While
reading some background around some of the films it seems that 1940s
were dominated by a lot of the studio heads and their whims. In the case
of the next film, 1947 nominee The Razor's Edge, Daryl F Zanuck then
head of 20th Century Fox really wanted the rights to W. Somerset
Maughn's work and paid over the odds to the author who was still alive.
Casting was also a problem with Zanuck's first choice Tyrone Power still
serving in the marines when the film begun, Zanuck had to use an extra
for some of the scenes. Meanwhile Gene Tierney was Maughn's first choice
for the female lead but Zanuck had hired Maureen O'Hara under the
proviso that she didn't tell anyone she had the part when she told
someone, she was fired and Tierney was hired. Directing duties were
originally handed to George Cuckor but he also fell fowl of Zanuck and
Edmund Goulding was hired. The story in The Razor's Edge sees Power's
Larry and Tierney's Isobel from the end of the First World War to well
into the 1930s. Engaged at the start of the film Larry wants to find
himself and travels first to France and then to India where he finally
finds peace among the monks. Meanwhile Isobel marries the dependable but
dull Gray and has a couple of children, Gray becomes depressed after he
loses his money in the Wall Street Crash but Larry uses techniques he
learnt with the monks to get him better. Larry and Isobel's old friend
Sophie also appears in the story she gets married then loses her family
and starts drinking, Larry rehabilitates and her and they get engaged by
Isobel is jealous of their relationship and gets Sophie drinking again
before Sophie finally dies. Larry finally finds out about Isobel's part
in Sophie's death and leaves her for good finally finding peace.
Overall The Razor's Edge had a good story of money vs. love, finding
yourself and trying to get over a terrible incident. None of the
characters were truly likeable and all had their baggage but at the same
time they were all human they all had their own problems but none of
them were true villains. There is also humour provided by Isobel's
extravagant uncle Elliot, played by the Oscar nominated Clifton Webb,
and dependability is provided by Maughn himself who becomes a character
here played by Herbert Marshall. My personal favourite performance came
from Anne Baxter who won an Oscar for Supporting Actress as the
emotionally torn Isobel but Tierney was also good as the vindictive
Isobel never quite happy after Larry leaves her and never really happy
with Gray. Power is able to tie everything together with a strong lead
performance and is able to give Larry a very personable side. I did find
the film overly talky, having never read the book I don't know how
close the adaptation was to the actual book but it seemed to be very
wordy and if they did use the script that Maughn used as his adaptation
I'm guessing he didn't want to leave a lot out. I did find it a tad long
but it was an intriguing story slightly noirish and a bit of a road
trip so I think overall Zanuck did get all the elements together worthy
for a great movie that ultimately was one of the five films nominated
for that year's Best Picture.
No comments:
Post a Comment