Take a pair of very stylish, elegant actors. Put them in chic clothing, and place them into a film directed by Stanley Donen, with an intricate plot, in a European city during the 1960s. The film should be somewhat 'Hichcockian', both suspenseful, but humorous.
The film's title?
Charade?
No.
Arabesque. The (much) weaker bookend to Charade.
This film stars Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren, as the 'Cary Grant' and 'Audrey Hepburn', respectively.
As this film has comedy woven into its melange, there's a big problem if the actor doesn't have that innate gift.
Sadly, not only doesn't Mr Peck have it, but I found myself annoyed with him/his character during those moments, because rather than feeling then flow naturally, there's a very forced wooden-ness to it.
No one would ever think 'Cary Grant' when someone says, 'name a great comedic actor'., but as anyone who's ever seen a(ny) of his film's, even during the most thrilling moments - such as in North by Northwest, he would inject a bit of levity into it.
Not so with Mr Peck.
What I can't understand is HOW, when this film was still Inn is gestation, someone thought he'd be good for this role. Moreover, Mr Donen, who's known for his 'elegant soufflès' his film's are couldn't see it was the wrong thing.
Watching daily rushes, Peck's difficulty with this had to be obvious.
All I was able to think while watching this was imagining Mr Grant in the role... And Mr Peck as Joseph Mengele (he was in Boys From Brazil).
The surprising part - for me, at least, was Ms Loren.
In Charade, it was the gamine-like Audrey Hepburn swathed in Givenchy. Here, it's the body-opposite - all curves and... - wrapped in Dior.
She looks gorgeous. She even handles the humour a lot better than i thought.
The story's actually simple, but it's told in such a convoluted fashion, your have to wonder what those who made it must've thought as it was begging filmed.
The only 'good' thing about this fallen soufflé is that I immediately 'cleansed' myself by watching the one and only Charade. Again.
The film's title?
Charade?
No.
Arabesque. The (much) weaker bookend to Charade.
This film stars Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren, as the 'Cary Grant' and 'Audrey Hepburn', respectively.
As this film has comedy woven into its melange, there's a big problem if the actor doesn't have that innate gift.
Sadly, not only doesn't Mr Peck have it, but I found myself annoyed with him/his character during those moments, because rather than feeling then flow naturally, there's a very forced wooden-ness to it.
No one would ever think 'Cary Grant' when someone says, 'name a great comedic actor'., but as anyone who's ever seen a(ny) of his film's, even during the most thrilling moments - such as in North by Northwest, he would inject a bit of levity into it.
Not so with Mr Peck.
What I can't understand is HOW, when this film was still Inn is gestation, someone thought he'd be good for this role. Moreover, Mr Donen, who's known for his 'elegant soufflès' his film's are couldn't see it was the wrong thing.
Watching daily rushes, Peck's difficulty with this had to be obvious.
All I was able to think while watching this was imagining Mr Grant in the role... And Mr Peck as Joseph Mengele (he was in Boys From Brazil).
The surprising part - for me, at least, was Ms Loren.
In Charade, it was the gamine-like Audrey Hepburn swathed in Givenchy. Here, it's the body-opposite - all curves and... - wrapped in Dior.
She looks gorgeous. She even handles the humour a lot better than i thought.
The story's actually simple, but it's told in such a convoluted fashion, your have to wonder what those who made it must've thought as it was begging filmed.
The only 'good' thing about this fallen soufflé is that I immediately 'cleansed' myself by watching the one and only Charade. Again.