0
0
Rating: 4.25 out of 5
Has something ever happened in your life that made you rethink it? I am talking about an event that struck you so hard that you set out on the world to find meaning? I think I have told you this, but I was once “lost” or didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I had an okay job and few friends and was just sad. I decided to go to therapy to get help. I have been in therapy since 2018, and it has changed me. My life and mind have transcended by doing it. I started reading a lot more, gaining more wisdom; I have become a leader and am now happy. I bring this up because I watched The Razor’s Edge, the 1946 version. I didn’t know what to expect, but as I watched, it was about a man who was traumatized by his experiences in World War I and set off in search of some transcendent meaning in his life. Sometimes we all need a traumatic event to make us a better person.
The Razor’s Edge is based on W. Somerset Maugham’s 1944 novel of the same name. Larry Darrell (Power) was an American fighter pilot who had just returned from World War I. Larry has been severely affected by the violence and fighting he has witnessed. Larry is engaged to Isabel (Tierney), but Elliott Templeton (Webb), an expatriate who has been living in France for years and is Isabel’s uncle, strongly disapproves of Larry. The reason is that Larry is dead broke and has no interest in getting a job with a future so he can support Isabel properly. During a party, Larry’s childhood friend Sophie Nelson (Baxter) and her boyfriend, Bob MacDonald (Latimore), discuss the relationship and are rudely disrespected by Elliott. When Larry refuses a job offer from the father of his friend Gray Maturin, a millionaire who loves Isabel, Larry, and Isabel have a discussion. When discussing the future, Isabel wants to move to the US as she sees significant growth. Larry wants to “loaf” on his small inheritance as he has been too affected by the war after the death of a comrade who sacrificed himself on the last day of the war to save him. The pair break their engagement as Larry decides to travel the world seeking enlightenment, eventually finding his guru in India. As years pass, Larry reaches his goal and returns to the US, where he meets Isabel, who has become married. During a night out, Larry and everyone finds Sophie, who lost her husband and child in a tragic accident. Sophie’s life changed when she has become an alcoholic, drug user, and escort. Seeing a friend in need, Larry tries to rehabilitate her, but his efforts are derailed by the spiteful Isabel, who still loves him.
I didn’t know what to expect when watching this film, but damn, was it good toward the end. All the trifling actions by rich people and getting in the way of people’s lives. The story is narrated by W. Somerset Maugham and an important figure who drifts in and out of the lives of the other major players. The main story has to deal with Larry. I don’t see what the big deal was, and this was before mental health or the classification of PTSD. Larry saw his boy die, and he wants to dip out and explore but find true happiness and meaning to his life. This is so important because people today need to find their meaning and get their minds right. Homeboy has a fine-ass but shallow girl in Isabel. She wants those funds and the high life. When Larry says no, she gets pissed. What I love is that Larry goes and works in a coal mine and, from the advice of a worker, travels to India and finds enlightenment. Larry returns to the group as a new man, with Isabel still in love with him. What I found fascinating about Larry is his willingness to help and look past people’s issues. Isabel’s husband had headache issues, and he helped him recover. When he saw his friend Sophie and how messed up her life became, he helped her get it together and even wanted to marry her. Hell, dude went to the wrong part of town and fought people off to try and save her. What I thought was great about Larry was when he learned the trough about Isabel’s treachery and left her ass.
I want to touch upon Sophie’s story because it is central. Sophie was by far the saddest part for me. She had a good life and a good head on her shoulders. She didn’t seem like she was spoiled and down to earth. Elliott disrespected her and her husband for bringing a special fork or spoon. Sophie’s life turns upside down when her family gets in a car accident with her husband and baby dying. It’s really messed up and we don’t know the extent of Sophie’s life until Larry returns and goes to a bar with Isabel and the crew. We see that Sophie has turned to drugs, alcohol, and a prostitute. It makes your heart hurt to see a woman fall. Larry seeing a friend in need, took it upon himself to help her. She was on the road to recovery when Isabel sabotaged her because her punk self was still in love with Larry. When Sophie couldn’t say no to her demons, she fell off the wagon, and it was unfortunate to see what had happened to her.
This film has drama, and boy did it throw it at you. I want to say that Isabel and Elliott are some punk-ass, trifling people. Let’s take Elliott first. He was some type of royalty and a pompous asshole. He looked down on everyone because of his wealth and status and was the main reason against Larry and Isabel. He felt like Larry wasn’t good enough. He played the stock market and made a killing off the market crash, but his main issue was with the princess. He stated that he was the one to get her title, and when she didn’t acknowledge him, he would get pissed and called her Old Witch. When he got sick, he wanted to go to some ball but wasn’t invited. Larry faked an invitation to ease his pain, and with his dying words, it was sweet until he said Old Witch.
Now the drama resolved around Isabel. I already talked about her in Larry and Sophie’s story. She was so stuck up, and her personality would keep men away. Her beauty is what gets her by. Oh, I couldn’t stand her personality. She always thought she was suitable for Larry but didn’t stand by him. What she did to Sophie is unforgivable. I am happy that Larry looked at her, realized she was evil inside, and bounced.
The acting was pretty good in this film. Tyrone Power as Larry Darrell was a delight to watch. I liked his character and how he decided to go find himself and his enlightenment. He seemed to have a calm about himself and never raised his voice. Even when things were dire, he would see calm. Homeboy had that glow. Gene Tierney, as Isabel Bradley, I have to give it to you; you annoyed me with your trifling ways. That is why I enjoyed your role because you showed how shallow Isabel was, and I was delighted when you didn’t get your way. Clifton Webb as Elliott Templeton was also good as he played his role as a high-class royalty to perfection. That silver spoon was far up your ass.
I want to give major props to Anne Baxter as Sophie MacDonald. When she was on the screen, she was fantastic. The scene with her in the bar was incredible and a master class in acting. She showed the pain and suffering she went through after her child and family were lost. How she played the drunk, high woman who just gave up on life. I love her progression in the film to getting healthy and falling off the wagon again. Baxter was simply fantastic in her role, and I applaud her.
The Razor’s Edge is one of those films you will love or hate. I thought it was really good as the movie progressed. It starts slowly, but you will be hooked when the backstabbing and drama get going. The one person who deserves praise is Anne Baxter. You should watch this film because she brought it.
