Movie and Fun Fashion: The Truth About Charlie (2002)

“The Truth About Charlie” (2002) is a movie which starred Mark Wahlberg and Thandie Newton. When the movie was being hyped in the media, I listened to an interview with Mark Wahlberg discussing his character. He played an American agent who was assigned to a post in Paris, France. He said to make his character more believable, he decided to wear a beret. He figured since he was an American agent performing “undercover” activities, wearing the beret might help him blend in and be less noticeable.

Hmmm? Interesting fashion tip! Come to think of it, I don’t often see American men wearing berets. But I guess the men in France wear a beret?

Here's the answer to that question.

It turns out that berets were adopted by the French military. In the 1920s, a beret became a popular fashion accessory for both men and women. However, according to Trip Advisor, it's mostly just tourists you will see wearing the felt berets.

I am American and went to Catholic school. Our school uniform included a yellow beret. I rather like wearing berets. In USA not many men wear berets but women often sport them to accessorize their outfits.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

How to Style a Beret like an American | STYLE REPORT MAGAZINE (archived copy)

Beret Style Inspiration - How to Wear a Beret

The Truth About Charlie Movie Review (2002) | Roger Ebert

 

** Do you like wearing a beret?

I do.  When I was younger, my choice would have been a RED beret. Now that I’m older, my color pick is BLACK. 

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IT'S A REMAKE!

NOTE:  This movie is a modern remake of an old movie classic ~ “Charade” (1963) ~ which starred Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.  Since I am a loyal Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn fan, in my humble opinion, the remake did not hold a candle to the original.  But it was still fun to watch. Why not watch both of them back-to-back.  Great for Friday night OR Saturday afternoon at the movies.

Vintage Classic Movie vs Modern Remake: “The Manchurian Candidate”

“The Manchurian Candidate,” which was released in 1962 and starred Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey, along with Angela Lansbury, is now a vintage classic movie.

♦ Lifting a description from Wikipedia, this movie is a "Cold War neo-noir suspense thriller".

In 2004, "The Manchurian Candidate” was given an extreme makeover. It was updated - from Cold War to Gulf War - and the remake, which starred Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep, actually had the blessings of Tina Sinatra, daughter of the late Frank Sinatra.

♦ By contrast, the description supplied by Wikipedia for the remake is "science fiction political-thriller film".

The movies were film adaptations based on a 1959 novel written by Richard Condon.

Both films are worth watching. But only one of them is the best!

In my opinion, the 1962 version is the best! I love Frank Sinatra.

Actually I was impressed with the 3 leade characters in the 1962 film. You might be interested in these pieces of trivia about Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, and Angela Lansbury from the 1962 production of The Manchurian Candidate. These details highlight behind-the-scenes drama, casting surprises, and even on-set injuries.

Frank Sinatra — injuries, rumors, and long-buried rights issues

• Sinatra injured his hand during the famous fight scene with Henry Silva. Accounts differ on whether it was a broken finger or a broken wrist, but all sources agree he kept filming, and the injury never healed properly.  

• No stunt doubles were used in the fight scene between Sinatra and Henry Silva — every punch was real. 

• Rumors long circulated that Sinatra pulled the film from distribution after JFK’s assassination, but the real story is more tangled: the film initially bombed, United Artists reneged on royalty agreements, and when the rights reverted to Sinatra in 1972, his lawyers suppressed the film out of anger at how he’d been treated. It only resurfaced when Sinatra hired new lawyers.

The film was rarely available between 1962 and its 1988 reissue, contributing to its cult mystique and fueling decades of speculation about its disappearance. 

• Sinatra’s commitment to the project was unusually personal; he championed the film creatively and professionally, and his performance as Major Bennett Marco is often cited as one of his strongest dramatic roles. (Supported by general critical acclaim.)

Angela Lansbury — a shocking role and a casting fight

• John Frankenheimer personally insisted on casting Angela Lansbury, having worked with her previously on All Fall Down. This was not a studio choice but a director-driven decision.

• Lansbury’s performance was so powerful that she earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and won a Golden Globe.

• Modern audiences often know Lansbury as the warm, grandmotherly figure from Murder, She Wrote or Disney films, but in 1962, she was already known for playing schemers and antagonists, so the role wasn’t as against type at the time as it seems today.

• Fun international trivia: the French title of the film was Un Crime dans la Tête (“A Crime in the Head”), and the Italian title was Và E Uccidi (“Go and Kill”).

Laurence Harvey — nationality surprises and character intensity

• Harvey was British, despite playing the all-American war hero Raymond Shaw. Angela Lansbury was also British, making both mother and son in the film “Fake Americans.”

• His performance as the brainwashed assassin is widely regarded as one of the film’s most chilling elements, contributing significantly to the movie’s lasting impact. (Supported by general critical acclaim.)

REFERENCES:

Contributors to TV Tropes (aka Tropers). “The Manchurian Candidate Trivia.” TV Tropes, 6 May 2012, https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Trivia/TheManchurianCandidate.

Angus, Elinore. “Is The Manchurian Candidate Based on a True Story?” Facts.Net, 27 Jun. 2023, https://facts.net/movie/46-facts-about-the-movie-the-manchurian-candidate/.

♦

In Memory Of:
Laurence Harvey (1928 – 1973)
Frank Sinatra (1915–1998)

Angela Lansbury (1925-1922)

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The Pink Panther (1963) ~ Both the Movie and the Soundtrack are Classic!

The Pink Panther is a 1963 British comedy film.

Both the Movie and the Soundtrack are Classic!

Peter Sellers was the perfect person to play the clumsy French detective Jacques Clouseau.  His job is to prevent a notorious thief from stealing a world famous jewel known as "The Pink Panther" which belongs to a princess.

Image credit: Amazon

The Pink Panther Theme Music ~ youtu.be/lp6z3s1Gig0 

The Pink Panther | Soundtrack Suite (Henry Mancini) ~ youtu.be/ilull9eS3mQ 

I like the original music from the original Pink Panther movie. Henry Mancini won an award for it and he said he can't believe he received an award for making up such fun music. 

They remade the Pink Panther movie in 2006 ("The Pink Panther 2") and it starred Beyoncé and Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau. Beyoncé also contributed to the soundtrack. I didn't care too much for the remake or the music from the remake. Even though I enjoy the comedic genius of Steve Martin, he could not top Peter Sellers.  I'm sure even Mr. Martin would agree with me.

Nope!  My mind was not changed, The original movie released in the 1960s and the soundtrack to the movie are both vintage classic memorable entertainment!

I would not recommend the 2006 remake; however I would recommend:  "The Return of the Pink Panther" (1975); "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" (1976); or any of the many other sequels to the original Pink Panther movie which starred Peter Sellers.  I would also recommend the hilarious animated TV series "The Pink Panther Show" (1969).


The Pink Panther | film by Edwards [1963] | Britannica

** In Memory Of:

Peter Sellers CBE (1925-1980)

David Niven (James David Graham Niven) (1910-1983)