The Big Shave Explained

The Big Shave
Director:Martin Scorsese
Starring:Peter Bernuth
Runtime:6 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

The Big Shave is a 1967 six-minute body horror short film directed by Martin Scorsese.[1] [2] It is also known as Viet '67.[3] [4]

Home media

In May 2020, it was made available on DVD/Blu-ray by The Criterion Collection as part of a collection of his short films from the 60s and 70s.[5]

Synopsis

Peter Bernuth[6] stars as the recipient of the title shave, repeatedly shaving away hair, then skin, in an increasingly bloody and graphic bathroom scene. Prompted by the film's alternative title, many film critics have interpreted the young man's process of self-mutilation as a metaphor for the self-destructive involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War.[7]

Production

The music accompanying the film is Bunny Berigan's "I Can't Get Started".[8] The film was produced at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, shot on Agfa color film donated by Palais des Beaux Arts.[9]

The short's use of violence, music and montage would become trademarks of Scorsese's future work.[10]

Cultural references

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Big Shave. https://web.archive.org/web/20131113054158/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/139400/The-Big-Shave/overview. dead. Movies & TV Dept.. The New York Times. Aubry Anne D'Arminio. 2013. 2013-11-13.
  2. Web site: The Big Shave (1967) | MUBI. Mar 17, 2024. mubi.com.
  3. Web site: The Big Shave. www.tcm.com. Mar 17, 2024. March 12, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240312231825/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/648886/the-big-shave. live.
  4. Web site: CAPSULE: THE BIG SHAVE (1967) (FROM "SCORSESE SHORTS"). Jake. Fredel. Jul 8, 2020. 366 Weird Movies. Mar 17, 2024. October 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231008064111/https://366weirdmovies.com/capsule-the-big-shave-from-scorsese-shorts/. live.
  5. Web site: Criterion Announces May Titles. Mar 17, 2024. www.blu-ray.com. October 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231008013554/https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=26411. live.
  6. Web site: The Big Shave. The Criterion Channel. Mar 17, 2024. October 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231008013555/https://www.criterionchannel.com/the-big-shave. live.
  7. Web site: Scorsese Shorts (0) | The Criterion Collection. Mar 17, 2024. December 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231216174229/https://www.criterion.com/films/30616-scorsese-shorts. live.
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20220708194957/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6f4e99ab BFI
  9. Web site: The Big Shave (1967) - Martin Scorsese | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie. Mar 17, 2024. www.allmovie.com. May 27, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230527102230/https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-big-shave-vm11965818. live.
  10. Web site: Watch Martin Scorsese's early and bloodiest short film 'The Big Shave' - Far Out Magazine. Oct 2, 2020. faroutmagazine.co.uk. Mar 17, 2024. October 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231019220537/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/martin-scorsese-short-film-the-big-shave/. live.
  11. Web site: YouTube. Dave Hause - Time Will Tell. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/zd8E4xRheZA . 2021-12-21 . live.
  12. Web site: YouTube. PEARLIES. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/CPIMYAjyKVg . 2021-12-21 . live.