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The Razor's Edge (1946)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
4/21
4/21:
I first watched the Bill Murray version of The Razor's Edge before finding out
later that it was a remake of the 1946 picture.
One thing is for sure: they're both bad films. While the similarities are obvious, there are significant differences
such as the weird inclusion of the book's author W. Somerset Maugham among the fictional characters.
Yes, the story is mildly interesting, but it's hollow in execution. The chief problem starts with the central star, and
then there's the lack of character development for everybody else. I've rolled my eyes at the sight of the "Indian"
guru who's played by a white guy named Cecil Humphreys. Good job, Mr. Darryl F. Zanuck, for failing big time.
Tyrone Power plays Larry Darrell, a man who's supposedly achieved enlightenment after a long search for meaning
of life by finding it deep in the mountains of India during a mere visit. Well, for the life of me, he looks practically
the same before and after the "transformation." That being said, Tyrone Power is clearly miscast as he's only 40% effective.
Either William Holden or Montgomery Clift would've done a better job of handling such a difficult role. In reality, Larry
just wants to be a lazy fuck; therefore, we should pass along the weed to him.
Next is Clifton Webb. He's good, if boring and silly to listen to, for a curmudgeon, but when his character passed
away at the end, I didn't care. Just die, so this overlong movie can end already. On the other hand, I'm not sure why
Larry bothered showing up given the guy never cared for him.
Battling against Herbert Marshall and Anne Baxter, the ever-gorgeous Gene Tierney can be great at times but loses her way
by falling prey to typical soap opera tendencies. At least, she looks fantastic in a dress. Baxter may have won the Oscar for
Best Supporting Actress, but she fails to give me any reason to merit it after playing a boring, melodramatic Lost Weekend
character. However, I like Herbert Marshall's presence for the sake of balance.
The Razor's Edge is more of a showy picture because of the grand in/exterior sets. What good are they if I can feel nothing
for anyone? No, that wasn't India but (a fake backdrop of?) Denver, Colorado. What annoys me to no end is how the camera moves
in a rigid path as the characters have memorized their blocks by going from point A to point B and then from
point B to point C or sometimes back to A and then to C and back to A or B or wherever else. It occurs frequently
throughout despite never happening in real life. A great number of years pass, but nobody looks aged for the least bit.
All in all, The Razor's Edge is very unconvincing because nobody has an idea of what "enlightenment" looks like.