The Razor's Edge

A nice story lost in a cumbersome script and a meandering direction. Don't really know if the original work is this dramatic or exaggerates everything into full blown tragedy, but it feels like the film doesn't even decide on what makes this story appealing and keeps changing focus.

Wow, this was a hard one to sit through. It's about two and a half hours long, and rather soapy. Not a bad story though in the end, despite Tyrone Power philosophizing with Himalayan gurus and other silliness. As the movie progressed I couldn't help wondering why Gene Tierney's character would obsess over an irksome airhead like Larry Darrell.

Sophie is the most noteworthy character here but it's a shame she is never in focus. Besides the film tries to be melodramatic yet Larry could be the most insensitive hard-boiled character ever created.

A complex story I felt they managed to shoehorn nicely into screen sensation. The sensation which Gene Tierney's performance was responsible for. Her intensity to Tyrone Power's calm and Herbert Marshall's observing commentary was a sight to behold. Almost making the room vibrate beyond the screen. I honestly wasn't expecting much at first. Felt like a solid drama, but it did a great job of manipulating the mood to the heights it delivered. Excellent work by Edmund Goulding.

Somerset Maugham created a great story, but this telling is a little too melodramatic.

The book must be better. I can't get past the ham.

Good movie of Somerset Maugham book with many excellent performances, Clifton Webb and Anne Baxter being the standouts.