In the mid-1960s, director Stanley Donen made 2 films that remind me so much of each other -- this film and "Charade". Although "Charade" was more successful financially, I always felt there was something not quite right with the film (although I never figured out what), while this film seems pretty much perfect. Both films have actors I very much admire -- Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn - versus - Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren, but this match-up of Peck and Hepburn seems to have just a bit more chemistry working.
The story line works pretty well (there are a few minor spots where connections just seem to happen out of pure lock, but that's okay). Mostly, things develop at a pace that is logical for the story, and tells you just enough at each point to make you want to get to the next point. And the climax of this film -- the demise of helicopter -- is one of my all-time favorite film scenarios. And, unlike today's films that would be bursting with CGI effects that you know are damn-well impossible, here, everything seems like something that could happen. The tension in parts of the script is perfect. And, like with Hitchcock, the story works because it's the story of a common man caught up in an uncommon situation. Oh, and there are some rather nice and sophisticated camera angles throughout the film...not enough to distract, but enough to make you think several times, "Hey, that's cool".
Gregory Peck is perfect. Just perfect. Professorish without being a prude, brave enough to do what has to be done. And adequately tongue-in-check. The same can be said for Sophia Loren, although she's not the common woman here. But she plays it too a tee with just enough mystery to make you wonder.
Alan Badel is delicious as the villain! This is a film where you should just sit back and revel in sly comments, a great script, and the chemistry between Peck and Loren.
Highly recommended.
The story line works pretty well (there are a few minor spots where connections just seem to happen out of pure lock, but that's okay). Mostly, things develop at a pace that is logical for the story, and tells you just enough at each point to make you want to get to the next point. And the climax of this film -- the demise of helicopter -- is one of my all-time favorite film scenarios. And, unlike today's films that would be bursting with CGI effects that you know are damn-well impossible, here, everything seems like something that could happen. The tension in parts of the script is perfect. And, like with Hitchcock, the story works because it's the story of a common man caught up in an uncommon situation. Oh, and there are some rather nice and sophisticated camera angles throughout the film...not enough to distract, but enough to make you think several times, "Hey, that's cool".
Gregory Peck is perfect. Just perfect. Professorish without being a prude, brave enough to do what has to be done. And adequately tongue-in-check. The same can be said for Sophia Loren, although she's not the common woman here. But she plays it too a tee with just enough mystery to make you wonder.
Alan Badel is delicious as the villain! This is a film where you should just sit back and revel in sly comments, a great script, and the chemistry between Peck and Loren.
Highly recommended.