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The Prize

Play trailer Poster for The Prize 1963 2h 16m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A group of Nobel laureates descend on Stockholm to accept their awards. Among them is American novelist Andrew Craig (Paul Newman), a former literary luminary now writing pulp detective stories to earn a living. Craig, who is infamous for his drinking and womanizing, formulates a wild theory that physics prize winner Dr. Max Stratman (Edward G. Robinson) has been replaced by an impostor, embroiling Craig and his chaperone (Elke Sommer) in a Cold War kidnapping plot.
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The Prize

Critics Reviews

View All (10) Critics Reviews
Penelope Houston Sight & Sound Criticism retreats, disarmed, before a film which hardly even allows itself to become serious about the Nobel prize. Mar 11, 2020 Full Review James Powers The Hollywood Reporter Mark Robson's direction gives The Prize tension and humor, and a good deal of interesting characterization. The Prize should be a much discussed and popular attraction. Dec 26, 2018 Full Review Variety Staff Variety The Prize is a suspense melodrama played for laughs. Trouble is the basic comedy approach clashes with the political-topical framework of the story. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Sergio Benítez Espinof The film doesn't have a single rhythm drop. [Full Review in Spanish] Sep 4, 2019 Full Review Raquel Stecher Out of the Past The Prize is a Cold War thriller that doesn't take itself too seriously but really should have. It's a convoluted mess of a film. The dramatic and comedic elements clash and on the whole the story feels disjointed. Apr 24, 2019 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy For those into high-polish thrillers full of international intrigue and danger around every corner, this one's not to be missed, and a tightening of its midsection would have made it even better. Rated: 3/4 Jan 25, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (43) audience reviews
Jim H Great early 1960s film. Newman in a surprisingly different character as a Nobel winning writer. Cold War thriller in the footsteps of Hitchcock - screenplay by Ernest Lehman (North by Northwest). Elke Sommer is in it. It's fun. Never a dull second. Rare gem. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/27/24 Full Review Marvin G Underrated, I think. Sure, it's flawed and preposterous, but so are lots of adventure films and Alistair MacLean novels, but they're still diverting and pleasurable. Add in the charming performances of Newman (which is pretty much automatic), Elke Sommer, and Diane Baker, and you've got an entertaining romp across dozens of sets that doesn't take itself too seriously. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/16/23 Full Review Lee W Warmed over Hitchcock at best. Most notable for an extended sequence of Newman wearing a towel. There is a plot but any old plot will do when you have Newman nearly naked. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 09/05/20 Full Review Audience Member One of Paul Newman's rare, very forgettable films. Utter baloney: implausible, unrealistic, banal, a waste of Newman and the great Eddie Robinson. Truly boring. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review steve d The actors make the strange tone work. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review ashley h The Prize is an incredible film. It is about the Nobel Prize winners who come to Stockholm to receive their awards. Paul Newman and Edward G. Robinson give excellent performances. The screenplay is well written. Mark Robson did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama and mystery. The Prize is a must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Prize

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Cast & Crew

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Mark Robson

Director

Paul Newman

Andrew Craig

Edward G. Robinson

Dr. Max Stratman

Elke Sommer

Inger Lisa Andersson

Diane Baker

Emily Stratman

Micheline Presle

Dr. Denise Marceau

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The Prize

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Movie Info

Synopsis A group of Nobel laureates descend on Stockholm to accept their awards. Among them is American novelist Andrew Craig (Paul Newman), a former literary luminary now writing pulp detective stories to earn a living. Craig, who is infamous for his drinking and womanizing, formulates a wild theory that physics prize winner Dr. Max Stratman (Edward G. Robinson) has been replaced by an impostor, embroiling Craig and his chaperone (Elke Sommer) in a Cold War kidnapping plot.
Director
Mark Robson
Producer
Pandro S. Berman
Screenwriter
Ernest Lehman
Production Co
Roxbury Productions
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2009
Runtime
2h 16m
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