While reading some background around some of the films it seems that 1940s were dominated by a lot of the studio heads and their whims. In the case of the next film, 1947 nominee The Razor's Edge, Daryl F Zanuck then head of 20th Century Fox really wanted the rights to W. Somerset Maughn's work and paid over the odds to the author who was still alive. Casting was also a problem with Zanuck's first choice Tyrone Power still serving in the marines when the film begun, Zanuck had to use an extra for some of the scenes. Meanwhile Gene Tierney was Maughn's first choice for the female lead but Zanuck had hired Maureen O'Hara under the proviso that she didn't tell anyone she had the part when she told someone, she was fired and Tierney was hired. Directing duties were originally handed to George Cuckor but he also fell fowl of Zanuck and Edmund Goulding was hired. The story in The Razor's Edge sees Power's Larry and Tierney's Isobel from the end of the First World War to well into the 1930s. Engaged at the start of the film Larry wants to find himself and travels first to France and then to India where he finally finds peace among the monks. Meanwhile Isobel marries the dependable but dull Gray and has a couple of children, Gray becomes depressed after he loses his money in the Wall Street Crash but Larry uses techniques he learnt with the monks to get him better. Larry and Isobel's old friend Sophie also appears in the story she gets married then loses her family and starts drinking, Larry rehabilitates and her and they get engaged by Isobel is jealous of their relationship and gets Sophie drinking again before Sophie finally dies. Larry finally finds out about Isobel's part in Sophie's death and leaves her for good finally finding peace.
Overall The Razor's Edge had a good story of money vs love, finding yourself and trying to get over a terrible incident. None of the characters were truly likeable and all had their baggage but at the same time they were all human they all had their own problems but none of them were true villains. There is also humour provided by Isobel's extravaggent uncle Elliot, played by the Oscar nominated Clifton Webb, and dependability is provided by Maughn himself who becomes a character here played by Herbert Marshall. My personal favourite performance came from Anne Baxter who won an Oscar for Supporting Actress as the emotinally torn Isobel but Tierney was also good as the vindictive Isobel never quite happy after Larry leaves her and never really happy with Gray. Power is able to tie everything together with a strong lead performance and is able to give Larry a very personable side. I did find the film overly talky, having never read the book I don't know how close the adaptation was to the actual book but it seemed to be very wordy and if they did use the script that Maughn used as his adaptation I'm guessing he didn't want to leave a lot out. I did find it a tad long but it was an intriguing story slightly noirish and a bit of a road trip so I think overall Zanuck did get all the elements together worthy for a great movie that ultimately was one of the five films nominated for that year's Best Picture.
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