Alfred Hitchcock returns to one of his familiar themes;namely the spy thriller,though the results are disappointingly mechanical and rather lethargic,with many scenes and situations recalling earlier,more superior efforts.Hitchcock was apparently unhappy with the lead casting,and it shows in a surprisingly dull performance from Paul Newman and a miscast Julie Andrews(why didn't they use an American actress?).Having said that,there are some good scenes,notably a brutal and prolonged murder sequence involving Communist agent Gromek(Wolfgang Kieling).This was apparently German actor Kieling's first English Language role,and he shows a considerable assurance in the part both in his accent and characterisation;his is easily the best performance in the film,and comes across as the most rounded,if not most sympathetic character,which makes his killing all the more shocking;Newman himself comes across as a bit of a incompetent bumbler,hardly the sort to be a double agent! Wolfgang Kieling's fine performance ensured other English-speaking roles in several other US and UK films.His role here though is still all too brief despite his modest excellence.
Later scenes are reworked from better Hitchcock films such as SABOTEUR, THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH and THE 39 STEPS which have some suspense and are quite well handled,but TORN CURTAIN arguably was the beginning of the winding down of Hitch's career;age and declining health ensured there would be only three more films after this:TOPAZ,FRENZY and FAMILY PLOT.One last point;how come there was panic in the theatre when Newman shouted "FIRE!!";it was in a German-speaking venue,not an English one! Enough people must have understood.
Later scenes are reworked from better Hitchcock films such as SABOTEUR, THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH and THE 39 STEPS which have some suspense and are quite well handled,but TORN CURTAIN arguably was the beginning of the winding down of Hitch's career;age and declining health ensured there would be only three more films after this:TOPAZ,FRENZY and FAMILY PLOT.One last point;how come there was panic in the theatre when Newman shouted "FIRE!!";it was in a German-speaking venue,not an English one! Enough people must have understood.