Classic wet shaving is masculine, exciting and sexy
For many men, shaving is a daily morning routine. A ritual that you don't always think about. Well, in the morning you are not yet 100% awake. People often shave on 'autopilot'. Just put a cloud of foam on your face and quickly shave with the razor according to your regular shaving paths. Rinse clean, after shave and 'you're done'. How different is that often in films. In films, actors know how to give shaving 'charge'. Shaving is an artistic expression. In many cases it obviously involves classic wet shaving: shaving foam, shaving brush and razor. Classic wet shaving is a ritual. It is thoroughly masculine, exciting and sexy. We have mapped out 10 fun, fantastic and well-known shaving scenes.
Why is classic wet shaving masculine, exciting and sexy?
Filmmakers usually opt for the classic wet shave. Why? It is still a typical male ritual in modern times. Shaving your facial skin with a sharp razor is a skill and requires mastery. Shaving is also an intimate moment for yourself. After shaving, the man is smooth, fresh and well-groomed. Ready for battle. Women find shaving and men shaving exciting and sexy. It is a male activity and because the man is very vulnerable at that moment. It also evokes strong associations with their own childhood: standing next to your shaving father as a young girl. It gives them a feeling of safety and security.
Mississippi Burning, 1988, Gene Hackman
This exciting biographical thriller is set in the 1960s in the deep South of the USA. 2 FBI agents investigate the disappearance of 3 civil rights activists. They are confronted with racism and encounter a lot of resistance from the local police. FBI agent Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman) meets corrupt deputy Clinton Pell (Brad Dourif) in a barbershop. At that moment the deputy is being shaved by the barber. Gene Hackman takes the straight razor from the barber and presses the razor to the deputy's cheek and throat. He warns the sheriff not to obstruct the investigation.
A straight razor is used in this scene. What is striking is that the barber immediately starts shaving against the direction of beard growth on his customer's cheeks. Usually you start shaving on the cheeks in the direction of hair growth.
The straight razor is used here as a dangerous weapon; the razor commands respect. Wet shaving with a razor on your skin is a skill and requires mastery.
The Great Dictator, 1940, Charlie Chaplin
This satirical film by Charlie Chaplin is set just before the Second World War. It is a parody of the dictator Adolf Hitler. Charlie Chaplin plays 2 main roles, namely the dictator and a Jewish hairdresser. Because both figures look strikingly similar, they are accidentally switched at the end of the film. The Jewish hairdresser is seen as the dictator. This causes confusion when he finally has to give a speech in front of a large audience.
Halfway through the film you have a fantastic scene in which the hairdresser shaves a customer with a shaving brush and a straight razor. In this scene, all the steps of shaving are performed to the rhythm of the music.
At this time, barbers still used real straight razors. Nowadays, barbershops only shave with shavette razors or a regular razor. Charlie Chaplin paid close attention to the shaving method of barbers. The barber first starts by making shaving foam in a shaving bowl . Unfortunately, it is not shown whether he uses a shaving soap or shaving cream. He applies it with the shaving brush and his hands. He then sharpens the razor briefly on a whetstone and then polishes it on the razor strop. He shaves his customer very quickly and professionally. A quick after shave splash after shaving. Apparently it used to be that 'time is money'.
In this scene, the makers want to show that the profession of barber is a respectable and noble craft.
Tootsie, 1982, Dustin Hofmann
In this comedy film, Dustin Hofman plays a frustrated and demanding actor, Michael Dorsey. As a male actor, he is unable to find work. He decides to transform into a woman to get a role in a soap opera. He manages to play the leading role as a woman in this soap opera. The character Dorothy in this series becomes so popular that the directors decide to extend his contract for another year. This of course leads to hilarious situations. He falls in love with Julie Nichols (Jessica Lange), one of his female co-stars in this soap opera. Julie's father also falls in love with Dorothy.
He spends hours putting on make-up and dressing as a woman. In one scene you see Dustin Hofman as Dorothy shaving his legs in the bath. It clearly shows how much work it is for a man to shave and groom every morning.
James Bond/Live And Let Die, 1973, Roger Moore
In this film, Roger Moore as James Bond is in the bath, shaving with a multi-blade cartridge razor and ready-to-use shaving foam from an aerosol can. At that moment, a poisonous snake crawls in through a hatch. After shaving, he is smoking his cigar and sees the snake in his mirror. He quickly grabs a spray can of probably hairspray and his lit cigar and burns the snake on the spot.
It's a shame that James Bond shaves with shaving foam from an aerosol can. If you look closely, it is shaving foam from the Schick brand. This probably concerns product placement of this brand. It is unclear what exactly is in the can of hair spray. But in any case it is highly flammable.
This scene shows that shaving is a moment for yourself and that you should not be disturbed during your morning ritual.
James Bond/Skyfall, 2012, Daniel Craig and Naomi Harris
In this film Daniel Craig stands in front of the mirror with a shaving brush. At one point Moneypenny (Naomi Harris) is in the bathroom. James Bond continues shaving and grabs his straight razor. Moneypenny is charmed that he shaves the classic way. She takes the razor from James Bond and proceeds to shave him.
It was the first time for actress Naomi Harris to shave a man with a straight razor. She took some practical lessons from a barber (her hairdresser's father) beforehand. She practiced a lot on balloons and on some male crew members. She was a little nervous while she was shaving Daniel Craig. Fortunately, everyone had confidence in her.
In the beginning, James Bond uses a classic shaving brush made of silver-tipped badger hair . It is probably an English shaving brush. Unfortunately, you can't see whether he uses shaving soap or shaving cream in the shaving bowl. What is striking is that he applies the foam to the cheeks and chin with a circular movement. The straight razor is a 5/8" blade with a wooden handle. It is not visible which brand it is. It may be a DOVO razor.
In this scene the makers show four aspects of shaving:
- shaving is a male ritual;
- the vulnerability of the man;
- classic wet shaving is erotic;
- ladies appreciate men who use a classic wet shave.
North by Northwest, 1959, Cary Grant
In this exciting classic, Cary Grant plays the charming advertising executive Roger O. Thornhill. Roger is accidentally mistaken for a secret agent. He is kidnapped by two armed men and taken away. Various escape scenes follow. The scene where he is chased into a corn field by a low-flying crop duster is very famous. He is wanted by the police, among others. To prevent him from being recognized by the police, he stands in a public toilet and washroom shaving. He uses extra shaving cream to avoid being recognized that way. He uses a travel shaving brush and mini safety razor .
The travel shaving brush is a classic shaving brush made of badger hair. The safety razor has a metal and plastic shaving head. The man next to Cary Grant shaves with a straight razor.
This comical scene shows that you should be able to shave yourself under any circumstance or situation.
The Untouchables, 1987, Robert De Niro
This fantastic mafia film stars some top actors, Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Andy Garcia and Robert De Niro. Robert De Niro plays Al Capone. This film is based on the true story of Eliot Ness during the 'Prohibition' in the 1930s in America. Kevin Costner and Sean Connery play officers Eliot Ness and Jimmy Malone, respectively. In the shaving scene, Al Capone sits relaxed and comfortable in the shaving chair in the barbershop. He is surrounded by male journalists who interview him and ask him various questions. While shaving with a straight razor, the barber accidentally cuts his cheek. Al Capone's legendary words during this scene: 'You can get further with a kind word and a gun. Than you can with just a kind word.'
Al Capone undergoes a luxurious Italian Shave. His barber first starts with wet, warm cloths. The shaving foam is applied with an XL size badger hair shaving brush. The handle is made of chrome-plated metal. The straight razor has a 5/8" shaving foil and a handle made of ivory white plastic. The tip of the blade is a so-called barber tip or barber's notch. Unfortunately it is not visible which brand it is. What is striking is that Robert De Niro is already quite looks clean shaven before being shaved by the barber.
This scene shows four aspects:
- wet shaving is a manly affair;
- the straight razor commands respect;
- shaving well is a skill and requires mastery;
- You must always remain calm while shaving.
High Plains Drifter, 1973, Clint Eastwood
High Plains Drifter is a 1973 American western film directed by Clint Eastwood. Clint Eastwood stars as a traveler. He is passing through and ends up in the mining town of Lago. He gets a shave at the local barbershop. While shaving he is harassed by three men. A struggle takes place and then the traveler shoots the three men dead.
The barber in this film is a timid and obsequious little man. He uses a straight razor. Before he starts, the razor is polished over a leather razor sling. He offers to use Eau de Lilac after shaving. Apparently this cologne was very popular at that time in the Wild West. The shaving foam comes in a large mug and is applied with a shaving brush. It is not clear what kind of shaving brush it is. What is striking is that he applies the shaving foam very sloppily. The straight razor has a 6/8" blade. Unfortunately, it is not visible which brand it is.
This scene also shows that shaving is a moment for yourself and that you should not be disturbed while shaving. A bad shave can end badly.
Phenomenon, 1996, John Travolta and Kyra Sedgwick
Phenomenon is an American romance film starring John Travolta as George Malley. George is a car mechanic, an amiable and simple man living in a small provincial town. He is in love with a single mother, Lace Pennamin (Kyra Sedgwick). At one point he is struck by a mysterious white light in the sky. He developed special paranormal powers and intelligence. In the end, things don't end well for George.
In an extremely romantic and loving scene, he is shaved by Lace with shaving foam and a safety razor. Lace uses aerosol shaving cream and a safety razor with a butterfly closure.
In this scene we also see the vulnerability of the man while shaving and that shaving is sexy.
Casualties of War, 1989, Sean Penn, Michael J. Fox
Casualties of War is a classic Vietnam war drama starring Sean Penn (Sergeant Tony Meserve) and Michael J. Fox (Private First Class Max Eriksson). The story is based on a true incident during this war in 1966: a Vietnamese woman was kidnapped by a team of American soldiers, who raped and murdered her. During a firefight, Max Eriksson is saved by his comrade Tony Meserve. Tony was actively involved in the incident. Max faces a moral dilemma as to whether or not he should report this war crime to his comrade.
In this scene, Sean Penn is shaving with a straight razor. This scene shows two aspects, namely:
- shaving with a razor is a male ritual;
- You can only start the day well or be ready for battle if you have shaved and cared for yourself properly.
