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Torn Curtain
- 145 statements
- 27 feature instances
- 3 referencing feature instances
| Torn Curtain | type |
TVTItem | |
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Torn Curtain | |
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Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_1'); })Torn Curtain is a 1966 political thriller, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Paul Newman and Julie Andrews.Michael Armstrong (Newman) is an esteemed American physicist and rocket scientist. He is supposed to attend a scientific conference in Copenhagen, but instead heads for East Berlin. Apparently defecting to East Germany. He is soon followed by Sarah Sherman (Andrews), his assistant and fiancée. She is very reluctant in doing so but remains loyal to him.The defection is actually a ruse. Armstrong wants to meet Gustav Lindt (Ludwig Donath), the chief scientist in the East German military, to establish the extent of the Eastern Bloc's knowledge on anti-missile systems. He supposedly has a way to exit the country at will. Stasi, the East German state security service, has a very different view on the matter. Armstrong and Sherman are about to find out that entering East Germany was easy. Leaving East Germany is another matter entirely.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_2'); })Generally viewed as a letdown after Hitchcock's remarkable decade-and-a-half run, faulted for an unengaging script and a lack of chemistry between Newman and Andrews (one writer observed that in their scenes together they seem like they're characters from two entirely different films). But it's still intriguing as Hitchcock's reaction to the James Bond series (which borrowed a lot of its style from his own North by Northwest), and for its colorful European setting and characters. | |
| Torn Curtain | fetched |
2022-12-10T00:43:30Z | |
| Torn Curtain | parsed |
2022-12-10T00:43:30Z | |
| Torn Curtain | processingComment |
Dropped link to BreakHerHeartToSaveHer: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN | |
| Torn Curtain | processingUnknown |
BreakHerHeartToSaveHer | |
| Torn Curtain | isPartOf |
DBTropes | |
| Torn Curtain / int_127fc252 | type |
Creator Cameo | |
| Torn Curtain / int_127fc252 | comment |
Creator Cameo: Hitchcock holding a baby on his knee in the lobby of the hotel in Copenhagen, while the score briefly plays the "Funeral March of a Marionette" riff. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_127fc252 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_127fc252 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
Torn Curtain / int_127fc252 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_13992073 | type |
Rasputinian Death | |
| Torn Curtain / int_13992073 | comment |
Rasputinian Death: Hermann Gromek, the first Stasi agent Armstrong attempts to kill, takes a good long while to go down, including spending most of the climactic fight with a butcher knife sticking out of his chest. Hitchcock's main goal with the film was to show how hard it could really be to kill someone. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_13992073 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_13992073 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
Torn Curtain / int_13992073 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_191a3673 | type |
Graceful Loser | |
| Torn Curtain / int_191a3673 | comment |
Graceful Loser: When Countess Kuchinska is unable to get away along with Michael and Sarah. She sadly notes her disappointment, but apparently doesn't blame the couple. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_191a3673 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_191a3673 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
Torn Curtain / int_191a3673 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_1fb4d915 | type |
The Stool Pigeon | |
| Torn Curtain / int_1fb4d915 | comment |
The Stool Pigeon: The driver of The Taxi who took Michael to the farmnote Played by Peter Lorre Jr., who wasn't Peter Lorre's son, but a guy named Eugene Weingand who changed his name to capitalize on his resemblance to Lorre informs the Stasi about the whole incident when he sees a news story about Gromek's disappearance. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_1fb4d915 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_1fb4d915 | featureConfidence |
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| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
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| Torn Curtain / int_34dd5f3 | type |
La Résistance | |
| Torn Curtain / int_34dd5f3 | comment |
La Résistance: Pi, the underground anti-Communist network that Michael works with. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_34dd5f3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_34dd5f3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
Torn Curtain / int_34dd5f3 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_39a63cd3 | type |
City of Spies | |
| Torn Curtain / int_39a63cd3 | comment |
City of Spies: East Berlin; not just the Stasi but Deep Cover Agents working against the Commies. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_39a63cd3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
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| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
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| Torn Curtain / int_3ed23024 | type |
Surprisingly Realistic Outcome | |
| Torn Curtain / int_3ed23024 | comment |
Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: It turns out that killing someone isn't as easy as it looks in the movies. This was a deliberate choice by Hitchcock because a number of spy thrillers at the time made killing look effortless. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_3ed23024 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
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| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
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| Torn Curtain / int_3eee0728 | type |
Captain Obvious | |
| Torn Curtain / int_3eee0728 | comment |
Captain Obvious: Upon being told that Michael is going to East Berlin, Sarah points out "But—that's behind the Iron Curtain!" Even the film's writers hated that line but Hitchcock refused to change it, probably because it functions as a semi-Title Drop. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_3eee0728 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_3eee0728 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
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| Torn Curtain / int_41a3e267 | type |
Hidden in Plain Sight | |
| Torn Curtain / int_41a3e267 | comment |
Hidden in Plain Sight: Professor Lindt's anti-missile equations are on a chalk board for any and all to see. Makes sense since he was working at a (supposedly) secure facility were only authorized personnel would be allowed inside. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_41a3e267 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_41a3e267 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
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| Torn Curtain / int_43b154c9 | type |
Not Even Bothering with the Accent | |
| Torn Curtain / int_43b154c9 | comment |
Not Even Bothering with the Accent: Michael and Sarah are frequently referred to as "the Americans," with Sarah even sponsoring someone's American citizenship - no one ever questions Julie Andrews's undisguised English accent. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_43b154c9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_43b154c9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
Torn Curtain / int_43b154c9 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_62fd5552 | type |
Bavarian Fire Drill | |
| Torn Curtain / int_62fd5552 | comment |
Bavarian Fire Drill: Michael shouts "Fire!" in a crowded theatre as a distraction to escape from the East German police. It's believed to be the only reason why the film was rated R before 1984. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_62fd5552 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_62fd5552 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
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| Torn Curtain / int_6b3c357e | type |
Ivy League for Everyone | |
| Torn Curtain / int_6b3c357e | comment |
Ivy League for Everyone: Averted with Michael, who teaches at the University of Chicago and got his doctorate at Caltech. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_6b3c357e | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_6b3c357e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
Torn Curtain / int_6b3c357e | |
| Torn Curtain / int_95b7c400 | type |
Faux Affably Evil | |
| Torn Curtain / int_95b7c400 | comment |
Faux Affably Evil: Gromek tries to ingratiate himself to Armstrong by noting that he lived in New York for a while, and expresses fondness for American culture, but he's too Obviously Evil for it to really work. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_95b7c400 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_95b7c400 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
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| Torn Curtain / int_964ea66c | type |
A-Team Firing | |
| Torn Curtain / int_964ea66c | comment |
A-Team Firing: When the bus is stopped, an East German soldier fires into the fleeing crowd with a fully automatic rifle, and we're later told only one person was even grazed. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_964ea66c | featureApplicability |
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1.0 | |
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| Torn Curtain / int_9da6354b | type |
Reality Has No Subtitles | |
| Torn Curtain / int_9da6354b | comment |
Reality Has no Subtitles: None of the spoken German is subtitled, but it's usually obvious what's being said. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_9da6354b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_9da6354b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
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| Torn Curtain / int_a6c69bd | type |
MacGuffin | |
| Torn Curtain / int_a6c69bd | comment |
MacGuffin: The Soviet Union's anti-missile system equations. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_a6c69bd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_a6c69bd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
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| Torn Curtain / int_b17f6a27 | type |
I Did What I Had to Do | |
| Torn Curtain / int_b17f6a27 | comment |
I Did What I Had to Do: Michael justifies his risky, reckless scheme by saying it will help America and ultimately help eliminate the nuclear threat, but he has to lie to his fiancée, then betray his East German hosts to accomplish it. Then he has to help cover up a killing. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_b17f6a27 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_b17f6a27 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
Torn Curtain / int_b17f6a27 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_b35e77ee | type |
Fake Defector | |
| Torn Curtain / int_b35e77ee | comment |
Fake Defector: Michael Armstrong uses defection to East Germany as a cover for helping America in the Cold War. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_b35e77ee | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_b35e77ee | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
Torn Curtain / int_b35e77ee | |
| Torn Curtain / int_be009bbc | type |
Alliterative Name | |
| Torn Curtain / int_be009bbc | comment |
Alliterative Name: Sarah Sherman. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_be009bbc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_be009bbc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
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| Torn Curtain / int_d001c42c | type |
Anti-Villain | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d001c42c | comment |
Anti-Villain: Karl Manfred, Michael's East German contact, holds Armstrong in high regard as a scientist and doesn't seem totally happy to be aiding the Stasi as they keep tabs on Michael. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d001c42c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d001c42c | featureConfidence |
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| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
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| Torn Curtain / int_d01cffbc | type |
Badass Longcoat | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d01cffbc | comment |
Badass Longcoat: Gromek's leather overcoat. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d01cffbc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d01cffbc | featureConfidence |
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| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
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| Torn Curtain / int_d129e13e | type |
"Eureka!" Moment | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d129e13e | comment |
"Eureka!" Moment: Lindt has one upon realizing he's been giving up his secrets while learning nothing from Armstrong in return. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d129e13e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d129e13e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
Torn Curtain / int_d129e13e | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d2b59903 | type |
Cool Old Lady | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d2b59903 | comment |
Cool Old Lady: Countess Kuchinska, a little eccentric but she sacrifices her own chance to get to America by helping the heroes get away. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d2b59903 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_d2b59903 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
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| Torn Curtain / int_e407c172 | type |
Silk Hiding Steel | |
| Torn Curtain / int_e407c172 | comment |
Silk Hiding Steel: The seemingly-simple farmer's wife seems quite knowledgeable about how to kill people and hide bodies. Presumably she's also a Pi agent with an intelligence background. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_e407c172 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_e407c172 | featureConfidence |
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| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
Torn Curtain / int_e407c172 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_eb8ec7c8 | type |
Jerkass | |
| Torn Curtain / int_eb8ec7c8 | comment |
Jerkass: The Ballerina. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_eb8ec7c8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Torn Curtain / int_eb8ec7c8 | featureConfidence |
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| Torn Curtain / int_edebe3c8 | type |
Plot-Based Voice Cancellation | |
| Torn Curtain / int_edebe3c8 | comment |
Plot-Based Voice Cancellation: Michael revealing to Sarah that he's a Fake Defector is depicted via a distant Silence Is Golden long shot. | |
| Torn Curtain / int_edebe3c8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
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Torn Curtain |
The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.
| Torn Curtain | hasFeature |
Dueling-Stars Movie / int_32d204e1 | |
| Films By Alfred Hitchcock | seeAlso |
Torn Curtain | |
| Torn Curtain | seeAlso |
Torn Curtain |
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Copyright of data TVTropes.org contributors under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.