Charade

     A woman, Regina Lampert, plans to divorce her husband, until she learns that he's been murdered.  Upon meeting a mysterious man at a ski resort, she's suddenly thrust into a thoroughly engaging spy plot.

     Take the delightful Audrey Hepburn, pair her with the suave Cary Grant, throw in a delicious Henry Mancini score, and presto!  you've got the wonderfully entertaining comedy/thriller "Charade" from 1963.  It's almost impossible not to have a goofy smile plastered across your face while watching "Charade".  Apart from the heavenly pairing of the two lead actors, who have impeccable chemistry, by the way- we also get Walter Matthau, George Kennedy, and James Coburn in fabulous supporting roles.  Almost at times coming off like an Alfred Hitchcock film, "Charade" echoes not only Hitchcock but Blake Edwards as well.  To describe "Charade" best, think "Breakfast At Tiffany's" meets "North By Northwest", and you get the picture.  Full of running jokes and colorful characters, "Charade" is an oddly underrated classic- I'm not sure why, because it has all the ingredients of a great movie.  Director Stanley Donen, as mentioned above, directs as if he actually is Hitchcock, and Hepburn and Grant spout off sparkling dialogue throughout the film.  To make matters worse, this was Hepburn and Grant's only screen pairing together, which is a shame.  They both shine here, and seem to fully enjoy working together.
     So if you're in the mood for a clever and witty mixture of suspense, intrigue, romance, and humor, complete with some fantastic location shots, "Charade" is the perfect cocktail for you.  A lovely time capsule of the 1960's, "Charade" is a thoroughly enjoyable and funny "whodunit" that will keep you guessing right up to the climax.  And it's damn near impossible to get Henry Mancini's sensational score out of your head, especially the title tune!