{"id":19518,"date":"2011-09-12T10:03:17","date_gmt":"2011-09-12T17:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19518"},"modified":"2021-01-25T16:41:31","modified_gmt":"2021-01-25T23:41:31","slug":"torn-curtain-1966","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19518","title":{"rendered":"Torn Curtain (1966)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;It takes a scientist to pick a scientist&#8217;s brain.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Poster-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-19519\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Poster-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Poster-669x1024.jpg 669w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Poster.jpg 980w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nThe fiancee (Julie Andrews) of an American physicist (Paul Newman) is distressed to learn that he has seemingly defected to East Berlin, where he hopes to learn mathematical secrets from a famed nuclear scientist (Ludwig Donath).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cold War<\/li>\n<li>Hitchcock Films<\/li>\n<li>Julie Andrews Films<\/li>\n<li>Paul Newman Films<\/li>\n<li>Scientists<\/li>\n<li>Spies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nCritics have long debated whether this late-life entry in Hitchcock&#8217;s estimable oeuvre &#8212; his fourth-to-last film &#8212; is a complete clunker, or simply a lesser effort by an acknowledged genius. My personal assessment is the latter, given that it remains a positive delight in comparison with Hitchcock&#8217;s one GENUINE &#8220;clunker&#8221; &#8212; the frightfully boring (and mercifully Peary-omitted) <em>Topaz<\/em> (1969). With that said, of course it&#8217;s true that <em>Torn Curtain<\/em> is far from Hitchcock&#8217;s best, and there are certainly signs that his cinematic vision was beginning to waver. Jeffrey Anderson of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.combustiblecelluloid.com\/classic\/torncurt.shtml\">Combustible Celluloid<\/a> labels it as &#8220;a strangely muted, dull effort&#8221;, and this description is somewhat apt: in some ways, Hitchcock seems to be simply moving his characters through a series of scenarios which lack the punch or overtly cynical humor of similar earlier efforts. The fault seems to lie largely in Brian Moore&#8217;s script, which even Hitchcock himself professed to be displeased with; and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0061107\/trivia?tr=tr0766769\">Bernard Herrmann&#8217;s would-be score<\/a> is also sorely missed.<\/p>\n<p>Yet there remain a handful of gripping scenarios &#8212; including the infamous &#8220;kitchen murder scene&#8221; (which Hitchcock intended to show just how challenging it can really be to kill a man):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Murder2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Murder2-1024x558.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"349\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65937\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Murder2-1024x558.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Murder2-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Murder2-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Murder2-768x418.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Murder2-1536x837.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Murder2-496x270.png 496w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Murder2.png 1823w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; the scene in which Newman finally converses with Professor Lindt, racing against time to get (and memorize) critical mathematical information before he&#8217;s found out:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Math.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Math-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Math-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Math-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Math-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Math-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Math-1536x832.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Math-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Math.png 1825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and the nerve-wracking bus ride sequence out of Berlin. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Bus.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Bus-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Bus-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Bus-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Bus-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Bus-768x417.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Bus-1536x833.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Bus-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Bus.png 1827w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In general, I find the last 45 minutes or so of this over-long film to be its best, given that everyone&#8217;s finally on the move and we&#8217;re held in genuine tension about whether or not Newman and loyal Andrews (doing her best in a virtually thankless role) will be able to make it out. While <em>Torn Curtain<\/em> isn&#8217;t must-see viewing for all-purpose film fanatics, it&#8217;s certainly worth a look by his fans. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>John F. Warren&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Andrews.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Andrews-1024x551.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"344\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65941\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Andrews-1024x551.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Andrews-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Andrews-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Andrews-768x413.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Andrews-1536x826.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Andrews-502x270.png 502w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Andrews.png 1816w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine period detail and sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Hotel-Berlin.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Hotel-Berlin-1024x552.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"345\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65939\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Hotel-Berlin-1024x552.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Hotel-Berlin-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Hotel-Berlin-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Hotel-Berlin-768x414.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Hotel-Berlin-1536x828.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Hotel-Berlin-501x270.png 501w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Torn-Curtain-Hotel-Berlin.png 1831w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though naturally diehard Hitchcock enthusiasts won&#8217;t want to miss seeing it at least once. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0061107\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1966\/07\/28\/archives\/screen-torn-curtain-at-3-theaterssinatra-picture-also-begins-run.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.combustiblecelluloid.com\/classic\/torncurt.shtml\">Combustible Celluloid Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1747hitc.html\">DVD Savant Review (scroll down)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/25195\/torn-curtain#articles-reviews?articleId=64120\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/torn-curtain\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;It takes a scientist to pick a scientist&#8217;s brain.&#8221; Synopsis: The fiancee (Julie Andrews) of an American physicist (Paul Newman) is distressed to learn that he has seemingly defected to East Berlin, where he hopes to learn mathematical secrets from a famed nuclear scientist (Ludwig Donath). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Cold War Hitchcock Films Julie Andrews Films Paul Newman Films Scientists Spies Review: Critics have long debated whether this late-life entry in Hitchcock&#8217;s estimable oeuvre &#8212; his fourth-to-last film&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19518\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19518"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65942,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19518\/revisions\/65942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}