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 | female nudity | buddhist | 

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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

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 October 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Auf Messers Schneide

Filming Locations:

Belgium

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,411,311, 21 October 1984, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$6,551,987

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, 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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Scenes that were deleted from the final cut include:

• Larry and a Red Cross nurse in an ambulance, drinking beer from a stolen barrel.
• Larry reads a book in a seedy Paris café and sees a lesbian couple having a fistfight.
• Larry and Gray go out drinking in Paris and talk about Isabel on the night before they are sent to the battlefield.
• Larry tells Isabel about his quest as they stroll through a cathedral.
• An alternative ending in which Larry is working in a factory and leads his fellow workers in a rendition of "Frère Jacques".

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Quotes

Larry Darrell: [of the man who just died saving his life] He was a slob. Did you ever see him eat? Starving children could fill their bellies on the food that ended up in his beard and on his clothes. Dogs would gather to watch him eat. I've never understood gluttony, but I hate it. I hated that about you. He enjoyed disgusting people, being disgusting, the thrill of offending people and making them uncomfortable. It was despicable. You will not be missed.

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Connections

Remake of The Razor's Edge (1946)

User Reviews

Very well done

This adaptation of Somerset Maugham's novel is wonderful in so many ways. The dialogue is well written, the actors and actresses involved are excellent and believable in their roles, and the screenplay is spiritually faithful to the novel.

Theresa Russel is a gem in this movie, as the troubled Sophie, but it is Bill Murray's portrayal of Larry that truly stands out here ... mainly because, as far as I know, this is his only non-comedic role.

One of the best movies I've seen!