Movie for a Sunday afternoon: "The Naked Edge"(1961)

You Tube ^ | 1961 | Michael Anderson

[ReformationFan]

Today's feature is Gary Cooper's final film, an underrated, British suspense thriller directed by Michael Anderson("Around The World In 80 Days", "Logan's Run") and scripted by Joseph Stefano("Psycho").

[ReformationFan]

Interesting that upon its initial release, a red light would go on outside the theaters and no one would be permitted to exit or enter the theater during the final 13 minutes. If you're a fan of Alfred Hitchcock films this one is definitely worth checking out.

[bramps]

My ‘go to’ source says it's a good take. Love the free youtube movies. I'll be watching later. Thanks.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055214/
Just wanted to add for chuckles: A month or so ago I was laid up with the flu for a few days and watched endless film noirs on youtube. Individually they're great but I warn not to watch them one after another. It became very depressing because you realize that there are almost no decent, moral characters in that genre of movies. Though it was years ago, all the movies seemingly revolve around stealing, killing or adultery. Gets to you after awhile.

[ReformationFan]

Yeah, non-stop noir can wear one down after a while. I recommend counterbalancing them with some classic comedy(either movies or old TV shows) when you’re housebound with an illness.

[Jeff Winston]

I watched. Decent old suspense thriller.

[ReformationFan]

Was this your first time to see it?

When I first saw it, I didn’t have particularly high expectations because of middling reviews but I found it much more suspenseful and involving than I expected. I wonder if the scene with the straight edge razor and the bathtub was in the original novel or if Stefano lifted and retailored it from the infamous shower scene in his then recent hit “Psycho”. The gimmick of the voiceover at the end credits asking viewers not to reveal the mystery’s solution was also used in “Witness for the Prosecution.”

[Jeff Winston]

Yes, first time to see it.

[ReformationFan]

Of all his films, it was probably the closest Cooper ever came to being a Hitchcock leading man. Hitchcock wanted for Cooper to play the lead in 1940’s “Foreign Correspondent” but he turned it down and Joel McCrea was cast instead.