Charade well worth watching

Those of you plan to see the upcoming release of the new Mark Wahlberg film, The Truth About Charlie, probably are unaware that it is a remake of Charade, a witty and charming classic film starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. The film was released in 1963, but unless your mother was a fan of old movies in general _ and Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant in particular (mine was!) _ you probably have not even heard of this movie.

Audrey Hepburn plays the young and beautiful Regina Lambert, who is frustrated by her husband's secretive business dealings. On a vacation she tells her friend that she plans to divorce him only to discover that when she returns to Paris, he's already been killed, and she is the prime suspect. Penniless, she accepts the help of Peter Joshua (Cary Grant), a very attractive friend she met on vacation.

Reggie soon finds out that her husband's secrets involved the theft of a large amount of money from both the American government and three of his associates.

All of them assume that Reggie has the money, and she feverishly tries to find it before one of them gets impatient and kills her. Meanwhile, she finds herself falling in love with Peter Joshua, but his name never seems to stay the same for more than 15 minutes, and he may very well be more interested in getting her money than her affections. The search for the money then becomes even more important, as many of the men following her mysteriously begin dying.

In the midst of all this intrigue, the film does not miss a chance to offer some comic relief. One of the funniest scenes is actually a funeral, when all of her husband's associates appear, each with their own peculiar manner of verifying Mr. Lambert's death.

As light as the movie is, it makes you care about the characters, and keeps you guessing about their true identities until the last scene.

The incredible chemistry between Hepburn and Grant supports the film's fast-pace and witty dialogue.

Audrey Hepburn plays Reggie perfectly. Thrown into a situation where she is absolutely clueless, Hepburn's trademark flair and simultaneous innocence reveal a character who is smart enough to figure out this mess. Hepburn plays Reggie as the kind of woman who will say exactly what she feels whenever she feels like it _ a refreshing mix of the clever and ridiculous, astute and utterly oblivious.

Cary Grant is also intriguing as the mysterious Peter. Grant combines his physical comedy from his earlier screwball works with intelligence and humor. Even though he is called Peter, Adam, Alexander, and other names throughout the movie, Reggie can't help but trust him.

The dialogue throughout the movie is wonderful to listen to, whether it's the villains discussing what's next or Reggie confiding in her friend Sylvie. The verbal sparring between Grant and Hepburn is strikingly humorous, especially when combined with the talented supporting cast, including a young Walter Matthau and James Coburn.

The last scene is especially suspenseful and includes a masterfully done scene in a closed theater with Reggie trapped by the men after her.

Charade reminds me that most of today's actors are shadows of the stars of Hollywood's golden age, and this isn't just nostalgia. Regardless of how The Truth About Charlie, is received (and so far, that's not very well at all), Thandie Newton is no Audrey Hepburn (although better than Jennifer Love Hewitt, who tried to play her in a made-for-TV movie) and Mark Wahlberg is certainly no Cary Grant.

You will not come away from watching Charade with the meaning of life, but you will have a great time and the chance to indulge yourself in a film from Hollywood's finer era.