- Actors: Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, John Payne, Anne Baxter, Clifton Webb
- Directors: Edmund Goulding
- Writers: Darryl F. Zanuck, Lamar Trotti, W. Somerset Maugham
- Producers: Darryl F. Zanuck
- Language English, French
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Fox
- Run Time: 145 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000057YK9
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 12,458 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The newly released DVD of 20th Century Fox's production of W. Somerset Maugham's "The Razor's Edge" is a cinematic treasure. The direction by Edmond Goulding is top notch and captures the glamour and decadence of post World War I Paris in glittering perfection. Much praise must go to the art and set direction by Richard Day and Nathan Juran. Over 80 sets were constructed; some only glimpsed for a few moments evoke the period and splendor of the time and place. The production values of this picture are of the highest quality of this, Fox's "Important Picture for 1946".Goulding was famous for long takes and he is aided by the brilliant cinematographer Arthur C. Miller. The score by Alfred Newman is magnificent though surprisingly sparse for a film from the 1940's His use of source music and songs of the period help to inform the viewer of character and mood. His main theme is majestic and stirring and its reprise at the end is something near to epic played against a close-up of Tyrone Power and dissolves into the crashing waves against a tramp steamer.
Though a little too old and too handsome for the role of Larry Darell Tyrone Power, turns in a beautifully felt performance of a man in search for himself and his place in the world. A very modern and complex idea for the 1940's involving a trip to India and consultations with a guru. Gene Tierney is perfect as the woman who loves him and will stop at nothing to get him. This underrated beauty gives one of her best performances in an unsympathetic role. Anne Baxter, who won her Oscar as Sophie, is at times touching, real and yet manages to chew her share of the scenery toward the end of the picture. She is just plain fun to watch. But the picture is completely stolen by the wonderful, prissy and perfect performance of Clifton Web. His bravery as an actor in his last scene when he cries "There are going to be fireworks" is to be applauded. He perfectly captures the futile collapse of a shallow man as not many in Hollywood at that time might have dared.
There is one scene that epitomizes the skill and craft of film making in the end of the golden age and that is the chapter on the DVD entitled "Last Fling". All the powers of the actors, director, cinematographer, set designers, lighting technicians, and composer come together in this nearly silent montage and the subsequent scene at dawn in Tierney's Paris apartment. Larry's and Isabel's night on the town moves through a sumptuous Paris nightclub, to a Russian restaurant, and on to a hot jazz club where a fist fight ensues. Watch the extras in this scene. They are the stars here and each have a tale to tell in there brief moments on screen. I was reminded of Scorsese's Coconut Grove scenes in "The Aviator" by this impeccably directed montage and wondered if it had in fact influence him being the film historian he is.
But the best is yet to come, upon arriving home Isabel and Larry move through a brilliantly choreographed scene that leads up to a kiss and then a rejection. There is no dialog, only the pantomime of the actors and the accompaniment of the musical score. In this we learn all we need to of her motives and desire and his reaction and acceptance. It is very sexy and intense and the only bit of clothing that is lost is her shawl. It is brilliant and movie storytelling at its best.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
20th Century Fox presents "THE RAZOR'S EDGE" (1946 145 min/B&W) -- Starring: Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, John Payne, Anne Baxter, Clifton Webb & Herbert Marshall
Directed by Edmund Goulding
After several years' service with the Marines in World War II, Tyrone Power made his much anticipated return to the screen in The Razor's Edge. Power is appropriately cast as disillusioned World War I vet Larry Darrell, who returns from hostilities questioning his old values. To find himself, Larry joins several other members of the Lost Generation in Paris. He is disillusioned once more when the society woman whom he loves, Isabel Bradley (Gene Tierney), marries another for wealth and position. She returns to Larry's life to break up his romance with unstable, alcoholic Sophie MacDonald (Anne Baxter in a powerhouse Oscar-winning performance). After Sophie's death, Larry determines that the life offered him by Isabel is not to his liking, and continues seeking his true place in the scheme of things.
The Razor's Edge was based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham, who appears on screen in the form of Herbert Marshall. The film re-teamed Tierney and Webb two years after their appearance together in Laura (1944)
The Razor's Edge garnered an Oscar win for Anne Baxter and nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Clifton Webb) and B&W Art Direction.
BIOS:
1. Edmund Goulding Director)
Date of Birth: 20 March 1891 - Feltham, Middlesex, England, UK
Date of Death: 24 December 1959 - Los Angeles, California
2. Tyrone Power
Date of Birth: 5 May 1914 - Cincinnati, Ohio
Date of Death: 15 November 1958 - Madrid, Spain
3. Gene Tierney
Date of Birth: 19 November 1920 - Brooklyn, New York
Date of Death: 6 November 1991 - Houston, Texas
4. John Payne
Date of Birth: 28 May 1912 - Roanoke, Virginia
Date of Death: 6 December 1989 - Malibu, California
5. Anne Baxter
Date of Birth: 7 May 1923 - Michigan City, Indiana
Date of Death: 12 December 1985 - New York City, New York
6. Clifton Webb [aka: Webb Parmalee Hollenbeck]
Date of Birth: 19 November 1889 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Date of Death: 13 October 1966 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California
7. Herbert Marshall
Date of Birth: 23 May 1890 - London, England, UK
Date of Death: 22 January 1966 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 145 min on DVD ~ 20th Century Fox ~ (May 24, 2005)
Directed by Edmund Goulding
After several years' service with the Marines in World War II, Tyrone Power made his much anticipated return to the screen in The Razor's Edge. Power is appropriately cast as disillusioned World War I vet Larry Darrell, who returns from hostilities questioning his old values. To find himself, Larry joins several other members of the Lost Generation in Paris. He is disillusioned once more when the society woman whom he loves, Isabel Bradley (Gene Tierney), marries another for wealth and position. She returns to Larry's life to break up his romance with unstable, alcoholic Sophie MacDonald (Anne Baxter in a powerhouse Oscar-winning performance). After Sophie's death, Larry determines that the life offered him by Isabel is not to his liking, and continues seeking his true place in the scheme of things.
The Razor's Edge was based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham, who appears on screen in the form of Herbert Marshall. The film re-teamed Tierney and Webb two years after their appearance together in Laura (1944)
The Razor's Edge garnered an Oscar win for Anne Baxter and nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Clifton Webb) and B&W Art Direction.
BIOS:
1. Edmund Goulding Director)
Date of Birth: 20 March 1891 - Feltham, Middlesex, England, UK
Date of Death: 24 December 1959 - Los Angeles, California
2. Tyrone Power
Date of Birth: 5 May 1914 - Cincinnati, Ohio
Date of Death: 15 November 1958 - Madrid, Spain
3. Gene Tierney
Date of Birth: 19 November 1920 - Brooklyn, New York
Date of Death: 6 November 1991 - Houston, Texas
4. John Payne
Date of Birth: 28 May 1912 - Roanoke, Virginia
Date of Death: 6 December 1989 - Malibu, California
5. Anne Baxter
Date of Birth: 7 May 1923 - Michigan City, Indiana
Date of Death: 12 December 1985 - New York City, New York
6. Clifton Webb [aka: Webb Parmalee Hollenbeck]
Date of Birth: 19 November 1889 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Date of Death: 13 October 1966 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California
7. Herbert Marshall
Date of Birth: 23 May 1890 - London, England, UK
Date of Death: 22 January 1966 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 145 min on DVD ~ 20th Century Fox ~ (May 24, 2005)
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
In 1946 this movie won the Academy award for best supporting actress "Anne Baxter." There is an all star cast including Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney. With all the star power the actors did not outshine the characters they were portraying. I will always thing that Somerset Maugham looks like Herbert Marshall. The screenplay by Lamar Trotti stuck close to the book and message of W. Somerset Maugham. A few adventures were compressed and maybe an improvement as far as this media goes. Tyrone Power ...Larry Darrell did get to do some things that were acts of W. Somerset Maugham in the book and it was difficult to imagine Gene Tierney ...Isabel Bradley was supposed to be a pudgy child. Over all this is a story of different people from different backgrounds and how they deal with adversity. The main character has to figure out in his mind, why someone else died to save his life at the very end of the war? Does he figure it out?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Razor's Edge - Not sharp enough!
This film is enjoyable but rather too long. It is clearly intended as an epic tale of rejecting materialism and finding spiritual fulfilment in the aftermath of the first world... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Colin W
Great film combines several genre
Tyrone Power is great in this but so are the supprting cast,Ann Baxter, Gene Tierney et al.
Several strands to this story romance,betrayal, murder,spiritual... Read more
Several strands to this story romance,betrayal, murder,spiritual... Read more
Published 18 months ago by DALLAS
Razors Edge
One of the Classic's - Great to watch it again. So many memories
came flooding back
came flooding back
Published 19 months ago by David L. Osland
Too long, too pretentious and too much Power
A film which - to borrow Shaw's words about Henry James - has "chewed off more than it can bite", 'Razor's Edge' manages to last for long 140 minutes or so without hardly a single,... Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2009 by Richard Bowden
Darryl F. Zanuck wrestles with enlightened goodness in Somerset...
What if Somerset Maugham had written a novel about a coal miner who decided to search for transcendental enlightenment by trying to join a country club? Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2008 by C. O. DeRiemer
The Search for Meaning...
Tyrone Power comes back to the US from the Great War wanting to find the meaning of life, or at least his own life...fiancee prefers him to settle down in a nice broking firm. Read more
Published on 25 Jan 2002 by Ian Millard
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