The Truth Behind Audrey Hepburn and Carey Grant on the 1963 Film Set

What would you do if the man you loved was lying to you about virtually everything, including his real name? Hard to think about, right? Well, thankfully you don’t have to, because that’s the thrilling premise of the Charade movie!

Charade is the 1963 film that brought actors Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant together. It follows Hepburn as Regina, who discovers that her husband has died, leaving her to team up with the enigmatic Peter (Grant) in an effort to keep her late husband’s money out of the hands of criminals. But what happens with Peter turns out to be the biggest lie of them all!

The film is currently available for streaming on Tubi, and in honor of its 61st anniversary, we’ve uncovered some of the most fascinating behind-the-scenes facts.

The scene where Grant showers fully clothed wasn’t just for laughs. The actor and production decided that since Grant was nearly 60 years old—and overweight—it would be better for him and the viewers.

Right after filming Paris When it Sizzles (1964) ended, Hepburn immediately started shooting Charade. Both films are romantic comedies set in Paris, France.

Director Stanley Donen was a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock and used Charade to show his appreciation for the Master of Suspense. For instance, the boat kiss between Regina Lampert (Hepburn) and Peter Joshua (Grant) mirrors a scene from Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959). The opening credits also feature a spiral, reminiscent of Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958).

Due to these references, Charade is often dubbed “the best Hitchcock film Hitchcock never made.”

During the nightclub scene, Hepburn’s husband, Mel Ferrer, can be spotted smoking a cigarette in the background. The pair were married from 1954 until 1968 and had one child during that time.

Grant’s last film—Walk Don’t Run (1966)—features the actor whistling while making coffee. It turns out he was whistling the theme song of Charade. Who knew?

Charade features Hepburn and Jacques Marin, who plays Inspector Grandpierre. The two later worked together again in How to Steal a Million (1966), with Hepburn as Nicole Bonnet and Marin as the Chief Guard.

President John F. Kennedy makes a cameo in Charade—at least his portrait does. During the film’s final scenes at the United States Embassy, viewers can spot a portrait of President Kennedy in the secretary’s office. Sadly, President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, before the movie was released on December 5, 1963, so he never got to see his cameo.

If you want to experience Paris like Audrey Hepburn, visit the France Puppet Theater used in Charade. Known as The Théatre Vrai Guignolet, it is located at the Rond Point des Champs Elysées and has been the most famous puppet theater in the country since 1818.

During filming, Audrey Hepburn was known to smoke three packs of cigarettes a day. Cary Grant, who had also been a heavy smoker, quit in 1957. It remains unclear if Hepburn’s smoking habit affected him on set.

Source: Particle News