The Naked Edge (1961)

Five years after George Radcliffe was the chief witness in a high profile murder case, his wife receives a blackmailing letter accusing him of the crime.

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

Joseph Stefano (screenplay), Max Ehrlich (novel)

Stars:

Gary Cooper, Deborah Kerr, Eric Portman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gary Cooper	...	George Radcliffe
Deborah Kerr	...	Martha Radcliffe
Eric Portman	...	Jeremy Clay
Diane Cilento	...	Mrs. Heath
Hermione Gingold	...	Lilly Harris
Peter Cushing	...	Mr. Evan Wrack
Michael Wilding	...	Morris Brooke
Ronald Howard	...	Mr. Claridge
Ray McAnally	...	Donald Heath
Sandor Elès	...	Manfridi St John
Wilfrid Lawson	...	Mr. Pom
Helen Cherry	...	Miss Osborne
Joyce Carey	...	Victoria Hicks
Diane Clare	...	Betty
Frederick Leister	...	Judge

Storyline

George Radcliffe's testimony sends Donald Heath to prison for murder and the theft of over 60,000 pounds. Soon after, Radcliffe invests a large sum of money in an ultimately profitable business venture. Martha Radcliffe begins to suspect her husband of the crime.

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Plot Keywords:

gagged | nosy wife | suspicious wife | tape gagged | tape over mouth | 

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Taglines:

Only the man who wrote "Psych" could jolt you like this!

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gary Cooper's final film, completed December 1960 (copyright 1961).

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Quotes

George Radcliffe: I thought is was Heath. I condemned the wrong man!
Martha Radcliffe: [With irony] So did I.

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Crazy Credits

"Ladies and gentlemen, you now know who killed Jason Roote. Please do not reveal the secret to anyone."

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Connections

Featured in Stars of the Silver Screen: Gary Cooper (2014)

User Reviews

Fantastic suspenseful thriller

This movie might have been called The Cutting Edge for all the boundaries of 1961 it pushed! It utilizes innovative camera and editing techniques that echo Alfred Hitchcock's scary scenes from Psycho, alludes to sex in a way few films had been able to do since the fall of the Hays Code, and put the word "naked" in the title!

Even the first shot of the film is unusual, making you wonder, "Why did they show that? What am I missing?" for the first of many times as the mystery continues throughout the film. A bead of sweat is shown running down Gary Cooper's face. He's in court, ready to testify as a key witness to a murder. His accounting condemns a man to life imprisonment, and the guilt rattles him after the trial. Years later, he's a successful businessman, and he and his wife Deborah Kerr are living a life of luxury. He receives a threatening letter, making Deborah doubt his testimony all those years ago. . .

The Naked Edge is one scary movie! I'm not his biggest fan, but Gary Cooper gives a more energetic performance than he usually does. Although Deborah's character isn't written to be the smartest tool in the shed, she does a good job exuding her fear and doubt without turning it into a melodrama. Usually, Gary plays likable, earnest roles. This is the only movie I've seen where Gary Cooper plays a bad guy! This one's pretty scary and very suspenseful, so rent it on Halloween and cuddle up to your honey—or don't. . .

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, there's one part of the movie that might that will make you sick. There's a scene where Deborah Kerr gets lost and when she runs up and down the streets, the camera is hand-held. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 August 1961 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

The Naked Edge

Filming Locations:

Old Bailey, London, England, UK

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,185

Company Credits

Production Co:

Baroda, Bentley Productions, Jason Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1