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

This film is included in the "Martin Scorsese Shorts" set, released by the Criterion Collection, spine #1,030.

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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

Referenced in American Dad!: The Best Christmas Story Never Told (2006)

User Reviews

Classic Black Comedy

Big Shave, The (1967)

**** (out of 4)

Six-minute short from the now legendary director feature a lot of his trademark even though this is basically just a student film. A young man goes in front of the mirror to shave and it goes fine until he decides to do it again and this time he butchers his face with the razor, which sends blood all down the sink. I've heard this was an anti-Vietnam film but I really didn't see it as such, although I guess you could draw a message out of what happens here. To me this is a wonderful little black comedy that's certainly going to hit home to anyone who has ever cut themselves shaving. The film doesn't go for minor little cuts but instead it's a real bloodbath and I might even go as far as to say this contains some of the most blood ever put on film during this time. You have the H.G. Lewis films of course and I can't help but wonder if Scorsese was a fan of those since there's a lot of the same humor here. The movie has a nice music score, great editing and in the end is just painfully funny.

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