#21 "Charade" (1953)

Stats: 1953. Starring James Mason & Pamela Mason. Not Rated.

Background: I’d never heard of this film before I saw it was a special feature on the dvd of the 1963 Charade.

Reactions: Charade is a collection of three short films. James and Pamela Mason wrote and starred in each film. The movie begins in the Masons’ home; James is an actor and Pamela is a writer, and he decides they should make short films based on three of her stories. Each film begins and ends with the Masons discussing the film, which lends a connectedness to the stories that would not otherwise be present.

Story #1 is about a divorcee living in Paris. She’s an artist, albeit an unsuccessful one. The woman who lives in the apartment next door plays the piano incessantly—and not very well, at that! One night, the artist hears the woman’s piano being played, but the pianist is quite talented, so she knows the woman must have a guest. She then hears arguing, followed by silence. She opens her door but turns off her light, and she sees a man exit the neighbor’s apartment. When the woman’s body is discovered the next day, the artist knows she saw the killer. Rather than report to the police what she saw, she hopes to see the killer again—he is a strange inspiration for her art. When he moves in next door—into the same apartment as the girl he killed—the two begin a relationship. I won’t tell you how it ends, but you can probably guess!

Story #2 focuses on a duel. It’s really not interesting enough for me to even describe it in detail. Basically, two men love the same woman, they agree to a duel (with some strange terms), and no one dies. The story had the opportunity for some major twists, but it didn’t capitalize on any of those opportunities. This story is much duller than the first.

Story #3 is the story of a man who has millions of dollars and a successful company but isn’t happy with his life. One day, he walks away from it all. He takes a variety of menial jobs and ends up as a butler for an old millionaire. He falls for the maid, and in a desire to impress her, he returns to his business. (Side note: Two of the men who work for him are named Rosencrantz and Guildenstern … an odd shout-out to Hamlet.)

I would never buy this film, but it’s fine as a special feature. I find it odd that it’s coupled with the 1963 Charade—the only thing the two films have in common is their name!

Verdict: Keep (because there’s no way I’m getting rid of the other Charade!)