The Razor's Edge

A kind of Lost Horizon for the Lost Generation as a soldier returning from the First World War shrugs off his wealthy background to search for spiritual fulfilment. Starting among the smart set in Europe (Paris and the Riviera created in the studio), it then moves rather less persuasively to India. Classic Hollywood kitsch, with the shallow sophistication of Somerset Maugham's novel well matched by the glossiest glitter that Fox could buy. But somehow Goulding (an erratic but underrated director) manages to dominate it all with an almost Premingerian mise en scène, aided by some superb performances (Tierney in particular).