Total Time: 63:37 N June 1944, Darryl F
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1. Main Title 1:35 • 2. “April Showers” 2:51 3. “I’ll See You in My Dreams” 2:02 • 4. “A Chicago Country Club Dance” 2:02 5. “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” 1:45 • 6. “The Missouri Waltz” 1:48 7. “I’ll See You in My Dreams” 1:47 • 8. Larry’s Journey Overseas 1:20 9. Isabel and Larry in Paris 1:46 • 10. Returned Engagement Ring :40 11. Last Night Together 1:38 • 12. Night Clubbing 6:28 13. The Wedding Cake :50 • 14. After the Wedding :45 15. Miner’s Cafe 2:00 • 16. Larry Travels to the East 5:15 17. The Mountain Retreat 6:44 • 18. Larry and Maugham Reunited :11 19. Somerset Maugham and the Princess :41 • 20. The Rue De Lappe 2:47 21. Cocktails at the Ritz 1:52 • 22. Sophie’s Torment 3:09 23. Oboesque 1:43 • 24. Sophie’s Room 2:13 25. After Elliott’s Death 1:43 • 26. Finale :54 27. Exit Music 4:13 28. “J’aime ta Pomme” Demo 2:38 Total Time: 63:37 n June 1944, Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th Cen- questioned the materialistic mode of living and tury-Fox’s studio head, was contemplating were looking for a meaning of existence. making a big decision. In a memo to key In Maugham’s The Razor’s Edge, Larry members of his staff he said: Darrell near the end of World War I is saved from death by a comrade who gives up his life This is my analyzation of The Razor’s in the effort. Larry feels that his life has been Edge [novel] by Somerset Maugham. spared for some particular purpose and wan- Despite the fact that to date no producer ders about the world in search of philosophical on the lot has shown any great enthusiasm and/or spiritual guidance, leaving the woman for this story as a motion picture and he loves and material advantages. In India, despite the fact that no other studio has he eventually achieves insight, tranquility, purchased it, I am inclined to believe that and “goodness of soul.” Larry, at the end, has we should buy it. found himself, and in helping himself he can The book was published in May, and it help others. immediately went on the best-seller list. But as Zanuck said in a memo of December There must be a reason why the 6, 1945: “Larry is not carrying any great mes- American public at this moment is read- sage, nor is he looking to reform the world; ing this book more than any other book. he is looking only for the answer to his own The answer, I think, is simple: Millions of quest for serenity and the key to his own future people today are searching for content- happiness. This, to me, is the theme of Mr. ment and peace in the same manner that Maugham’s book, and the reason it has been Larry searches in the book. such a tremendously big seller. It is a problem which today is close to twelve million Ameri- cans. It is a picture of faith and hope.” The invasion of northern Europe had just Somerset Maugham in a September 1945 taken place on June 6. With the Allies clos- interview said: “I’ve had hundreds – actually ing in on Germany from all sides, confidence hundreds – of letters from soldiers at the front, rose that the end of World War II was in sight. telling me how well they understood Larry And indeed it was. In 1945 the war ended and after their experiences. Some of them have millions of military personnel were return- said they will try to live that way in the years ing home to resume civilian life. But many, ahead, if their lives are spared. You see, men at because of their experiences in the war, were war are either desperately busy or have a good unsettled. They realized that their values were deal of idle time on their hands, so many of in some ways changing. More than a few these letters run to twenty pages or more.” Above left: Director Edmund Goulding studies the mountain top retreat set on stage at Fox. Edmund Goulding discussing “The Razor’s Edge” Religious novels (and films) were extraor- with Tyrone Power. Fox product, he would usually once a year dinarily popular during World War II – The or so select a property to which he would Keys of the Kingdom, The Song of Bernadette, devote a considerable amount of time on a The Robe, The Apostle, etc. They dealt with daily basis during the script’s evolution, pre- Christianity whereas The Razor’s Edge was production, filming, and post-production. the only one that featured a Hindu philosophy. In May, 1945, George Cukor, not a Fox The title of The Razor’s Edge came from the staff director but primarily with MGM Katha-Upanishad: “The sharp edge of a razor at the time, was set to direct The Razor’s is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the Edge. Cukor was unhappy with the script path to Salvation is hard.” development and suggested to Zanuck that W. Somerset Maugham had been writing the studio ascertain whether Maugham him- novels, plays, and short stories for decades self would be interested in working on the prior to The Razor’s Edge. His first novel, Liza script. Although Zanuck apparently thought of Lambeth, was published in 1897. A 1915 it highly unlikely that Maugham would ac- novel, Of Human Bondage, was made into cept and/or that he would demand too much a feature picture three times. The Moon and money, the author sent Zanuck a telegram Sixpence (1919), based on the life of Gauguin, saying that he would work on the screenplay was filmed in 1942. Both Maugham’s The for no pay whatsoever; surely a unique at- Letter and Rain (Sadie Thompson) were first titude. Maugham then spent June and July, published as short stories, reworked as plays 1945, as George Cukor’s houseguest while by Maugham, and then produced as feature working on his version of the script. pictures. But The Razor’s Edge was his major Maugham had no experience writing “best-seller” novel. screenplays. His first draft of July 20, 1945, Zanuck purchased the screen rights in late was labeled “Story in Dialogue by W. Som- 1944 and assigned long-time Fox scenar- erset Maugham.” The author’s preface stated ist Lamar Trotti to work on the adaptation that “The following is not to be looked upon and script. Trotti’s previous credits include as a script and will be incomprehensible Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1938), Drums unless it is read in conjunction with Lamar Along the Mohawk (1939) Young Mr. Lincoln Trotti’s. It should be looked upon only as a (1939), Man Hunt (1941), The Ox-Bow Inci- story in dialogue. ” dent (1943), and the recently completed per- Then five days later he submitted his sonal production of Zanuck’s for Fox, Wilson “Revised Final.” The following “Author’s (1945). The Razor’s Edge became Zanuck’s Note” at the front of the script surely was next personal production, meaning that in ad- composed at least in part with tongue-in- dition to overall supervision of the entire cheek. Maugham, of course, had been involved over the years in many theatrical ven- scenario on The Razor’s Edge,” Maugham told American film debut in Gaslight (1944). pence, took over the role. Thomas F. Brady in tures of his plays. author Wilmon Menard in the early 1960s. In Anne Baxter’s 1976 autobiography, a July 28, 1946 New York Times article stated “You see, he didn’t use a single line of my Intermission, she says that ex-child actress that Maugham “did insist. that Herbert Please note that this is on the whole a script in the final production. I think Mr. Bonita Granville was about to be cast when Marshall be engaged to play the raconteur of comedy and should be played lightly by Trotti made twelve versions before Mr. Zanuck Baxter, under contract to Fox, asked to be the [Razor’s Edge] tale.” everyone except in the definitely serious approved of one. They took a lot of liber- tested. At the eleventh hour Baxter was set In the one instance of sticking with the passages. The actors should take up one ties with my original novel in the final shooting to play the drunken, opium-addicted, and original casting announcement, Clifton anotherʼs cues as smartly as possible and script.” degraded Sophie – certainly a change of pace Webb portrayed the snobbish socialite Elliott thereʼs no harm if they cut in on one During the particularly long gestation period for her. Templeton. Under contract to Fox since his another as people do in ordinary life. Iʼm from purchase of the screen rights to the start The Production Code Administration, the impressive performance as Waldo Lydecker all against pauses and of filming, several potential film industry’s self-regula- in the studio’s 1944 hit, silences. If the actors casting names for the key tory body, after reading the Laura, Webb was an ideal can’t give significance roles were bandied about submitted script, asked that choice. to their lines without and in some cases tested. references to heavy drink- Britisher Philip Meri- these they’re not Olivia de Havilland’s name ing be removed. Zanuck vale was cast as the holy worth their salaries. pops up in newspaper col- personally responded in man in India that Larry trav- The lines are written umns more than any other a letter: “It is absurd to els to for guidance.