Among titles that have been included in Fox's Studio Line classic DVD series, Edmund Goulding's "The Razor's Edge" is a leviathan of powerhouse entertainment. At 146 minutes it's certainly one of the longest films Fox ever made especially during its golden period. Based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham, the film stars then reigning heartthrob, Tyrone Power as wealthy Chicago playboy, Larry Darrell. Without much cause, except that he's bored with life in general, Larry breaks his engagement to Isabel Bradley (Gene Tierney) in favor of becoming a world traveler. Eventually, his trips abroad lead to India, to the very seat of spiritual enlightenment under the tutelage of a guru.
Meanwhile, back in Chicago, the impatient Isabel decides to marry Gray Maturin (John Payne). After the stock market crashes, Isabel leaves Gray to go continent tripping with her social climbing, egotistical Uncle Elliot Templeton (Clifton Webb at his usual acerbic best). Eventually, all this intercontinental head bumping leads straight to a reunion of sorts for all concerned; one that is made bittersweet when it is discovered that an old family friend, Sophie Macdonald (Ann Baxter), after having lost both her husband and child in a terrible accident, has succumbed to a life of spousal abuse and drug use. Having awakened his moral center, Larry makes a vein attempt to reform Sophie. But Isobel's jealous need to have Larry all to herself even though his interest in her has never been rekindled leads to a bitter and tragic end.
Goulding's direction on this magnum opus of a motion picture is slick, stylish and polished. Around every turn he imbues the staging of events with an overall sense of foreboding tragedy that, like the final flowering of the old south in Gone With The Wind, simply reeks of a time far removed from the currency of life in which his characters ultimately find themselves living. Only the central, world-weary performance of Tyrone Power seems to hit the high notes acting wise. For the rest, but especially with Gene Tierney, the cast seem to be going through the motions albeit with considerable flair and panache as is befitting classically trained actors from Hollywood's golden age. There is also something to be said for Herbert Marshall's characterization of the author, Somerset Maugham. Though probably inaccurate to history, it is nevertheless one of the great bits of character acting ever put on film.
Fox's DVD is exceptional. The picture is sharp and nicely balanced. But an audio commentary is all one gets to augment the experience - a shame!
Meanwhile, back in Chicago, the impatient Isabel decides to marry Gray Maturin (John Payne). After the stock market crashes, Isabel leaves Gray to go continent tripping with her social climbing, egotistical Uncle Elliot Templeton (Clifton Webb at his usual acerbic best). Eventually, all this intercontinental head bumping leads straight to a reunion of sorts for all concerned; one that is made bittersweet when it is discovered that an old family friend, Sophie Macdonald (Ann Baxter), after having lost both her husband and child in a terrible accident, has succumbed to a life of spousal abuse and drug use. Having awakened his moral center, Larry makes a vein attempt to reform Sophie. But Isobel's jealous need to have Larry all to herself even though his interest in her has never been rekindled leads to a bitter and tragic end.
Goulding's direction on this magnum opus of a motion picture is slick, stylish and polished. Around every turn he imbues the staging of events with an overall sense of foreboding tragedy that, like the final flowering of the old south in Gone With The Wind, simply reeks of a time far removed from the currency of life in which his characters ultimately find themselves living. Only the central, world-weary performance of Tyrone Power seems to hit the high notes acting wise. For the rest, but especially with Gene Tierney, the cast seem to be going through the motions albeit with considerable flair and panache as is befitting classically trained actors from Hollywood's golden age. There is also something to be said for Herbert Marshall's characterization of the author, Somerset Maugham. Though probably inaccurate to history, it is nevertheless one of the great bits of character acting ever put on film.
Fox's DVD is exceptional. The picture is sharp and nicely balanced. But an audio commentary is all one gets to augment the experience - a shame!