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Torn Curtain Overview:

Torn Curtain (1966) was a Mystery - Thriller/Suspense Film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and produced by Alfred Hitchcock.

SYNOPSIS

Middling Cold War Hitchcock features one of his starriest casts. Newman plays a nuclear physicist who goes undercover in East Germany to recover a secret formula. Once behind the Iron Curtain, he and fiancee Andrews have to get out alive.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Torn Curtain BlogHub Articles:

Torn Curtain (1966)

By Beatrice on Jun 16, 2019 From Flickers in Time

Torn Curtain Directed by Alfred Hitchcock Written by Brian Moore 1966/US Universal Pictures/Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions First viewing/Netflix rental The Master disappoints in this, his 50th film.  Still quite watchable though if only to gaze at Paul Newman and Julie Andrews in their prime. Pr... Read full article

Two Critics Pan Hitchcock’s Torn Curtain

By Judy on Jul 6, 2018 From Cary Grant Won't Eat You

Friends and fellow film buffs: Brian Wilkins and Mike Gutierrez have written wonderful guest posts here at Cary Grant Won’t Eat You—Brian, on fighting in Sword and Sandals films, and Mike, on his ideal casting for Hitchcock remakes. Today they’re joining the second annual Alfred Hitchc... Read full article

Two Critics Pan Hitchcock’s Torn Curtain

By Judy on Jul 6, 2018 From Cary Grant Won't Eat You

Friends and fellow film buffs: Brian Wilkins and Mike Gutierrez have written wonderful guest posts here at Cary Grant Won’t Eat You—Brian, on fighting in Sword and Sandals films, and Mike, on his ideal casting for Hitchcock remakes. Today they’re joining the second annual Alfred Hitchc... Read full article

Torn Curtain (1966)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Sep 27, 2016 From 4 Star Films

Torn Curtain was Alfred Hitchcock’s fiftieth feature in an illustrious career. Though he was arguably on a slow decline, the film still channels the Cold War sentiment and the age of the spy thriller, while taking hold of the director’s fascination in the everyman.  The storyline unwinds as... Read full article

Torn Curtain (1966)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Sep 27, 2016 From 4 Star Films

Torn Curtain was Alfred Hichcock’s fiftieth feature in an illustrious career. Though he was arguably on a slow decline, the film still channels the Cold War sentiment and the age of the spy thriller, while taking hold of the director’s fascination in the everyman.  The story line unwinds as Pro... Read full article

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Torn Curtain Quotes:

Professor Gustav Lindt: I forbid you to leave this room!
[first lines]
Professor Karl Manfred: Are they ever going to get the heating fixed?
Norwegian crewman: They are working at it, Professor. Perhaps some of you scientists would like to give us a helping hand!
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Torn Curtain Facts
One of the reasons Alfred Hitchcock did not want to use Paul Newman and Julie Andrews was their very high fees.For the rest of his career Hitchcock would never hire performers with the same sort of fee or above.
A scene showing actor Wolfgang Kieling, who played Gromek, also playing Gromek's brother was cut. In it he shows Michael Armstrong (Paul Newman), who has just killed Gromek, a picture of Gromek's three children. It was believed that this would have shifted the audience's sympathy away from Newman to the dead man. Unfortunately, a close-up of the brother cutting a sausage with a knife similar to the one used in the murder, a characteristically Hitchcockian shot, was also lost.
According to Truffaut/Hitchcock Interview, Alfred Hitchcock told Truffaut that he is giving "Gromek's brother" scenes to Truffaut. Truffaut told Hitchcock that he will look at these scenes and then turn them over to Henri Langlois for the Cinematheque Francaise. But it has yet to be found and is generally considered to be lost.
The Scenes with Gromek's older brother was originally part of the final cut. Wolfgang Kieling (Gromek in this film) wrote in his autobiography that it was Paul Newman who wanted Gromek's older brother scenes to be removed from the final cut. Wolfgang Kieling also played Gromek's older brother. Bernard Herrmann composed 2 cues for Gromek's brother scenes. They are called "Photos" and "Sausage."
According to the book "It's Only a Movie", Brian Moore was chosen to write the screenplay, but shooting began before Hitchcock was satisfied with the script, dictated by the limited availability of Julie Andrews.
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