IMDb > Torn Curtain (1966)
Torn Curtain
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Torn Curtain (1966) More at IMDbPro »

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Torn Curtain (1966) -- An American scientist publicly defects to East Germany as part of a cloak and dagger mission to find the solution for a formula resin and then figuring out a plan to escape back to the West.
Torn Curtain (1966) -- An American scientist publicly defects to East Germany as part of a cloak and dagger mission to find the solution for a formula resin and then figuring out a plan to escape back to the West.

Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   7,758 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Alfred Hitchcock
Writer:
Brian Moore (written by)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Torn Curtain on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 July 1966 (USA) more
Genre:
Mystery | Thriller more
Tagline:
Suspense! Azione! Sorpresa! [Suspense! Action! Surprise!] more
Plot:
An American scientist publicly defects to East Germany as part of a cloak and dagger mission to find the solution for a formula resin and then figuring out a plan to escape back to the West. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Geek Deal: Alfred Hitchcock Masterpiece DVD Collection for $54
 (From Slash Film. 28 October 2009, 9:32 AM, PDT)

15 Bloody Box Sets
 (From Fangoria. 19 January 2009, 8:00 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Stealing What's Locked Up in the Grey Cells more (100 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
128 min | Germany:126 min | France:126 min | Netherlands:118 min
Country:
USA
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
France:U | Spain:18 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Germany:12 (re-rated) (video) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating)
Filming Locations:
Berlin, Germany more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
According to the book "It's Only a Movie", Hitchcock said: "THERE WAS AN ENDING written which wasn't used, but I rather liked it. No one agreed with me except my colleague at home [his wife Alma Reville]. Everyone told me that you couldn't have a letdown ending after all that. Paul Newman would have thrown the formula away. After what he has gone through, after everything we have endured with him, he just tosses it. It speaks to the futility of all, and it's in keeping with the kind of naivete of the character, who is no professional spy and who will certainly retire from that nefarious business." more
Goofs:
Factual errors: When Professor Michael Armstrong (Paul Newman) is writing the address on a piece of paper in the beginning of the movie he writes: Kobenavn. The actual spelling is: Kobenhavn. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Professor Karl Manfred: Are they ever going to get the heating fixed?
Norwegian crewman: They are working at it, Professor. Perhaps some of you scientists would like to give us a helping hand!
more
Movie Connections:
References Psycho (1960) more
Soundtrack:
The Emperor Waltz (Kaiserwalzer, Op. 437) more

FAQ

Does Hitchcock have a cameo in "Torn Curtain"?
Is "Torn Curtain" based on a novel?
What was in the missing scene?
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8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful.
Stealing What's Locked Up in the Grey Cells, 23 June 2006
5/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

Paul Newman nuclear physicist has volunteered for an unusual espionage mission. He's to fake a defection in order to get close to East German scientist Ludwig Donath and find out what advances he personally has given the Soviet bloc.

As he says to agent Mort Mills, he's one of the few people in the world who would know exactly what to look for. The trick is to make Donath write it down.

Nice plan, except for that fact that intrepid Julie Andrews, Newman's fiancé suspects something's up and follows him first to Copenhagen and then East Berlin. It would have run so much easier without her, but then again there would have been no film.

This was Alfred Hitchcock's last star vehicle. His last three films were done with second rank players. At the time this was made Julie Andrews was fresh from Mary Poppins and had all kinds of roles offered her. I suppose she couldn't turn down a chance to appear in a Hitchcock film, but she and Newman really have no chemistry at all. I suppose Newman also wanted to work with Hitchcock.

There are some good moments in Torn Curtain. The highlight easily has to be the killing of an East German security agent by Newman and Carolyn Conwell with the creative use of a gas stove. The agent is played by German actor Wolfgang Kieling and has the best role in the film. Funny how during World War II, Germans were sometimes shown as colossally stupid, Kieling is not. He's a very tough and shrewd adversary who catches on to Newman's scheme and has to be eliminated.

Hitchcock also stole from himself here. The ride and Newman and Andrews take on a bus from Leipzig to East Berlin that is stage managed by David Opatoshu is ripped off from Saboteur and the bus passengers are just like the circus people in Saboteur. Good, but done before.

Devoted fans of the stars and of Alfred Hitchcock will want to see Torn Curtain, others might want to for curiosity's sake.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Torn Curtain (1966)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The murder scene is brilliant liron_zu
Shouting 'Fire' at the concert trickard
Boring... habler6
I Agree With Alma - The Ending Where He Burned the Formula Was Better murray_johnc
the polish baroness malena992
One of the best Hitchcock films i've seen skelter_68
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