the film, with no subtitles, lends a great deal to the suspense...Paul and Julie just *know* those secret police are talking about them, but they have no idea what they're saying. What a great way to create empathy.A lot of the people who'll tell you this movie is crap would probably also try to tell you that The Birds is real top-notch Hitchcock. C'mon. Did that movie scare *anyone*? Do yourself a favor and pick up Torn Curtain.
Rating: 
Summary: Worn Curtain
Review: This is a Hitchcock film that doesn't quite work. Paul Newman looks totally out of place throughout the whole movie. Hitchcock films are generally witty, engrossing, and spellbinding but this one has none of these elements. You keep waiting for something to happen but not much does. There is a nice chase scene through the museum where Newman focuses on the sound of footsteps and an interesting bus scene. However, the rest of the movie drags in a sea of bad politics.
Rating:
Summary: Good movie!
Review: This is not top hitchcock but still gas some of his trade marks. It would have been better if they worked on some parts of the movie , it would been much better because the story plot is very good and full of excitment ! The cast and director tried , and were great if they paid more attention to the screenplay and more though still a good movie that tears you apart with suspence!!
Rating:
Summary: A Highly Underated Hitchcock Classic
Review: This is one of Hitchcock's last truely great films. Is Paul Newman really defecting to East Berlin, or is he a double agent?His secretary, and fiancee, Julie Andrews (shedding her Mary Poppins image) tries to find out. The bus scene is classic Hitchcock, and the murder of the German agent is one of the best scenes ever filmed. I also love the scene when Paul and Julie are at the ballet. This film has all of Hitchcock's trademarks, suspence, comedy, love, and, of course, his cameo appearence. This can not be missed by a true Hitchcock fan. Watch it at least twice to really appreciate it!
Rating: 
Summary: A Hitchcock Disappointment
Review: This is probably the most dull Hitchcock movie I have ever seen. I love Alfred Hitchcock, and I own almost every single movie he has ever made, including this one. I bought it before renting it. (Bad choice) This movie has a dull plot, and when something exciting happens, the story goes right back to being dull. It is like Hitch didn't direct this movie. There are only two scenes where I can feel Hitchcock's presence in the film. The first one is the murder of Gromek in the farm house: pure Hitchcock. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest murders Hitchcock has ever filmed. The second one is when Julie Andrews and Paul Newman are on the "fake bus" escaping, but the real bus is coming up behind them, and they are having a police escort. That is about all the thrills you'll get out of this movie. I dozed off through most of it. It is really a disappointing movie for Hitchcock fans. I could not believe how boring this movie was! Here's a thought: Instead of remaking Psycho, why not remake this?
Rating:
Summary: A good late Hichcock movie!
Review: This movie would have been better if the script was good and some of the settings. This star studded movie starring Julie Andrews and Pual Newman,makes it enjoyable and the movie has some good noted momments.
Rating:
Summary: Torn Curtain underrated Number 50 from Hitchcock
Review: This was Alfred Hithcock's 50th motion picture. This film marked a departure from his most recent bulk of films at that time, not in directorial style, but in the absence of many of his close-knit artistic-technical company he had been utilizing. Distinctively missing is collaborator-composer Bernard Herrmann. However, John Addison does a commendable job in Herrmann's absence, as his score seems to fit this film very well with the passage of time. This was a cold war drama set behind the Iron Curtain. The hero of the story as portrayed by Paul Newman is motivated less by personal staunchness for democratic idealism, but rather by his inner confrontation coming to grips with his own failure as a scientist. This very suspenseful film is really about his own redemption for his perceived failure. This film is has been highly underrated.
Rating:
Summary: Torn Curtain...one great scene
Review: Torn Curtain has Julie Andrews and Paul Newman sitting around Berlin in cafes and in hotels and busses with these puzzled looks on their faces, wondering where the next bad line will come from. This is not good Hitchcock, but even bad is better than lots of other things one could have seen then and now. There is a great scene, the death of a motorcyclist in a remote German farm house. Both Paul Newman and this farm housewife try everythinbg to kill this leather-clad commie "type," and their efforts are truly bizzare. Knives, shovels, suasage dishes, and finally gas from the oven finishes him off. I always wondered how much gas came out of that oven, and why neither Newman nor the woman felt its effects. In any case, this scene is not to be missed, so buy the DVD for it. The rest of Torn Curtain is unintentionally funny, with the weird scenery, with flase backdrops here and there, and, toward the end of the film, a surreal busride, where everyone seems to be in the same seat...a delight! Hitchcock had not lost it here; he didn't have his usual crew on tap, and he had Andrews, who shows here how bad she is for suspense and the screen in general..(after Mary Poppins and Millie, never a good film,) and how Paul Newman picks up on her ineptitude. It is one of his worst performances. But is has that scene , and Lila Kedrova overacting, and a hilarious ending. Don't pass this up. Hitchcock is said to have been through after this and Topaz, etc., but then Frenzy came along, and all is well, very well, again.
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