Torn Curtain

PG

Now Playing

2 hr. 8 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

63%

32 Reviews

Tomatometer

52%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

American physicist Michael Armstrong (Paul Newman) shocks his friends and family by defecting to East Germany to work with the Soviets during the height of the Cold War. Even his fiancée (Julie Andrews) is surprised by the move, but when she follows him behind the Iron Curtain, she discovers that her husband-to-be isn't a spy, but a double agent working to discover Soviet nuclear secrets. As they plot a way to escape back to America, his cover is blown, putting both of their lives in jeopardy.

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harwee h

Solid film, but at this point, you can tell that Hitchcock was recycling his own tricks (shovel and knife, anyone?). However, contrary to the initial critical reception, which was not very positive, I find it to be a significantly better film and believe that it stands on its own merit

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/01/24

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the worst movies Hitchcock made! So boring..the only reason I held on was because Paul Newman was in in and I adore him…they could have used a prettier and better actress than Julie Andrews! I also hoped it would get better, but sadly it didn't …

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/21/23

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steve d

some of the worst work from all involved.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Liam D

One of Alfred Hitchcock (Stage Fright, The Paradine Case) weakest movies still has great lead performances by Paul Newman (Silent Movie, Hombre) and Julie Andrews (The Tamarind Seed, Trail of the Pink Panther)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/26/22

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xx x

One of my favourite Hitchcock movies. I often watch it along another Paul Newman similar film called The Prize (1963)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I was really getting into this at the start but this slows considerably as it approaches a conclusion. Aside from a memorable scene or two most of the acting, plot, and writing is perfectly acceptable but just never great.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Paul Newman

Professor Michael Armstrong

Julie Andrews

Dr. Sarah Louise Sherman

Lila Kedrova

Countess Kuchinska

Hansjörg Felmy

Heinrich Gerhard

Tamara Toumanova

Ballerina

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TIME Staff

TIME Magazine

Alas, good Hitchcock touches no longer make a good Hitchcock film, and Curtain falls, more redolent of mothballs than mystery.

May 7, 2020

Full Review

Penelope Houston

Sight & Sound

The chase is just cat and mouse with a clawiess cat. Not, of course, that Hitchcock's own claws are quite sheathed.

Apr 2, 2020

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

Much of the film is stunning.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 10, 2017

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

Coming on the heels of Marnie, ostensibly a film about Hitchcock's own desire to possess and ravage Tippi Hedren, (it) feels especially toothless, as if (he) was somehow exhausted from the film that might have (been) his ultimate cinematic exorcism.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 2, 2024

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Having seen it now, I realize that it is a dull and rather pathetic political thriller in which Hitchcock predictably fiddles with the clichés of the spy formula without any surprise. Full review in Spanish

Rated: 5/10

Apr 24, 2022

Full Review

Ian Cameron

The Spectator

It certainly deserves an honourable place among his second-division works, like Strangers on the Train.

May 7, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

American physicist Michael Armstrong (Paul Newman) shocks his friends and family by defecting to East Germany to work with the Soviets during the height of the Cold War. Even his fiancée (Julie Andrews) is surprised by the move, but when she follows him behind the Iron Curtain, she discovers that her husband-to-be isn't a spy, but a double agent working to discover Soviet nuclear secrets. As they plot a way to escape back to America, his cover is blown, putting both of their lives in jeopardy.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter: Brian Moore
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 5, 2016
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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