[7]

Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant star in this Stanley Donen (Singin’ in the Rain) film about a recent widow fighting off a handful of mysterious bad guys who believe she knows where her husband was keeping a stolen quarter million in cash. Charade is a successful blend of thriller, romance, and dark comedy with a number of twists and betrayals that will keep you guessing. Hepburn and Grant have a few wonderful, ’40s style exchanges with one another that feel more like a Howard Hawks movie than a Stanley Donen one. I love that their interactions are either witty or absurd (in one scene, Grant showers with his clothes on), a far cry from the insipid nonsense you find in most star-driven romances. It helps that Hepburn spends most of the movie unsure about Grant’s allegiance, so there’s a constant shadow of mistrust cast over their relationship that keeps it dangerous and fun. Supporting players Walter Matthau, James Coburn, and George Kennedy add luster to the billing, and Henry Mancini keeps the proceedings jauntily percussive in his top-notch score.

Oscar Nomination: Best Song (“Charade”) — Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer