Torn Curtain (1966)

Note to reader: this blog may seem dull because my thoughts on the film are a tad unfavourable.

Torn Curtain is one of those Hitchcock films that is not outstanding. There is something about this kind of film by Hitchcock that does not strike a chord. Torn Curtain is about a spy who goes into East Berlin during the times of the Iron Curtain, the title depicting a hole in this system.
What makes the film weak is that is spends too much time depicting the historical events that the story takes place in. True, Hitchcock does stay accurate in his account of the time, however, the general film suffers because it does not carry the psychological intrigue that he is more famous for. Other films he directed: Topaz, depicting the time of the Cuban missile Crisis, and, Under Capricorn, presenting characters living in colonial Australia are two other examples where Hitchcock gets too wrapped up in setting the stage, that the character depth is missing.
Films dealing with internal struggle: Marnie, Rebecca, Spellbound, and Shadow of a Doubt are all exceptional films and stand out on their own also. I think what sets the historical films apart from Hitchcock's internationally recognized films is that they feel more limited since they can appeal more to an audience who is interested in that particular issue in history. Nevertheless, it is unfair to say that these films have no character development, it is only that the flow of his film conventions are constantly being interrupted by needing to update the event unfolding, rather than the characters psychology.
This is also a shame because the two leading actors are indeed famous: Paul Newman, and Julie Andrews. For me personally Newman is mostly just a pretty boy, and Andrews will never get over her Disney-like persona, so I wasn't expecting much from this film. The fact that this film is also not as recognized as Hitchcock's other works, shows that this film does not have legs. The fact that I referenced half a dozen other Hitchcock films in this review also illustrates how this film has no legs (of course not that I'm obsessed with legs).
As an after thought, this film is worth watching if you really want to see the range of films that Hitchcock created during his career. Out of the three historical films I mentioned, I'd say Under Capricorn is the best (because there are some good plots twists going on).