The Razor's Edge
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Movie Reviews of The Razor's Edge
Movie Review: Mumbo-Jumbo
Summary: 3 Stars
The beautiful Gene Tierney is lucky to have "Laura" and "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" to her credit because the wicked women she plays here and in "Leave Her to Heaven" (in both she engineers the deaths of sympathetic characters) might have typecast her. She has never been more ravishing than she is in "The Razor's Edge," which makes her various manipulations all the more cunning.
And in this story of a privileged young loafer in search of, well, maybe his soul (it's never made clear), it is Miss Tierney who nails the character in a single line: "Oh, Larry, what you need is a psychiatrist!" It would seem so. After almost two hours of rejecting her and lucrative jobs, we last see him alone on a tramp steamer bound for America to become a taxicab driver. This is a happy ending, by the way.
Tyrone Power is certainly sincere as the soul-searcher, and he does get to kiss Elsa Lanchester, with whom he would much later appear in "Witness for the Prosecution." Somerset Maughm made himself a character in the novel on which the film is based, and Herbert Marshall acquits himself nicely in the role. Clifton Webb is unusually effective as the kind of insufferable snob he also plays (with Tierney) in "Laura."
Maughm's stories are always engrossing, and this all-star screen adaptation is sinfully entertaining, given the restrictions at the time of Hollywood's production code and the Catholic Church's Legion of Decency. It is told on a broad canvas that cries out for real locations (Paris! London! India!) but is confined to lavish studio settings. Up for numerous Academy Awards, only Anne Baxter in a supporting role, as a dypsomanical widow, walked off with one.
Although Edmund Goulding directed, producer Darryl Zanuck called the tune, except for (literally) a little song Goulding composed that later became popular as "Mamselle." The black-and-white cinematography in this DVD transfer looks terrific, and there's a spare but gossipy commentary. Would that the script had more spiritual clarity and less moralizing. But at least it's better than the dismal 1984 remake (on actual locations this time) starring, of all actors, the comedian Bill Murray in his first dramatic role.
Movie Review: The Razor's Edge should have been used in the Cutting Room
Summary: 3 Stars
I have heard of both the movie and the book. I just recently was sent a copy of the book but I thought I'd check out the movie first (not my usual choice of order). I will gladly read the book because the movie suggests that there is a noteworthy story to be found in it. However, the film version (at least this one) does not carry the message well. Part of the problem is the acting. Tyrone Power is supposed to be a lost young man. The problem seems to be, however, that he is lost in trying to figure out the script. His emotions (or lack thereof) don't match the words he says nor the circumstances he's in. On a scale of 1-100 he has an emotional range of about a 5. To question all he questions and search as far as he searches, one would expect to see a brighter bulb burning inside.
The other problem with the movie (and maybe with the book as well-I'll know later) is that we have far too many cocktail parties and far too few trips to India. Much of this movie is clothed in formal wear as we see a man search for the real meaning of life. Clifton Webb's character has a lot to say about high society but little of it would be relevant to Tyrone Power's search. Hemingway may not be perfect but he had a far better concept of the issues present here. Imagine Jack Kerouac writing "On the Road" in the back of a limosine and you'll have an idea of the "meaning of life" that's depicted here.
Aside from Power's screen idol preformance, the rest of the cast goes from mechanical (Herbert Marshall) to near-great (Clifton Webb) but mostly just mediocre. The directing and film editing did not reach any great heights either. There were a few scenes where we wanted more such as the one with the miners in the tavern. However, those got short-changed in favor a lengthier romantic scenes (maybe those DID depict the meaning of life in some minds). At one point, we get such an awkward insert of a personal tragedy that it probably would have been better to depict the event through dialogue later on.
Oh well, "The Razor's Edge" is more about discovering the meaning of Hollywood than the meaning of life.
Movie Review: Entertaining but severely flawed.
Summary: 3 Stars
I am a huge Maugham fan and the novel on which this movie is based is nothing short of beautiful... he creates an entire world out of an admittedly artificial plot that would in the hands of lesser writers fall flat.
Sadly, that's what happens in this movie... the classic Hollywood actors, while charismatic in their own right, just don't pull this off. Tyrone Power is the WORST choice for Larry that could have been made (he looks like a banker here with his stiff posture and slicked back hair, certainly not like a vagabond loafer). Gene Tierney while perfect appearance wise for Isabel, played her far too coldly and one dimensionally. The actor who played Elliott was really good though.
Still, the movie is avant-garde for its times in certain scenes, and was enjoyable enough to watch. I'm just begging you to read the novel if you haven't already; there are some essential scenes that were left out of the movie, and the incredible detail of the book puts Larry's improbable spiritual journey into context (while in the film the enlightenment thing comes off laughably random). This movie simplifies way too much for my liking, in favor of overacting and the pace of an adventure movie.
Movie Review: Did people really live like this?
Summary: 3 Stars
This adaptation of Somerset Maugham's classic novel The Razor's Edge is a period piece that displays the craft of the major studios at its height. The film stays reasonably close to the novel, but the characters are far less nuanced. Gene Tierney's Isabel is a flighty socialite who sells herself for "a square cut diamond and sable coat," as Maugham in the role of narrator says. Uncle Elliot doesn't come off as the superficial, generous and ultimately heartbreaking character he is in the novel. And due to the mores of the time, the seedier side of Larry's (Tyrone Power) adventures is eliminated. Nevertheless, the movie is lavishly filmed, and you'll enjoy the country club dances, gorgeous decor, and spiffy dress. To get to the essence of why this book is Maugham's most well-known, however, read it.Movie Review: tyrone power messes up another one
Summary: 3 Stars
does it seem that ive been watching a lot of tyrone power movies? believe me, its purely coincidence as i get caught up on all these academy award winners. this adaptation of somerset maughams novel was a BIG movie when it came out, and sad to say (as usual) power was not up to the task. while clifton webb, anne baxter, and (even) gene tierney give strong performances, power is just not up to the task (and yes, folks, i DID see the bill murray movie, and yes, bill WAS better). the movies take on far eastern philosophy is shallow, and never having read the book (and its not in my top 500 to read) i dont know if the fault lies with maugham or 20th century fox or both. still, theres alot of fun opulence and hamminess to enjoy, so id recommend it to the curious.