The Big Shave (1967)

In the process of shaving, a young man cuts himself. A lot.

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writer:

Martin Scorsese

Star:

Peter Bernuth

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Peter Bernuth	...	Young Man

Storyline

This short film is a metaphor for the Vietnam War. A man walks into a meticulously clean and sterile bathroom, concentrating on the polished porcelain and shiny metal motif. He then proceeds to shave. When his face is clean, however, he only continues to shave until he pierces through his skin. Blood covers him and falls around him, the red contrasting the perfect spotlessness of the bathroom.

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Plot Keywords:

no music during end credits | shaving | blood | three word title | razor blade | 

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Genres:

Short | Drama | Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Scorsese thought of it as a film about the effects of the Vietnam war and considered it at one point ending it with stock footage from that war.

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Crazy Credits

Whiteness - Herman Melville

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Alternate Versions

Some prints allegedly contain a final title card connecting the film to the Vietnam War, though such prints are no longer in circulation, nor is it on the videocassette version.

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Connections

Remade as The Big Shave (2015)

User Reviews

Excellent Martin Scorsese short film

The Big Shave (1967) D: Martin Scorsese. Peter Bernuth. Excellent Martin Scorsese short film about a young man who is shaving and cuts himself, with the results symbolic of the Vietnam War, which Scorsese was opposed to. The camerawork is fluid and flawless, the scene very bloody, but wonderfully done, one of the best short films I've seen. RATING: 9 out of 10.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

None

Release Date:

October 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Big Shave

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

6 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1