Classic wet shaving is masculine, exciting, and sexy
For many men, shaving is a daily morning routine. A ritual you don't always think about. Well, in the morning you are not yet 100% awake. Shaving is often done on 'autopilot'. Just put a cloud of foam on the face and quickly shave with the razor along your usual shaving paths. Rinse, aftershave, and 'all done'. How different that often is in films. In films, actors manage to give shaving 'charge'. Shaving is an artistic expression. In many cases, it is of course about 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 famous shaving scenes.
Why classic wet shaving is masculine, exciting, and sexy
Filmmakers usually choose classic wet shaving. Why? It is still, in this modern time, a typically male ritual. Shaving with a sharp razor over your facial skin is a skill and requires control. Shaving is also an intimate moment for yourself. After shaving, the man is smooth, fresh, and well-groomed. Ready for the fight. Women find shaving and men who shave exciting and sexy. It is a male activity and because the man is at that moment very vulnerable. It also strongly evokes 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. Two FBI agents investigate the disappearance of three civil rights activists. They are confronted with racism and face much resistance from the local police. FBI agent Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman) meets the corrupt deputy sheriff Clinton Pell (Brad Dourif) in a barbershop. The deputy sheriff is being shaved by the barber at that moment. Gene Hackman takes the straight razor from the barber and presses the razor against the deputy sheriff's cheek and throat. He warns the sheriff not to obstruct the investigation.
In this scene, a straight razor is used. What stands out is that the barber immediately starts shaving against the grain on his customer's cheeks. Usually, you start shaving on the cheeks with the grain.
The straight razor is used here as a dangerous weapon; the razor commands respect. Shaving wet with a razor on your skin is a skill and requires control.
The Great Dictator, 1940, Charlie Chaplin
This satirical film by Charlie Chaplin takes place just before World War II. It is a parody of the dictator Adolf Hitler. Charlie Chaplin plays two main roles, namely the dictator and a Jewish barber. Because both characters look strikingly alike, they are accidentally switched at the end of the film. The Jewish barber is mistaken for the dictator. This causes confusion when he finally has to give a speech in front of a large audience.
Midway through the film, there is a fantastic scene where the barber shaves a customer with a shaving brush and straight razor. In this scene, all the steps of shaving are performed to the rhythm of the music.
In this era, barbers still used real straight razors. Nowadays, barbershops only shave with shavette razors or a regular razor. Charlie Chaplin closely observed the shaving method of barbers. The barber first makes shaving foam in a shaving bowl. Unfortunately, it is not shown whether he uses shaving soap or shaving cream. He applies it with the shaving brush and his hands. Then he sharpens the razor briefly on a whetstone and afterwards polishes it on the strop. Very smoothly and skillfully, he shaves his customer. After shaving, a quick aftershave splash. Apparently, "time is money" was also true back then.
In this scene, the creators want to show that the profession of barber is a respectable and noble craft.
Tootsie, 1982, Dustin Hofmann
In this comedic film, Dustin Hofman plays a frustrated and demanding actor, Michael Dorsey. As a male actor, he can't find work. He decides to transform into a woman to get a role in a soap opera. He manages to play the lead role as a woman in this soap. The character Dorothy in this series becomes so popular that the directors decide to extend his contract for another year. This naturally leads to hilarious situations. He falls in love with Julie Nichols (Jessica Lange), one of his female co-stars in this soap. Julie's father also falls in love with Dorothy.
He spends hours putting on makeup and dressing up as a woman. In one scene, you see Dustin Hoffman 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 shaving in the bath with a multiblade cartridge razor and ready-made 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, probably hairspray, and his burning cigar and burns the snake on the spot.
It is a pity that James Bond shaves with shaving foam from an aerosol can. If you look closely, it is shaving foam from the brand Schick. This is probably product placement for this brand. It is unclear what exactly is in the hairspray can. But in any case, it is very 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 in the classic way. She takes the razor from James Bond and then shaves him.
For actress Naomi Harris, it was the first time she shaved a man with a straight razor. She took some practical lessons beforehand from a barber (her hairdresser's father). She practiced a lot on balloons and on some male crew members. During the shaving of Daniel Craig, she was a bit nervous. Fortunately, everyone had confidence in her.
At the beginning, James Bond uses a classic shaving brush made of silver-tip 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 stands out is that he applies the foam to his cheeks and chin with a rotating motion. The straight razor is a 5/8" blade with a wooden handle. It is not visible which brand it is. It is probably 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;
- Women appreciate men who shave classic wet.
North by Northwest, 1959, Cary Grant
In this thrilling classic, Cary Grant plays the charming advertising man Roger O. Thornhill. Roger is mistakenly taken for a secret agent. He is kidnapped by two armed men and taken away. Several chase scenes follow. Very famous is the scene where he is chased through a cornfield by a low-flying crop-dusting plane. He is, among others, wanted by the police. To prevent being recognized by the police, he shaves in a public toilet and washroom. He uses extra shaving foam to avoid being recognized. He uses a travel shaving brush and a mini safety razor.
The travel shaving brush is a classic badger hair shaving brush. The safety razor has a metal and plastic shaving head. The man next to Cary Grant shaves with a straight razor.
This comedic scene shows that you must be able to shave yourself under any circumstance or situation.
The Untouchables, 1987, Robert De Niro
In this fantastic mafia film, some top actors play, 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 the agents Eliot Ness and Jimmy Malone, respectively. In the shaving scene, Al Capone sits relaxed and comfortable in the barber chair in the barbershop. He is surrounded by male journalists who interview him and ask various questions. During the straight razor shave, the barber accidentally cuts his cheek. The legendary words of Al Capone 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 luxury Italian Shave. His barber first starts with wet warm towels. The shaving foam is applied with an XL-sized badger hair shaving brush. The handle is made of chrome-plated metal. The straight razor has a 5/8" blade and an ivory white plastic handle. The tip of the blade is a so-called barbertip or barber's notch. Unfortunately, it is not visible which brand it is. What stands out is that Robert De Niro already seems quite clean-shaven before he is shaved by the barber.
This scene shows four aspects:
- Wet shaving is a male affair;
- The straight razor commands respect;
- Good shaving is a skill and requires mastery;
- You must always stay calm while shaving.
High Plains Drifter, 1973, Clint Eastwood
High Plains Drifter is an American western film from 1973 directed by Clint Eastwood. Clint Eastwood plays the lead role as a traveler. He is passing through and ends up in the mining town of Lago. At the local barbershop, he gets shaved. During the shave, he is harassed by three men. A struggle ensues and then the traveler shoots the three men dead.
The barber in this film is a shy and obsequious little man. He uses an open razor. Before he starts, the razor is polished on a leather strop. 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 is in a large mug and applied with a shaving brush. It is not clear what kind of shaving brush it is. What stands out is that he applies the shaving foam very sloppily. The open razor has a 6/8" blade. Unfortunately, the brand is not visible.
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 romantic film starring John Travolta as George Malley. George is a car mechanic, a lovable 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 develops special paranormal powers and intelligence. Ultimately, things do not end well for George.
In an extremely romantic and loving scene, he is shaved with shaving foam and a safety razor by Lace. Lace uses shaving foam from an aerosol can and a safety razor with butterfly opening.
In this scene too, we 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 featuring 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 whether or not to report his comrade for this war crime.
In this scene, Sean Penn is shaving with an open razor. This scene shows two aspects, namely:
- Shaving with a razor is a masculine ritual;
- You can't start the day well or be ready for the fight if you haven't shaved and groomed yourself properly.
