The Razor's Edge

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The Razor's Edge

1946

2h 26m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

An American fighter pilot, Larry Darrell (Tyrone Power), returns from World War I sickened by the violence and fighting he has witnessed. In search of meaning, he travels to Paris, where he tries to live modestly. However, this leads Larry's fiancée, the status-seeking Isabel Bradley (Gene Tierney), to break off the engagement. But Isabel returns to Larry's life when he becomes romantically involved with Sophie (Anne Baxter), a troubled alcoholic recovering from tragedy.

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Jeremiah Kipp

Slant Magazine

05/15/2005

2.5/4

Goulding indulges in voluptuously lit scenes dominated by well-dressed extras, lots of carousing and booze, catty dialogue, and water fountains that upstage everybody.

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Rosalie Kicks

MovieJawn

06/22/2022

3.5/4

This piece of cinema truly speaks for itself and what it has to say is incredible.

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Nell Dodson Russell

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

01/14/2022

I suppose most of us are seeking some kind of solution for our daily problems and frustrations, but I'm afraid we have neither the financial means nor the spiritual tenacity to go mountain-sitting in India.

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David Hanna

Illustrated Daily News (Los Angeles)

07/13/2021

It certainly follows the W. Somerset Maugham novel -- being just as verbose, obscure in its philosophy and jumbled in its construction.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

07/25/2020

6/10

The start is promising and I'm immediately infected by the bombast I observe in the mise-en-scène, although in the second half I get bored when perceiving a narrative repetition planned by a superfluous indulgence. [Full review in Spanish]

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

03/14/2008

C+

Edmund Goulding's version deserves crdit for trying to adapt Maugham's difficult existential movel, but Tyrone Power is miscast and the film is too melodramatic and verbose, failing to illustrate the novel's essence.

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SICKS6SIX S

@sicks6six Dec 12

Better than the 56% the rotten tomato people score it. IMO. It's a great script and the two film adaptations of the book have not done it the justice it deserves. If someone in Hollywood is wondering which film deserves a third attempt this is it. The moral of the story is probably more relevant today than when this film version was made.

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Tom A

@RT44143237 Aug 8

Not great, but can make you think. I would recommend reading the novel before or after. Interesting philosophical novel and movie. Not a popcorn movie.

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John H

@JLHIII 01/24/2024

While it very good parts it didn't really capture the spirit of the novel. Watchable but not grear

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j f

@LiberteBurrows 07/23/2023

Anne Baxter's Sophie is so good. I love this movie.

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georgan g

@RT98616417 10/08/2021

This film excels in every way. The gorgeous, talented cast plays out a terrific screen play about deep thinking.

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dave s

@RT68722908 09/28/2021

The Razor's Edge, based on the W. Somerset Maugham novel, tells the story a Lawrence Darrow, a World War 1 veteran who is forced to reevaluate his values and priorities as the result of the traumas of war. Tyrone Power does a decent job in the lead role and Gene Tierney is solid as the love interest, but the Mid-Atlantic accents of the secondary cast become annoying very quickly. While the story of existential angst is certainly interesting, the movie relies too much on excessive dialogue instead of imagery. Even when alone on a mountaintop, his guru shows up, resulting in more unnecessary metaphysical blatherings. On top of it all, the swelling violins get tiresome and the whole affair runs far too long. It's an okay movie, but it has its flaws.

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Edmund Goulding

Director

Tyrone Power

Larry Darrell

Gene Tierney

Isabel Bradley

Anne Baxter

Sophie Nelson Macdonald

Clifton Webb

Elliott Templeton

John Payne

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Synopsis

An American fighter pilot, Larry Darrell (Tyrone Power), returns from World War I sickened by the violence and fighting he has witnessed. In search of meaning, he travels to Paris, where he tries to live modestly. However, this leads Larry's fiancée, the status-seeking Isabel Bradley (Gene Tierney), to break off the engagement. But Isabel returns to Larry's life when he becomes romantically involved with Sophie (Anne Baxter), a troubled alcoholic recovering from tragedy.

Director: Edmund Goulding
Producer: Darryl F Zanuck
Screenwriter: Lamar Trotti, W. Somerset Maugham
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 19, 1946, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 19, 2013
Runtime: 2h 26m