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Agreed kitsune, great puzzle. 27a was nice.
I don't remember cutting up a grid since early 2016 - the year I started doing the Listener. Maybe I've forgotten a few?

Think I've got a full grid and I can see the film and actors but still have 3 clues that I can't parse which I suspect will lead to 2 compass points. Or at least I hope it will!
20a snakes is confusing me
8d got the definition but don't see the wordplay
31d very confused here
Thanks!

Shortened six-letter synonym for style, surrounded by shortened four-letter heraldic term for wavy.

Hi scubaj 20a 4 letter snakes (various spellings are available) followed by 2 letter policeperson (abbr).
8d Shortened style inside shortened wavy (heraldry).
31a is nasty and important. You probably gave the answer, it has more meanings than the awful first definition. Think of a longer word which could yield a 'point'.

Scubaj, 8d is a shortened 4 letter heraldic term around a shortened/cut word for style I think.

I have a complete grid and 6 compass points but the logic of the joining is defeating me. I see the names and title and can imagine the disparity in the final shapes (and probably what's in each). Might just start cutting up based on that.

I think I'll give up on this. I have parsed all the clues and I have the six compass points. I have followed the instructions precisely, but so far I've been unable to get to similar shapes. I have an idea for the film title, which must be short since title and actors come to only 23 letters.

You are both so close. Disparity is a good word.

If I'm not being too specific for the forum, I assume the third line is relatively short. I've terminated following the directions in clue order, as per preamble.

Correct.

If the actors and film title must use only 23 letters in total, the film must share two letters with one of the actors.

I can make this work by highlighting contiguous cells, but not spelling out the film title in order. And I can see at least two ways of doing this.

There must be an unambiguous solution. What am I missing?