A French Intelligence Agent becomes embroiled in the Cold War politics first with uncovering the events leading up to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and then back to France to break up an international Russian spy ring. 'Torn Curtain' was the first in a line of troublesome Hollywood productions for Hitch, marred by studio interference and a desire to keep up with trends. [14] In this scene, Lynne Griffin's character Patti O'Connor delivers a monologue on a theater stage surrounded by her dead victims. She follows him there and is shocked when he announces that he's defecting to the East after the U.S. government cancelled his research project. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Behind That Curtain is a 1929 American Pre-Code mystery film directed by Irving Cummings, starring Warner Baxter and featuring Boris Karloff. The Iron Curtain is a 1948 American thriller film starring Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney, directed by William Wellman. Once inside, she finds out that Stryker has left her there alone and lets a group of young girls audition for the role of Audra, instead. Ciupka envisioned the film as more of an arthouse thriller, whereas Simpson wanted a more commercial slasher film, of the type in vogue at the time. Drama, Certificate: Passed It had its first DVD and Blu-ray release by Synapse Films in 2014. Torn Curtain (1966) - English Bibles Arrived in Copenhagen, Sarah (Julie Andrews), assistant and fianceè to American nuclear physicist Armstrong (Paul Newman) is shadowed by uninvited East-German professor Manfred (Gunter Stack), confusing the bookseller (Arthur Gould-Porter), and director Alfred Hitchcock’s plot thickening, in Torn Curtain, 1966. [22] Stephen Hunter, writing for The Baltimore Sun, noted that "the most affecting thing about Curtains is its melancholy subtext of failed career and unrealized aspirations," but concluded: "Only the presence of several slick professional actors—Samantha Eggar and John Vernon—and some glossy production values separate this pointless, thoroughly meretricious film from the cruder, rawer teenage hacker melodramas that it so resembles."[23]. Brian Orndorf of Blu-ray.com noted the film's haphazard construction, but praised its visuals, writing: Curtains isn't a single film, it's a handful of subplots and ideas competing for screentime under the guise of a traditional '80s-style slasher endeavor. [25], Dustin Putman of The Film File gave the film three out of four stars, writing: "the picture doesn't always play by conventional slasher rules and its more surrealistic aspects render it all the more fascinatingly esoteric. 20 of 26 people found this review helpful. Professor Michael Armstrong (Paul Newman) is heading to Copenhagen, Denmark to attend a physics conference accompanied by his assistant and fiancée Sarah Sherman (Dame Julie Andrews). [9] As a result, two sets of credits grace the ending of Curtains, divided between "Act I" and "Act II", denoting the two different, protracted production periods. Centered on theater and filmmaking,[2] its plot focuses on a group of actresses auditioning for a role in a movie at a prestigious director's mansion, where they are targeted by a masked killer. The killer ambushes her three times and Tara is able to fight them off, before hiding in a ventilation duct. Gorehounds will be disappointed as there is no blood in this one. ", "Collecting Life: An Interview with Samantha Eggar", "Curtains Unveiled: An Interview with Peter Simpson", "I, Audra: An Interview with Linda Thorson", "Losing Her Head: An Interview with Lesleh Donaldson", "Six for Her Scythe: An Interview with Lynne Griffin", "Revisiting Curtains: An Interview with Michael MacLaverty", "Blu-ray & DVD Release Details for 1983's Curtains", "It's 'Curtains' for careers: 2 pros are in a horror film", "Exclusive news/art: Canadian cult slasher "CURTAINS" on Blu-ray & DVD", "Dustin Putman's Review: Curtains (1983)", "FANS PETITION FOR DVD RELEASE OF "CURTAINS" AND "PROM NIGHT, "Echo Bridge Entertainment Releases 'The Midnight Horror Collection: Bloody Slashers, "Interview with Will Rahmer, Mortician's Vocalist & Bassist - February 2004", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Curtains_(1983_film)&oldid=996205309, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 25 December 2020, at 03:44. A rivalry develops between a showbiz veteran and an upstart newcomer. The girls spend their first night getting to know each other. She notices a small hand protruding out of the snow and uncovers a doll. In fact, Michael is there to obtain information from a renowned East German scientist. They fall from the second floor, with Stryker's body crashing through a window downstairs. "[28] John Kenneth Muir also praised the film, writing that "the murder scenes are staged with ingenuity," and noting that the film's "form nicely echoes its content."[29]. She follows him and realizes he's actually heading to East Germany, behind the Iron Curtain. Hitchcock's 50th movie, Torn Curtain, is considered by many experts to be a major disappointment, but I didn't see it that way. The scene on the icy pond is a slasher classic. [12], In preparation for the film's ice-skating sequence, actress Lesleh Donaldson was sent for skating practice by the film's producers. An ailing Poirot returns to Styles with Hastings nearly three decades after solving their first mystery there in order to prevent a serial killer from claiming more victims. The London police have a suspect, but he is the wrong man. Directed by Patrick Harkins. Which Is the Most Suspenseful Film of Alfred Hitchcock? [11] Writer Robert Guza Jr. returned to the project for rewrites under Simpson's supervision. Due to ill treatment by her scoundrel husband, an heiress (Lois Moran) returns to San Francisco from India with her lover (Warner Baxter). Panicked, Tara takes shelter in Stryker's expansive prop shed, where she discovers Laurian's body among the hanging mannequins and is pursued by the killer. Title: The film developed a cult following around the 2000s, with fans petitioning for an official DVD release. After Harry's body is found in the woods, several locals must determine not only how and why he was killed but what to do with the body. This resulted in various additional scenes being shot, many of which never made it into the final picture. [11], Deleted scenes included a backstory sequence where, prior to arriving at Stryker's retreat, Christie is emotionally rejected by her skating coach. The trouble with Harry is that he is dead and, while no one really minds, everyone feels responsible. This alternate ending was not used in the final cut of the film. A priest, who comes under suspicion for murder, cannot clear his name without breaking the seal of the confessional. The story of Soviet cypher-clerk Igor Gouzenko who was posted to the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa,Canada in 1943 and defected in 1945 to reveal the extent … It is about an American scientist who appears … [8] Wincott's death was originally filmed with him being killed on a snowmobile and then crashing into the library, scaring Sandee Currie's character. A serial murderer is strangling women with a necktie. Samantha tells Patti about Stryker's treachery for having abandoned her. Was this review helpful to you? Later on, while Laurian is dancing in her room upstairs, the killer sneaks in and stabs her to death. The fascinating backstory on Curtains is evident throughout the presentation, leaving the picture half-realized, shooing away substance to plow ahead with violence. She follows him and realizes he's actually heading to East Germany, behind the Iron Curtain. "[18] The Hollywood Reporter, however, gave the film a positive review, calling it "the classiest, most chilling thriller to come along in quite a while… rich in surprises of a gripping, sensuous nature. After having sex, Brooke and Stryker are both shot dead by a figure in a robe. The Tortilla Curtain. movies, before making this film, so his best work was behind him... Torn Curtain isn't a bad movie, it is just a bit dated even for it's time, his next movie,Topaz, isn't much better either You could watch both films back to back and not know, they were directed by Hitchcock... plus, this is the first film sans Bernard Herrmann... so it lacks a (1966). The masked killer with the sickle appears and attacks Christie. [32] This release featured generic cover art and a poor transfer from VHS source material. I feel that if this movie was remade with 2 people who were more suited to the roles, then this become a masterpiece. Centered on theater and filmmaking, its plot focuses on a group of actresses auditioning for a role in a movie at a prestigious director's mansion, where they are targeted by a masked killer. The movie cheats shamelessly. The scene in which Professor Armstrong murders Gromek is classic Hitchcock, and the blackboard scene between Newman and Donath is great, too. "[19] Joe Baltake of the Philadelphia Daily News noted that Vernon "projects a genuine aura of menace" and that Eggar is "saddled here with a character that looks like a practical joke by her agent," summing up the film: "The movie itself is never a mystery, never frightening, but is, instead, unrelievedly solemn, given to long, mournful pauses. Tara subsequently discovers the bodies of Brooke and Stryker, as well as Matthew, who had been murdered off-screen. Once arrived however, Michael informs her that he may be staying for awhile and she should return home. [24] It features a retrospective "Making of" documentary and vintage documentary footage, an audio commentary, and the film's original theatrical trailer. "[Alana] couldn't really accept the fact that all these corpses were somehow dragged together [by the killer] and put on a stage somewhere," recalls MacLaverty.[16]. American death metal band Mortician used a sample from Curtains as an introduction for the song "Audra" from their 2003 album Darkest Day of Horror. A Malibu couple and a group of Mexican illegal aliens are brought together by a car accident. It is not one of Hitch's top 10, but it is still a very good movie. When she leaves her car to move it, it grabs her hand as someone gets into her car and runs over her. Curtains is a 1983 Canadian slasher film directed by Richard Ciupka, written by Robert Guza Jr., and starring John Vernon, Samantha Eggar, Linda Thorson, and Lynne Griffin. "[17] Film critic Leonard Maltin also gave the film a negative review, calling it a "Badly conceived and executed horror opus. She also admits to having killed Stryker and Brooke. The next day, the other five women auditioning for the part of Audra arrive at Stryker's mansion: comedian Patti O'Connor, veteran actress Brooke Parsons, ballet dancer Laurian Summers, musician Tara DeMillo, and professional ice skater Christie Burns. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Raising the curtain — Skagit County movie theaters to reopen ... Movie theaters will have fewer films to screen because studios have pushed release dates into next year, he said. Is Brendan Fraser's reincarnation drama Behind The Curtain Of Night ever being released? [6], Lynne Griffin, who had previously appeared in the slasher film Black Christmas (1974), was cast in the role of Patti, the stand-up comic, and at the time had been working in local theater productions in Toronto. 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. Done. The film eventually was released on DVD on October 5, 2010, by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment as part of the Midnight Horror Collection: Bloody Slashers DVD collection, which also includes Secrets of the Clown, Hoboken Hollow, and Room 33, three direct-to-video B-movies from the 2000s. No official premiere for the film was done, though star Lynne Griffin recalled going to see the film on its opening night at a theater on the Lower East Side in Manhattan. But there was never a problem and she was very good with everything. It does have a lot going for it: spirited acting by a solid cast, a strong sense of atmosphere and suspense, and some great scenes. She attempts to flee the property, but discovers the cars inoperable and covered in snow. Thinking she has outsmarted the killer, Tara begins to climb out of the duct, only to be pulled back in and murdered with an axe, her screams echoing throughout the prop shed. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. Boom. Torn Curtain Reeves as Ted in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure was never taken seriously in movies like Speed, Point Break, etc. Some scenes finish with a closed curtain which is a neat idea and the final quarter of an hour are very good. Needless to say those 2 had their differences. The Action Scene: Alfred Hitchcock’s “Torn Curtain” and the Point of No Return. Use the HTML below. Certificate: M/PG [11][15] According to Michael MacLaverty, film editor for "Curtains, the alternate theater ending was ultimately discarded because Alana Simpson, then wife of producer Peter Simpson, felt it was "too improbable." I think that this movie suffers from the fact that the 2 main stars were really mismatched for Hitch. After she wakes up from her dream, a killer in a hag mask stabs her to death and takes her doll. The same for Andrews who was coming off Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Once arrived however, Michael informs her that he may be staying for awhile and she should return home. Later that day, a drunk Matthew rides away on a snowmobile, in search of Christie. It's a mess, but an entertaining one thanks to Ciupka's visual ambition and ensemble work from the oddball cast, who deliver the proper level of hysteria to assist what little suspense remains. Patti seems disappointed and angered by Samantha's confession, before revealing she had murdered the other women to win the role of Audra. There is a story that Hitchcock along with his wife insisted that Newman drink wine with them. Though a critical and box-office failure, the film became a staple of late night television. Meanwhile, Tara and Patti ponder Brooke's reason for claiming that Christie is dead, suspecting foul play. As she rests against a tree, the killer appears from behind and viciously decapitates her. The next morning, Christie goes to a nearby pond for ice skating. Behind the Curtain is a look into the murky world of dark money—massive amounts of it aligned to push a far-left agenda that would make even mainstream liberals shiver. Yet, there are some genuinely good scenes and frightening moments. A print of the film still exists. 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. View production, box office, & company info. 'The Iron Curtain' becomes, in a short time - the film doesn't arrive in an hour and a half - in a vibrant story of survival, in which the personal prevails above the general. The New York Times gave Curtains a middling review, saying: "This derivative Canadian thriller plays like a distaff version of Samuel Fuller's cult classic Shock Corridor fused rather crudely to a standard mad-slasher plot. Then, an unseen figure enters the tool shed, grabs a sickle, and sharpens it. Newman refused, wanting a beer instead and he wanted to drink it from the can! Mitch Albom: Hey, Gov. Alfred Hitchcock's 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). Thriller. And since the act of watching a movie is generally a sit-still-for-2-hours activity, there’s far less chance of interaction, even casual, than at a restaurant, bar or casino. The killer manages to wound her, but Christie is able to momentarily incapacitate the killer, escaping into the woods. In 1953, an innocent man named Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero is arrested after being mistaken for an armed robber. Nevertheless, when filming for that scene commenced, Donaldson tripped on the uneven ice and injured herself, resulting in a stand-in double being used for her long shots. [6] British actress Samantha Eggar was cast as Samantha Sherwood; Eggar stated she thought the characters in the film were "vaguely drawn", the end result "awful", and she took the role chiefly for the work and salary. A struggling actress tries to help a friend prove his innocence when he's accused of murdering the husband of a high society entertainer. In fact, Michael is there to obtain information from a renowned East German scientist. Mark marries Marnie although she is a habitual thief and has serious psychological problems, and tries to help her confront and resolve them. [10] The scene was shot two years after the initial production on a college campus, but never made it into the final cut. Directed by Hettie Macdonald. This is unfair, but it is true. This scene was intended to show the character's vulnerability when she is rejected again, this time by Stryker. This request mortified Hitch and his wife. Curtains is a 1983 Canadian slasher film directed by Richard Ciupka, written by Robert Guza Jr., and starring John Vernon, Samantha Eggar, Linda Thorson, and Lynne Griffin. Brendan Fraser became a movie star thanks to the huge success of The Mummy in 1999, and in addition to returning for two sequels, he also fronted hits like Journey To The Center Of The Earth.His career entered something of a fallow period following the latter 2008 blockbuster, but he's made a comeback … Written by Brian Moore, the film is set in the Cold War. Written by Samantha Sherwood, a beautiful actress and muse for director Jonathan Stryker, has herself committed to an asylum as a preparation for the titular role of a mentally unstable woman in a film called Audra.