The Razor’s Edge (1946)

Feb. 17, 2011

38. The Razor’s Edge (1946)

Starring Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, Anne Baxter, Clifton Webb, Herbert Marshall, John Payne

Directed by Edmund Goulding

Based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham

Plot: “A adventuresome young man goes off to find himself and loses his socialite fiancée in the process. But when he returns 10 years later, she will stop at nothing to get him back, even though she is already married.” (from IMDb)

At nearly two and a half hours, this film takes its sweet time getting anywhere. But if you can plod through some of the more tedious parts, the plot starts to come to a head in the last hour. Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney are a well-matched and stunning pair. The acting was adequate (for most) but the cinematography and many different settings of the film are what stood out to me. ***SPOILERS*** I thought the whole business of Power’s character’s enlightenment was a little heavy-handing and corny. Those also happened to be some of the few scenes were I didn’t think the ‘atmosphere’ (of India) was very convincing. This is an okay film if you have a few hours to waste. It really wasn’t my favorite, but most of the film kept my interest. :)

Short Review: The Good Fairy (1935)

Jan. 23, 2011

21. The Good Fairy (1935)

Starring Margaret Sullavan, Herbert Marshall, Frank Morgan, Reginald Owen, Eric Blore, Beulah Bondi, Alan Hale, Cesar Romero

Screenplay by Preston Sturges
Based on the play by Ferenc Molnar

Directed by William Wyler

Plot: “A naive girl just out of a cloistered orphanage finds that being a ‘good fairy’ to strangers makes life awfully complicated.” (from IMDb)

With a screenplay by Preston Sturges, direction by William Wyler, and fairly high IMDb ratings, I was expecting to like this. However, it bored me to tears. I was counting the minutes until it would end. In fact, I’m typing this as I watch it. Most of the acting feels hammy and detached. It’s basically just a lot of yelling and drawn-out gags that really aren’t that funny. There’s also a love story, deception… and did I mention people yelling? Maybe I’m just not in the mood. I don’t know.

P.S. Sorry about the bad photo—it’s the best I could find. :(