THE RAZOR'S EDGE

US, 1947, 146 minutes, Black and white.
Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, Clifton Webb, Herbert Marshall, John Payne, Anne Baxter, Lucile Watson,
Frank Latimore, Elsa Lanchester, Fritz Kortner.
Directed by Edmund Goulding.

The Razor's Edge was popular on its release in the mid-40s. Darryl F. Zanuck gave it excellent 20th Century Fox production values. It had a cast of stars at Fox and the film was detected by Edmund Goulding (Grand Hotel, Dark Victory, Nightmare Alley - with Tyrone Power).

Clifton Webb and Anne Baxter were nominated for Oscars in supporting roles. Webb is excellent - although the role is one which he did often seriously in Laura, comically as Mr Belvedere. Anne Baxter won the Oscar. - Herbert Marshal](who had appeared as Somerset Maugham in The Moon Is Down) is the author again.

While the film is set between the wars, it was considered relevant for those returning from action in World War Two. The film focuses on the average American man (echoes of The Great Gatsby) and shows him on a spiritual journey after his experience of the war. It is the portrait of a secular saint, detached from the American dream, wanting to journey inside himself and discover truth. While this may have been persuasive on paper and in the novel, it is not as convincing on the screen - no matter the good intentions of the film-makers.

Nevertheless, the film works as the screen version of a popular and respected novel. It was remade in the '80s, with Bill Murray in the central role.

1. The work of Somerset Maugham? His work considered as classic? The popularity of the film versions of his work? Maugham looking back over the decades of the 20th century and the experience of war, the American dream, the crash? The need for the spiritual journey in life? Meaning for the secular saint? The relevance of the film for the '40s? Later? (And the 1980s remake?)

2. Production values: black and white photography, the re-creation of America in the '20s, Paris in the 1920s? The glimpse of Asia? The musical score - especially the theme Mamselle for Sophie? The Oscar nominations and Anne Baxter's win?

3. The cast and their popularity at the time? Cinema images for the characters? The device of having Somerset Maugham in the story itself? Interpreting the meaning for the audience?

4. Maugham's interpretation of the spiritual journey? His comment about Larry Darrell and his achievement? The American man - symbolic, real? The quotation about the sharpness of the razor's edge for the spiritual journey?


5. Maugham as a character in the film: gentleman, author, reputation, English, a member of wealthy society, American scene, European scene, the range of friends, powers of observation, a device-given? The device of his voice-over commentary?

6. The focus on Larry: Tyrone Power and his reputation, the American man of the '40s? His experience of World War One, the man dying so that he could live? His background in Chicago, his friends? His love for Isabel and their engagement? But his hesitation, need for search?. Isabel's agreement - though trying to trick him out of it? The old friendships with Sophie and Gray? His being disliked by Isabel's family, especially Uncle Elliott? His break, Isabel's not being able to hold him? The journey to Europe, his work, seeming to 'loaf'? The importance of the encounter with the ex-priest, the discussions of belief, belief without God? The advice to go to the East? His talking with the religious authorities, the spiritual advice, living in the fast, working, living alone? The nature of his spiritual journey? The years passing and their effect on him? The encounter with Maugham on his return to Paris? Encountering Isabel and her family? Gray and his illness, the sequence of his healing Gray by hypnosis? The outing, on the town in Paris? The surprise meeting with Sophie? His return, helping her to become sober, proposing? Isabel taking Sophie in hand and brining her back to drink? her death and its effect on Larry? His visit to Uncle Elliott, getting him the invitation to the party before he died? The confrontation with Isabel? His future - the return to America, driving a taxi, the ordinary man? The film as a fable? A 20th century character - with spiritual potential? Can the character of Larry Darrell hold this weight of meaning?

7. Isabel and her place in Chicago society, beauty, arrogance, wealth? Her love for Larry? Her behaviour in society e.g. at parties? Her allowing Larry to go - yet trying to seduce him? Her marriage, her fondness of Gray, her children? The effect of the years, the 1929 crash? The new encounter with Larry, the re-awakening of her love? Her disgust at Sophie? Her jealousy, leading Sophie back to drinking? Larry's final confrontation and blaming her for Sophie's death? Her losing him? The sequences with Uncle Elliott? With Gray? The importance of the advice of Maugham especially at the end? The spoilt woman gaining only her selfishness?

8. The contrast with Sophie, the Chicago background, the party going, her delight? Her love for Bob? Friendship with Larry, the writing of poetry? The marriage, assisting Isabel? The accident and its effect? The background mention of her drinking? Her going to Paris, moral collapse, alcoholism? The visit to the cafe and her gauche behaviour, her brutal boyfriend? Larry's proposal, the party with Uncle Elliott, her being on the wagon, the visit with Isabel, her being tempted? Her collapse, return to the cafe, the encounter with Larry? The sad violence of her death? (An Oscar winning performance?)

9. Gray and wealthy Chicago families, a stolid but good citizen, friendships, love, marriage to Isabel, family, the crash, the collapse of health? His brittle marriage - based on fondness?

10. Uncle Elliott and his sister, the contrast between-the two? Clifton Webb and his expert performance in catty roles? Elliott as a character, American affluent, snobbish? The range of his contacts? His snobbish behaviour? Gossip? Title and crest? His dislike and disdain of Larry? Advice to Isabel? His illness, the party where Sophie was present and the discussion of alcohol? His death and his upset about the lack of invitation? His delight in getting it - though calling the princess a witch? His final words - declining the invitation because of a previous appointment with his Maker? The religious touch with the Catholic background?

11. Elsa Lanchester's brief sketch of Miss Keith, her fondness for Larry, the arrangements for getting the invitation to Elliott Templeton?

12. The importance of the sequence where Larry worked with the ex-priest, his listening, advice, drinking?

13. The background of eastern religions, Indian religion and the help to the journey within the self? How persuasive these sequences?

14. A sketch of American 20th century society, values, interactions, meaning?