The Razor's Edge (1984)

He had everything and wanted nothing. He learned that he had nothing and wanted everything. He saved the world and then it shattered. The path to enlightenment is as sharp and narrow as a razor's edge.

Director:

John Byrum

Writers:

W. Somerset Maugham (novel), John Byrum (screenplay)

Stars:

Bill Murray, Theresa Russell, Denholm Elliott

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Murray	...	Larry Darrell
Theresa Russell	...	Sophie MacDonald
Catherine Hicks	...	Isabel Bradley
Denholm Elliott	...	Elliott Templeton
James Keach	...	Gray Maturin
Peter Vaughan	...	Mackenzie
Brian Doyle-Murray	...	Piedmont
Stephen Davies	...	Malcolm
Saeed Jaffrey	...	Raaz
Faith Brook	...	Louisa Bradley (Isabel's mother)
André Maranne	...	Joseph, the Butler (as Andre Maranne)
Bruce Boa	...	Henry Maturin
Serge Feuillard	...	Coco
Joris Stuyck	...	Bob MacDonald
Helen Horton	...	Red Cross lady

Storyline

Larry Darrell returns from the battlefields of World War I to America a different person. His fiance (Isabel) resigns herself to a delay in the wedding plans when Larry heads off to Paris. There he finds he prefers a simpler existence and begins to read. One book inspires him to visit India and on to Nepal where he finds spiritual help from a lama. On returning to Paris he finds Isabel and some old friends. Everyone has changed.

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Plot Keywords:

wedding | lama | india | buddhist | wounded soldier | 

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Taglines:

The story of one man's search for himself.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Goodman auditioned.

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Goofs

Sophie should change her look more, if she is escaping her old life.

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Quotes

Elliott Templeton: [Holding freshly made hot dogs at the fair] This is the singly most disgusting concoction in the culinary annals.
Louisa Bradley (Isabel's mother): That didn't stop you eating a dozen of them every 4th of July when you were a boy, Elliott.
Elliott Templeton: Well, this quaint little village may have been the place of my birth, but after 15 years in Paris, I have come to regard that as a most unfortunate accident of genetics.
Louisa Bradley (Isabel's mother): [laughing] Oh, Elliot, you are the biggest snob in the world!
Elliott Templeton: I sincerely hope so.
Larry Darrell: Nice looking dog you've got there, Unc!
Elliott Templeton: Oh, how ...

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Connections

Referenced in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy Is Bad at Math! (2015)

User Reviews

A True Test Film

This is one of those films that defines the difference between a "film" and a "movie". Maugham, in print form, often drags; Murray's senses of humor and timing eschew that hurdle and make a beautiful story of growth and epiphany accessible in just two short hours.

The "test" aspect for me here is simple and a bit autocratic, if not downright arrogant as Hell; I don't want to know well anyone who does not appreciate this film.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 October 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Razor's Edge

Filming Locations:

Belgium

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,411,311, 21 October 1984

Gross USA:

$6,551,987

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,551,987

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Colgems Productions Ltd., Marcucci-Cohen-Benn Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1