The Naked Edge (1961)
99 mins | Mystery, Melodrama | 30 June 1961
Cast:
Gary Cooper, Deborah Kerr, Eric Portman [ More ]Director:
Michael AndersonWriter:
Joseph StefanoProducers:
George Glass, Walter SeltzerCinematographer:
Erwin HillierEditor:
Gordon PilkingtonProduction Designer:
Carmen DillonProduction Companies:
Pennebaker, Inc., Baroda Productions, Inc., Jason, Inc.The project was originally titled First Train to Babylon, after Max Ehrlich’s 1955 novel upon which it is based. The 1 May 1956 DV noted that A. W. Schwalberg first optioned screen rights, followed by producer Ilya Lopert, who hired Ronald Neame to direct, as stated in the 28 Dec 1956 DV. The project lapsed under Lopert, and the book was eventually optioned by executive producer Marlon Brando, Sr.’s Pennebaker, Inc., which was set to co-produce with Gary Cooper’s Baroda Productions, Inc., the 4 Apr 1960 LAT reported. Cooper was also set to star, and the 16 Sep 1960 DV indicated that filming would begin on 3 Oct 1960 at Associated British Picture Corporation’s (ABPC) studio (a.k.a. Elstree Studios) in Borehamwood, England. Michael Anderson was named as director in a 4 Sep 1960 NYT article, which mentioned that Cooper and Anderson had previously worked together on The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959, see entry). The budget was cited as $1.5 million in the 13 Feb 1962 DV. Cooper was paid $275,000 in addition to a fifty-percent stake in the film, while the salary for his co-star, Deborah Kerr, was cited as $400,000. Anderson was reportedly paid a flat fee of $100,000.
British actor Terence Brook, best known as “the lonely man” from a popular British cigarette commercial, was cast in the picture, the 25 Oct 1960 LAT reported.
Principal photography began on 30 Sep 1960, a few days earlier than previously announced, according to a 7 Oct 1960 DV production chart. A month into filming, production was ...
The project was originally titled First Train to Babylon, after Max Ehrlich’s 1955 novel upon which it is based. The 1 May 1956 DV noted that A. W. Schwalberg first optioned screen rights, followed by producer Ilya Lopert, who hired Ronald Neame to direct, as stated in the 28 Dec 1956 DV. The project lapsed under Lopert, and the book was eventually optioned by executive producer Marlon Brando, Sr.’s Pennebaker, Inc., which was set to co-produce with Gary Cooper’s Baroda Productions, Inc., the 4 Apr 1960 LAT reported. Cooper was also set to star, and the 16 Sep 1960 DV indicated that filming would begin on 3 Oct 1960 at Associated British Picture Corporation’s (ABPC) studio (a.k.a. Elstree Studios) in Borehamwood, England. Michael Anderson was named as director in a 4 Sep 1960 NYT article, which mentioned that Cooper and Anderson had previously worked together on The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959, see entry). The budget was cited as $1.5 million in the 13 Feb 1962 DV. Cooper was paid $275,000 in addition to a fifty-percent stake in the film, while the salary for his co-star, Deborah Kerr, was cited as $400,000. Anderson was reportedly paid a flat fee of $100,000.
British actor Terence Brook, best known as “the lonely man” from a popular British cigarette commercial, was cast in the picture, the 25 Oct 1960 LAT reported.
Principal photography began on 30 Sep 1960, a few days earlier than previously announced, according to a 7 Oct 1960 DV production chart. A month into filming, production was shut down for one day on 31 Oct 1960, after a gas heater at the Tower of London exploded, as noted in the 1 Nov 1960 DV. An LAT item published on the same date stated that Gary Cooper had attempted to save co-star Eric Portman’s costumes from a trailer that had caught on fire. Principal photography ended on 17 or 18 Dec 1960, as noted in the 20 Dec 1960 DV.
During the filming of a fight scene, Cooper endured a back injury, as stated in the 26 Mar 1961 LAT. The actor was later ordered to rest for several months, according to a 24 Mar 1961 DV item. Meanwhile, he had been suffering from cancer, which was not publicly disclosed until Apr 1961, shortly before his death on 13 May 1961, as noted in the 14 May 1961 LAT. The Naked Edge marked his final film appearance.
The courtroom testimony of George Radcliffe, an American businessman working in London, is so persuasive that a coworker, Donald Heath, is convicted of robbing and murdering the owner of the trucking firm where they were both employed. Although no trace of the money is found, Heath is sentenced to life imprisonment. Immediately after the trial, George tells his wife, Martha, that he has made a "killing" in the stock market and is using his new wealth to join Morris Brooke in buying out a shipping concern. The venture proves to be enormously successful and within five years George has become extremely wealthy. Then a blackmail note arrives in which a disbarred attorney, Jeremy Clay, accuses George of having committed the murder. Recalling the vagueness of the circumstances under which George acquired his money, Martha begins to doubt her husband. Hoping for reassurance, she conducts a series of private investigations, but each effort only makes her more certain of George's guilt. Finally, she visits Clay, who tells her he actually saw George commit the murder. Fearing that George will now kill her, Martha returns home. As she enters the bathroom she is seized by Clay, who tapes her mouth and attempts to slash her wrists. However, George bursts into the room and subdues Clay. Before the police arrive, Clay admits he committed the crime for which Heath was ...
The courtroom testimony of George Radcliffe, an American businessman working in London, is so persuasive that a coworker, Donald Heath, is convicted of robbing and murdering the owner of the trucking firm where they were both employed. Although no trace of the money is found, Heath is sentenced to life imprisonment. Immediately after the trial, George tells his wife, Martha, that he has made a "killing" in the stock market and is using his new wealth to join Morris Brooke in buying out a shipping concern. The venture proves to be enormously successful and within five years George has become extremely wealthy. Then a blackmail note arrives in which a disbarred attorney, Jeremy Clay, accuses George of having committed the murder. Recalling the vagueness of the circumstances under which George acquired his money, Martha begins to doubt her husband. Hoping for reassurance, she conducts a series of private investigations, but each effort only makes her more certain of George's guilt. Finally, she visits Clay, who tells her he actually saw George commit the murder. Fearing that George will now kill her, Martha returns home. As she enters the bathroom she is seized by Clay, who tapes her mouth and attempts to slash her wrists. However, George bursts into the room and subdues Clay. Before the police arrive, Clay admits he committed the crime for which Heath was convicted.
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement AwardTOP SEARCHES
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
According to HR news items, "The Gentleman from Montana" (an unpublished story by Lewis R. Foster, alternately called "The Gentleman from Wyoming" by both contemporary and modern ... >>
Psycho
Actor Vaughn Taylor's surname is misspelled "Tayler" in the onscreen credits. Several Jun and Jul 1959 HR news items erroneously refer to the film as Psyche. ... >>
2001: A Space Odyssey
Opening credits precede a title card that reads: "The Dawn of Man."
In an interview in the 16 Jan 1966 NYT, writer-director-producer Stanley Kubrick discussed ... >>
