The Big Shave

The Big Shave is a 1967 American short film written and directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Peter Bernuth, and featuring a soundtrack by Theadora Van Runkle and Thelma Schoonmaker. The film was produced during Scorsese's time at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he was a student of Haig Manoogian and George Stoney. Scorsese has cited the influence of François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard on his work, including The Big Shave, which was shot on location in New York City with the help of Brian De Palma and Steven Prince.

Introduction

The Big Shave is a notable example of Martin Scorsese's early work, showcasing his unique style and themes that would become characteristic of his later films, such as Mean Streets and Taxi Driver. The film's protagonist, played by Peter Bernuth, is a young man struggling with his own identity, much like the characters in Scorsese's other films, including Raging Bull and Goodfellas. Scorsese has said that he was influenced by the works of Federico Fellini and Vittorio De Sica, as well as the French New Wave movement, which included directors like Éric Rohmer and Claude Chabrol. The film's score, featuring music by The Velvet Underground and Bob Dylan, adds to the overall atmosphere and tone of the film, which explores themes of youth culture and social commentary, similar to the works of John Cassavetes and Shirley Clarke.

Plot

The plot of The Big Shave follows a young man, played by Peter Bernuth, as he prepares for a date by shaving and getting ready, set to the music of The Kinks and The Rolling Stones. However, as he shaves, he begins to cut himself, and the film takes a darker turn, exploring themes of masculinity and violence, similar to the works of Sam Peckinpah and Stanley Kubrick. The film's use of close-ups and montage editing, inspired by the works of Sergei Eisenstein and Dziga Vertov, adds to the overall sense of tension and unease, creating a sense of cinematic realism similar to the films of André Bazin and Italian Neorealism. The film's exploration of youth culture and social commentary is also reminiscent of the works of Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut, who were known for their French New Wave films, including Breathless and Jules and Jim.

Production

The production of The Big Shave was a collaborative effort between Martin Scorsese and his fellow students at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, including Brian De Palma and Steven Prince. The film was shot on location in New York City, with the help of Haig Manoogian and George Stoney, who were both influential figures in Scorsese's early career, introducing him to the works of Akira Kurosawa and Ingmar Bergman. The film's cinematography, handled by Michael Wadleigh, adds to the overall atmosphere and tone of the film, which explores themes of youth culture and social commentary, similar to the works of John Cassavetes and Shirley Clarke. The film's score, featuring music by The Velvet Underground and Bob Dylan, was also influenced by the works of The Beatles and The Beach Boys, who were popular at the time, and were known for their psychedelic rock and folk rock sounds.

Release

The Big Shave was released in 1967, and was shown at various film festivals, including the New York Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival, where it was praised by critics, including Roger Ebert and Pauline Kael, who were known for their reviews of French New Wave films, including Breathless and Jules and Jim. The film's success helped establish Martin Scorsese as a rising talent in the film industry, and paved the way for his future films, including Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, which were also praised by critics, including Vincent Canby and Andrew Sarris. The film's release was also influenced by the works of Stanley Kubrick and Arthur Penn, who were known for their independent films and experimental films, including 2001: A Space Odyssey and Bonnie and Clyde.

Reception

The Big Shave received positive reviews from critics, including Roger Ebert and Pauline Kael, who praised the film's unique style and themes, which were influenced by the works of François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard. The film's exploration of youth culture and social commentary was also praised by critics, including Vincent Canby and Andrew Sarris, who were known for their reviews of French New Wave films, including Breathless and Jules and Jim. The film's success helped establish Martin Scorsese as a major talent in the film industry, and paved the way for his future films, including Raging Bull and Goodfellas, which were also praised by critics, including Peter Travers and Owen Gleiberman. The film's influence can also be seen in the works of other directors, including Quentin Tarantino and Spike Lee, who have cited Scorsese as an influence, and have gone on to make films like Pulp Fiction and Do the Right Thing, which explore similar themes of youth culture and social commentary.

Category:1967 films