Torn Curtain

Name: Torn Curtain
Genre: Thriller
Released: July 16, 1966
Duration: 128 min
Rating: 55
Cast: David Opatoshu, Gisela Fischer, Günter Strack, Hansjörg Felmy, Julie Andrews

1966

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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6.6

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6.6	Your Score
6.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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Torn Curtain

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 16, 1966 | Approved

Starring: David Opatoshu, Gisela Fischer, Günter Strack, Hansjörg Felmy, Julie Andrews, Lila Kedrova, Ludwig Donath, Paul Newman, Tamara Toumanova, Wolfgang Kieling

Summary: An American scientist publicly defects to East Germany as part of a cloak and dagger mission to find the solution for a formula resin before planning an escape back to the West.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Genre(s): Thriller

Rating: Approved

Runtime: 128 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Alex McLevy

Despite some weaknesses, the film remains a bold and challenging work, one that flies in the face of the conventional spy thrillers of its day. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Hitchcock was incapable of making an uninteresting film, even when burdened with unsympathetic stars like Julie Andrews and Paul Newman, and Torn Curtain has its moments. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Putting Julie Andrews in a Hitchcock film at all, meanwhile, proves that a spoonful of sugar doesn't help the medicine go down...in the most de-light-ful way. Dull and way too long. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Alfred Hitchcock's direction emphasizes suspense and ironic comedy flair but some good plot ideas are marred by routine dialog, and a too relaxed pace contributes to a dull overlength. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Hitchcock, seemingly too dour or too uninterested to turn in the title's promise of a Cold War ripping yarn, settles instead for a dissection of the limits of domestic trust. Read full review

Bosley Crowther

In these times, with James Bonds cutting capers and pallid spies coming in out of the cold, Mr. Hitchcock will have to give us something a good bit brighter to keep us amused. Read full review

Pauline Kael

Sloppy, clumsy Hitchcock thriller. Brian Moore is credited with the original screenplay, but probably his friends don't mention it.

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User Reviews

FilipeNeto

Apr 12, 2020

Forgotten for no reason.

It is more than proven that not all Alfred Hitchcock filmography is of the same level and quality. He made precious films but also many others that do not interest us, nor deserve great relevance, such as "Spellbound", which is his film that I least appreciate, soForgotten for no reason.

It is more than proven that not all Alfred Hitchcock filmography is of the same level and quality. He made precious films but also many others that do not interest us, nor deserve great relevance, such as "Spellbound", which is his film that I least appreciate, so far. I read a lot of mixed or even negative reviews about this film, but I confess that after having seen it, it doesn't seem to deserve so many negative comments. Not being brilliant and having a somewhat dubious history, it is quite acceptable.

The story revolves around an international intrigue involving the feigned defection of an American scientist to East Germany in order to obtain classified information from a renowned Soviet scientist involved in rocket or missile tests. Really, there is a bit of excessive imagination here, but the film develops in such a solid way that I ended up accepting the plot as it is and letting myself go. It was the best thing I did, the movie is worth it if we give it a chance.

The cast is headed by great actors, Hitchcock found it easy to recruit them to work with him. Paul Newman is very good and Julie Andrews too, but while he is excellent in his character, she does not correspond in the same way, and the way they act together shows this clearly, with the actress well below the level of quality that she did in other films. It even gives the feeling that she was not comfortable with her character. Wolfgang Kieling, Lila Kedrova and Ludwig Donath were good additions and Tamara Toumanova also does a good job, despite having little to do.

The film has an excellent photograph, with good colors and good camera work. The direction is impeccable, as far as I was allowed to perceive, and the film has excellent moments of suspense and tension. The pace seemed reasonably satisfactory, even though certain scenes were exaggeratedly prolonged. The soundtrack is quite weak, but that was not a problem for me, and the sets and costumes seemed to me to be average.

It is not an excellent film, but it is far from the worst of Hitchcock's career. Worth seeing. Perhaps it is even forgotten without really having a reason other than the great quality of other films by the same author.… Expand

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victorfialho

Oct 6, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The bus scene is really good. Not the best Hitchcock movie, but still a classic… Expand

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