La lame nue

May I respectfully disagree with many of the posters here, who, knowing that Cooper had cancer while he made this film, claim that his under-played performance proves that he lacked the necessary vigor to do the character of the beleaguered husband justice. Quite the opposite! Cooper, who was famous for under-acting, most perfectly portrays a long-loving long-suffering husband who understands why his wife suspects him, but has decided (until the end) not to tell his wife the truth. If you watch his performance carefully scene-by-scene, you will see how skilfully he manipulates the audience: Cooper makes us believe he might be guilty or ... if you wish, might not. A tour-de-force of keep-them-guessing acting in the classic Hitchcock manner. Is he evil out isn't he? Much credit must be given here to the masterful direction of Michael Anderson, another neglected English director of exceptional talent with camera and actors who ended up doing too much minor work in Hollywood, as well as the superb contribution of Berlin-born cinematographer Erwin Hiller, a protege of FW Murnau and Fritz Lang.The B&W photography is astonishing. A plot full of improbabilities, yes, and the music keep spelling out what we can see, but all in all, an excellent job of suspense in the glossy English manner.

This movie might have been called The Cutting Edge for all the boundaries of 1961 it pushed! It utilizes innovative camera and editing techniques that echo Alfred Hitchcock's scary scenes from Psycho, alludes to sex in a way few films had been able to do since the fall of the Hays Code, and put the word "naked" in the title!

Even the first shot of the film is unusual, making you wonder, "Why did they show that? What am I missing?" for the first of many times as the mystery continues throughout the film. A bead of sweat is shown running down Gary Cooper's face. He's in court, ready to testify as a key witness to a murder. His accounting condemns a man to life imprisonment, and the guilt rattles him after the trial. Years later, he's a successful businessman, and he and his wife Deborah Kerr are living a life of luxury. He receives a threatening letter, making Deborah doubt his testimony all those years ago. . .

The Naked Edge is one scary movie! I'm not his biggest fan, but Gary Cooper gives a more energetic performance than he usually does. Although Deborah's character isn't written to be the smartest tool in the shed, she does a good job exuding her fear and doubt without turning it into a melodrama. Usually, Gary plays likable, earnest roles. This is the only movie I've seen where Gary Cooper plays a bad guy! This one's pretty scary and very suspenseful, so rent it on Halloween and cuddle up to your honey—or don't. . .

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, there's one part of the movie that might that will make you sick. There's a scene where Deborah Kerr gets lost and when she runs up and down the streets, the camera is hand-held. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

The suspense of this film evokes the work of Alfred Hitchcock. It doesn't quite live up to such a comparison but nonetheless the plot and character interactions should rivet most viewers to the film. Creative shot selection (especially the preparation of the wife's death), fine performances (especially from Deborah Kerr), and a compelling plot create an entertaining movie experience, 7/10. I think this was Gary Cooper's last screen performance.

The last film of Gary Cooper is an enjoyable thriller-drama. It's not great cinema, but I was surprised by the pace of it. With most of those "old" films, I have trouble to sit them through. But this one kept my attention from beginning to end.

The story is about a man(Cooper) who's a witness to a murder and thanks to whose testimony the killer is locked away. But did this guy really commit the murder? Years later, Cooper's wife(Kerr) starts to suspect her husband. Slowly, everything begins to point in HIS direction. Is she still safe with the man she loves? Will he kill her(too)?

As I said, this film is very entertaining. The story however has some major holes in it and the ending is a bit of a let-down. You'll have to see what you make of this film with the ending in mind. This could have been done much better. Cooper is very good in his last role as the husband, but Kerr was less convincing as his wife. There are also some rather colourful, but sometimes annoying supporting roles. I can recommend it, as long as you don't expect to much of it. But if you don't like old films, this is a good movie to help you with that. The filming is very up-to-date. 6/10

This movie is a very superb and well made thriller. Im surprised it got such a low rating considering its entertainment value. From the beginning the movie starts us right away with the premise. From there we are taken through a very suspenseful ride in trying to figure out wether a woman is right in suspecting her husband for murder, accusing the wrong man for murder, or covering up for the murderer. As the movie develops, different clues keep popping up and were made to really think and engage. As the movie gets closer to it's climax, the suspense gets more intense. The acting is very convincing and I found myself truly sympathetic for Martha in her efforts to figure out the truth. . Add the great camera work and shadow effects, this movie is now on my list of favorite classic movies. Don't let the other users discourage you, they are simply trying to compare the movie to other films that are not meant to be compared to. Watch it for yourself and see how fun the ride truly is.