The Razor's Edge (1946)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Edmund Goulding

Writers:

Lamar Trotti (screenplay)
W. Somerset Maugham (novel)

Release Date:

December 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Hunger no love . . . woman . . . or wealth could satisfy!

Plot:

A adventuresome young man goes off to find himself and loses his socialite fiancée in the process. But when he returns 10 years later, she will stop at nothing to get him back, even though she is already married.

Plot Keywords:

India | Paris | Will | Uncle | Engagement

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Tyrone Power	...	Larry Darrell
Gene Tierney	...	Isabel Bradley
John Payne	...	Gray Maturin
Anne Baxter	...	Sophie MacDonald
Clifton Webb	...	Elliott Templeton
Herbert Marshall	...	W. Somerset Maugham
Lucile Watson	...	Louisa Bradley
Frank Latimore	...	Bob MacDonald
Elsa Lanchester	...	Miss Keith
Fritz Kortner	...	Kosti
John Wengraf	...	Joseph - Gray & Isabel's Butler
Cecil Humphreys	...	Holy Man
Harry Pilcer	...	Specialty Dancer
Cobina Wright Sr.	...	Princess Novemali

Also Known As:

W. Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

145 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #11498) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Denver, Colorado, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Fox purchased the screen rights to the novel in March 1945 for $250,000 plus 20% of the net profits. To avoid another $50,000 specified in the contract if the principle photography was not started by 2 February 1946, producer Darryl F. Zanuck provided for location shooting in the mountains around Denver, Colorado (the Himalayas in the film) in August 1945. The cast had not yet been set, so the character of Larry was played by a double and seen only in long-shot. Zanuck hoped to get 'Tyrone Power (I)' to star and delayed casting until Power was released from military service in Januay 1946.

Quotes:

Elliott Templeton: The enjoyment of art is the only remaining ecstasy that's neither immoral nor illegal.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 20th Century-Fox: The First 50 Years (1997) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Miner's Song

Power's first post-war film about man's search for truth and salvation...

Tyrone Power's studio gave him an ambitious project when he returned from the war--a screen version of Somerset Maugham's 'The Razor's Edge', the story of a man's quest for his spiritual side and salvation. Opposed to his quest is the selfish, beautiful Isabel (Gene Tierney) who marries another man (John Payne) but later, out of jealousy, tries to prevent Power's marriage to her friend, Sophie (Anne Baxter). The best scenes in the film come in the final confrontation between Tierney and Power when she reveals what she has done to help destroy Baxter. Tierney excelled at playing jealous, possessive women (as in 'Leave Her To Heaven') and her Isabel is just another extension of other such roles. But she is ideal for the part and is strikingly attractive in one of her best roles. Power meets her only half way. His Larry is not quite strong enough to be the protagonist described in the Maugham novel. Other performances are excellent, especially Clifton Webb who was nominated for an Oscar as the prissy Elliot Templeton. Anne Baxter is moving as Sophie and deserved her Supporting Role Oscar. But the film, although interesting throughout, tends to be a rambling, overblown story that seems as cold as its central character. We always feel we're outside looking in. It lacks heart--but from what I've heard of the more recent Bill Murray film, it is superior to the remake.