Durrell lived until 1990, so unless he purposely avoided it, I assume he saw this movie at some point. It must be odd to see a movie dramatizing one's own personal love life and "struggle to find one's self."
Anyone know what he thought of the film's depiction of his life?
Who is Durrell?. I assume you refer to Larry's character? His name was Larry Darnell. He is a character from W. Somerset Maugham's novel. Please, explain whom you are referring to?, whose life?
shareAccording to IMDB, the name was "Darrell," not "Darnell." And unfortunately, while watching the film on AMC, I misheard the name "Darrell" as "Durrell." Since the real-life Somerset Maugham was a character in the movie, I thought the lead character was based on real-life novelist Lawrence Durrell. Yikes... Guess not!
shareO.K. I meant to say Darrell. However, I was not as totally misguided as you were!!!!!. Because W. Somerset Maugham did not play a character called Durrell nor Darrell. He was played as himself in Herbert Marshalls's acting. I see that you got pretty mixed up to say the least.
Oh, You are welcome!
I didn't say Somerset Maugham played any characters in the movie, I said he WAS a character in the movie.
shareYes, you got that right, how did you guess?...he was a character in the movie played as HIMSELF acted by Herbert Marshall. How on earth could anyone be playing the life Lawrence Durrel in this movie?????. Or you thought it was a sequel? Ha, ha.
Do you take this board seriously or do you need somebody repeating that you are totally out of orbit?
Oh!, you are welcome, it is my obligation to clarify doubts, if possible, but in your case....just reload your batteries. And please don't write to me again. I'm no longer interested in reading your msgs.
You take the term "self-amused twat" to new levels of achievement.
shareHi
Watched Razor's edge last night. The same was gnawing me too (it still is), as Larry Darrell is too close to Lawrence Durrell. Just did some research and came upon some fascinating info. Maugham met Ramana Maharishi, an Indian mystic, in 1938 and was so impressed by him that he based the holy man character in Razor's Edge on him.
Here are the interesting links:
http://davidgodman.org/rteach/smaugham.shtml
http://www.geocities.com/the_wanderling/razors_edge_ring.html
"You take the term "self-amused twat" to new levels of achievement."
That's tellin' 'em "yojimboy" - I thought that "shoresus2001" was being awfully condescending in responding to your honest question. You were very slow to retaliate and when you finally did, it was a zinger! I think that no well deserved response should go un-congratulated, so my hat is off to you...even if it is about 3 years after the fact!
Well, shucks. Thanks for the kudos and may the gods of IMDB smile upon your kind travels through its limitless library of merry links.
share[deleted]
His name was Larry Darrel, but he was only a fictional character.
shareDear Yojimbouy,
It occurred to me that the Larry Darrell character might be an early 20th century American version of St. Francis of Assisi. That is, until I read your post.
I'm sorry to say that I do not know the answer to your question, but suspect the film may have sanitized Durrell's life a bit too much for comfort.
In the early '60's Durrell was required reading for those who aspired to coffeehouse literacy. Durrell's favourite colour was mauve - every two pages or so, that colour came up again. I'll never forget a photo of him in a prominent magazine, struggling with his own personal agony, unless he happened to be passing a kidney stone. Ok, his hue was not mauve.
My Favourite Durrell novel was THE DARK LABYRINTH.
I even recommended the ALEXANDRIA QUARTET to my Mother. Her reaction:"They're just a bunch of bums." She was especially unimpressed with the scene in BALTHAZAR, in which Justine, learning of the death of her lover, Pursewarden, wigs out, from the bottom up:
"She uttered the high, piercing wail of Arabic Women and jumped up and down on the carpet, urinating in little squirts."
To Modern Woman: you've come a long way, Baby.
imdke
Talk about jumping to idiotic conclusions...
shareSome say Larry Darrell is based on GUY HAGUE.
http://www.geocities.com/the_wanderling/razors_edge_ring.html
I'm afraid I can't tell you anything about Durell's reaction to the film, but I can certainly tell you how ironic it is to see all the pointless quibbling going in a thread concerning a film that is all about forsaking the ego and, by doing so, attaining enlightenment.
Relax, fellas: it's only a film. Larry's gift was in making those around him feel at ease, so perhaps we can all take a page from his book when we deal with other people, eh?
According to the trivia, some people thought someone named Christopher Isherwood was Maughm's inspiration for the Tyrone Power character.
I looked up Isherwood on my computer. The character played by Tyrone Power was unbelievably noble and good. He was a person everyone could or should aspire to. Isherwood was less so. Considerably less so.
Christopher Isherwood was a very good writer, but not the model for Larry Darrell.
shareI looked up Isherwood also and didn't find much in common between himself and Larry Darrell.
Obviously, this film and its source material novel by W. Somerset Maugham is fiction, but I can't help supposing the story is based on numerous real life experiences and acquaintences of Maugham (who injects himself into the narrative as one of the characters.)
Whatever you do, DO NOT read this sig--ACKKK!!! TOO LATE!!!