The music heard in the film was written by john addison, but an alternate score by famed cinematic composer bernard herrmann has also been released on cd no less than three times, alfred hitchcocks torn curtain. Because of marnie, hitchcock bowed to pressure from universal and did two things that undermined the whole operation. The booklength interview hitchcocktruffaut one of the greatest texts about how filmmakers make films that you will ever read, was first published in 1966, at which point alfred hitchcocks newest film was torn curtain, from that summer. Universal executives were keen for torn curtain to be a return to hitchcocks paramountera films, with big name stars and colourful locations. Hitchcock emphasizes this visual concept of film making whenever he discusses his own films, and in seeing his fiftieth, torn curtain, it would be wise to take the hint. This video contains both bernard herrmanns cue and addisons cue for the killing scene. Rate your music is an online community of people who love music. Im uncertain when beauty meets abuse torn curtain loves all ridicule tears, tears rolling back the. Hitchcock makes you feel trapped in cold war era east berlin. For about six months after world war ii, steelnerved hitchcock was asked to edit together a documentary film about concentration camp atrocities.
Lew wasserman lobbied hard for younger lead actors and the studio persuaded the director. Earlier in the film, she flew to east berlin on the same airplane as armstrong. Torn curtain certainly had the potential to put hitchcock back on top, but several adverse factors threw a wrench into the directors plans. As armstrong goes undercover to glean topsecret information, the couple find themselves running for. Torn curtain was one of the rare hitchcock films from his classic era which did not feature a score by bernard herrman. Hitchcock emphasizes this visual concept of filmmaking whenever he discusses his own films, and in seeing his fiftieth, torn curtain, it would be wise to take the. Torn curtain 1999 american physicist michael armstrong paul newman shocks his friends and family by defecting to east germany to work with the soviets during the height of the cold war. It lacked the humor and sparkle characteristic of a hitchcock. Torn curtain is a 1966 political thriller, directed by alfred hitchcock and starring paul newman and julie andrews michael armstrong newman is an esteemed american physicist and rocket scientist. Hitchcock emphasizes this visual concept of filmmaking whenever he discusses his own films, and in seeing his fiftieth, torn curtain, it would be wise to take the hint. Paul newman as an scientist looks unconvincing enough.
Earlier in the film, she flew to east berlin on the same airplane as armstrong, and mistakenly believed the press were there to greet her. Torn curtain, american spy film, released in 1966, that was notable for being one of alfred hitchcocks leastsuccessful productions michael armstrong played by paul newman is a famous american physicist who travels to copenhagen with his fiancee, sarah sherman julie andrews, to attend a scientific conference. Moores final draft, completed by june 21, pleased neither hitchcock nor universal. This film, torn curtain, would be the final collaboration between hitchcock and herrmann but it wouldnt even survive to see its completion. Torn curtain simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Reviews for these films torn curtain and topaz said that hitch seemed tired and his plotting slack. Torn curtain is a movie where the three acts are clearly delineated. Start an into film club or log in to rate this film.
He is supposed to attend a scientific conference in copenhagen, but instead heads for east berlin. Filled with backstage information, publicity stills, the original ending as well as scenes edited for time and content. He didnt have very much to say about it to francois truffaut, skimming over a few sequences, point out one that did what he wanted it to, and grousing. In 1965, michael armstrong paul newman, a us physicist and. The immediate reaction to torn curtain was that it was no north by northwest but as hitchcock once stated most films should be seen more than once and, on second viewing, torn curtain emerges as a perfectly legitimate hitchcock picture. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Torn curtain is alfred hitchcocks 50th film, and while it doesnt rank with his greatest like psycho, vertigo, rear window etc. Hitchcock wanted a score with a riveting title and love theme. 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. Scenes rescored with bernard herrmanns original music score. With paul newman, julie andrews, lila kedrova, hansjorg felmy. The suspense of torn curtain is by nature not as thrilling as that in the average hitchcock film much of it involves sitting still and wondering if the bad guys are getting closer. It is about an american scientist who appears to defect behind the iron curtain to east germany. Hes reluctantly joined by his assistant and fiancee sarah, whos unaware that his decision is actually.
It is unfortunate that such a wonderful association and friendship would be utterly decimated over a film. John addison, addison, john torn curtain 1966 film. Worldfamous scientist michael armstrong paul newman and his fianceeassistant, sarah sherman julie andrews, travel to copenhagen for a physics conference. While torn curtain may not be up to the level of his greatest, it is a film in which the suspense is maintained, the pacing is brisk, and theres a few prime sequences that reflect the director at his best. Torn curtain reveals another play torn curtain, such an expose. The suspense of torn curtain is by nature not as thrilling as that in the average hitchcock filmmuch of it involves sitting still and wondering if the bad guys are getting closer. When you rate your music, the sites musicsocial recommender can recommend similar music and. Torn curtain is a 1966 movie directed by alfred hitchcock and starring paul newman and julie andrews.
Hitchcocks cameo in torn curtain 1966 occurs about 8 minutes into the film hitchcock is sat in the hotel dangleterre english hotel foyer nursing a small child. Hitchcock remarks on his inspiration for torn curtain, i got the idea from the disappearance of the two british diplomats, burgess and maclean, who deserted their own country and went to russia. Overview of torn curtain, 1966, directed by alfred hitchcock, with paul newman, julie andrews, lila kedrova, at turner classic movies. Torn curtain maybe not his masterpiece or cant be classifed as the greatest. Michael armstrong newman is an esteemed american physicist and rocket scientist. And while neither film pops like his best work, the bedrock of oblique politics ruptured by spectacular. Torn curtain is most interestingand thus suspensefulwhen it coils his idea of masochistic romantic devotion around cold war politics, which it ditches for shaky spy movie handmedowns. I am posting this video for non profit and research purposes only. While they are attending the ballet and waiting for the pickup, they are reported to the police because they were spotted by the lead russian ballerina tamara toumanova, who bears a bit of a grudge. Prelude torn curtain bernard herrmann previously unreleased 12. Torn curtain is a 1966 film about an american scientist who publicly defects to east germany as part of a cloak and dagger mission to find the solution for a formula resin and then tries to figure out a plan to escape back to the west directed by alfred hitchcock. Torn curtain 1966 alfred hitchcock the movie title stills. The ship torn curtain bernard herrmann previously unreleased.
Nov 16, 2012 worldfamous scientist michael armstrong paul newman and his fianceeassistant, sarah sherman julie andrews, travel to copenhagen for a physics conference. The bluray disc of torn curtain comes with a small gathering of extras, all culled from the 2001 dvd torn curtain rising from the 2001 dvd 32. Its long winded, messy, and the leads suffer from reverse polarity for most of the movie. Torn curtain is a 1966 american political thriller film directed by alfred hitchcock and starring. Torn curtain 1966 alfred hitchcock the movie title. Torn curtain is, however, worth seeing for one standout scene alone. It took me a long time to put the music and the scenes together. Newman is assigned a bodyguard, played menacingly by kieling, who he manages to slip away from in order to rendezvous with a. Sep 07, 2012 this video contains both bernard herrmanns cue and addisons cue for the killing scene. Nowadays, torn curtain comes with as poor a reputation as any late hitchcock. Written by brian moore, the film is set in the cold war. This is because i can feel every moment of the struggle movements, struggling of paul newman for survival.
Torn curtain 1966 the alfred hitchcock wiki the hitchcock zone. But this movie is still a decent movie from director alfred hitchcock. Plot when michael armstrong paul newman, an esteemed professor and rocket scientist, begins acting suspiciously, his assistant and fiancee, sarah sherman julie andrews, follows him to east germany. Financial analysis of torn curtain 1966 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. With me, i easily pick bernard herrmanns cue for the killing scene. And when it tries to be socially relevant, its kitschy. Alfred hitchcocks film torn curtain had two scores written, but only one was used. In the spring of 1965, hitchcock met with cary grant but the actor was already committed to filming walk, dont run in tokyo and was planning to retire afterwards. Torn curtain was a dreadful picture, hopelessly boring and static with a flat script and lifeless performances from its principal players.
A cold war spy thriller from master of suspense alfred hitchcock that was considered racy for its time, torn curtain sees us scientist michael armstrong publicly defect to communist east germany. Read the full synopsis of torn curtain, 1966, directed by alfred hitchcock, with paul newman, julie andrews, lila kedrova, at turner classic movies. Torn curtain is a political thriller film directed by alfred hitchcock, featuring his trademark characters and camera techniques. Torn curtain rising actor trev broudy narrates this 32 minute documentary of the making of torn curtain. Torn curtain is a 1966 american political thriller film directed by alfred hitchcock and starring paul newman and julie andrews. Paul newman, julie, andrews, lila kedrova, wolfgang kieling, hanshoerg. It is set mainly in east germany during the cold war and tells the story of a scientist played by newman who pretends to betray his country, the united states of america to the ussr in order to gain vital information about a new weapon which the soviet union is building. The film needed a dramatic counterpoint in order to retain at least the appearance of suspense.
Movie typography from the film torn curtain 1966, directed by alfred hitchcock, starring paul newman, julie andrews, lila kedrova, hansjorg felmy. Although it seems like its doing an oversimplification in its storytelling. One example would be the museum of east berlin sequence where newman attempts to elude his assigned americanslangtoting bodyguard. This music effectively captures the romance and danger of hitchcocks unique vision. Alfred hitchcocks espionage thriller torn curtain 1966 is a riveting spy caper that sees double agent michael armstrong paul newman having to escape from east berlin during the cold war era alongside his devoted fiancee sarah julie andrews. Torn curtain 1966 letterboxd social film discovery.
When sarah mistakenly intercepts a message meant for armstrong, she believes that he is secretly defecting to east germany. Herrmann and hitchcock the torn curtain the bernard. Julie andrews and paul newman start in love, quickly drift apart, then. Following the completion of marnie, hitchcock began planning to fulfil his longheld desire to film an adaptation of j. Once there, however, he informs sherman that he is flying to east berlin. John addison composed and conducted the score to the 1966 film torn curtain, directed by the legendary alfred hitchcock, and that score is made available on this cd. Beginning with the exciting, energetic main title, addison moves on to capture many moods in. Torn curtain is a 1966 political thriller, directed by alfred hitchcock and starring paul newman and julie andrews. It is a pity that torn curtain is hitchcocks fiftieth film. The radiogram torn curtain bernard herrmann previously unreleased 14. Torn curtain 1966 prelude to a movie the setup alfred.
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