The Prize

Play trailer

The Prize

1963

2h 16m

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

66%

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 Max Stratman (Edward G. Robinson) has been replaced by an impostor, embroiling Craig and his chaperone (Elke Sommer) in a Cold War kidnapping plot.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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

Ted F

Saw this on TCM. A real disappointment considering the cast. A terrible, faux Hitchcockian script is the main culprit of this poor film. A nice score by Jerry Goldsmith.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/19/25

Full Review

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

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

Torn Curtain

63%

52%

Torn Curtain

Watchlist

Harper

95%

73%

Harper

Watchlist

The List of Adrian Messenger

64%

66%

The List of Adrian Messenger

Watchlist

Seven Days in May

92%

89%

Seven Days in May

Watchlist

Marnie

80%

72%

Marnie

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now