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Easy Sunday Viewing: The Best of Everything (1959)

The Best of Everything (1959), directed by Jean Negulesco is an adaptation of the book (same title) written by first time novelist Rona Jaffe (1931-2005); the narrative is based on her experiences while working in New York City as an associate editor in the 1950s.

'Three secretaries look for love while working in the publishing business' (Source: TCMdB)

The all-star cast includes Hope Lange, Diane Baker, Suzy Parker, Steven Boyd, Louis Jourdan, Robert Evans, and Joan Crawford.

The plot centers on the professional and personal lives of its three young female protagonists – Caroline Bender (Lange), Gregg Adams (Parker) and April Morrison (Baker):

Caroline Bender is an ambitious, recent college graduate just starting at  the publishing firm who, when jilted, finds consolation in the arms of editor Mike Rice (Boyd). Gregg Adams is a typist and an aspiring actress romantically involved with stage director David Savage (Jourdan). April Morrison is a naïve young woman who winds up pregnant, much to the chagrin of the unborn child’s father Dexter Key (Evans), who urges her to take drastic measures to rectify the situation.

All three women are under the supervision of editor Amanda Farrow (Crawford), an exacting professional who yearns for domesticity (marriage, home, etc.).

Details of the plot synopsis are from Wikipedia

As one would expect, the film has a decidedly melodramatic, somewhat muted “Sirk“-ian tone. If you have seen films such as Written on the Wind, All That Heaven Allows and Magnificent Obsession (1954), then you are perfectly primed for this film.

Released in 1959, one also gets the sense that the film was a bellwether for the changing landscape of professional work environments and women’s roles in them. This is nowhere more clear than in the characterization of Amanda Farrow as played by Joan Crawford. In her very brief time on-screen, her character comes full circle and in the end of her story arc, arrives at a rather unconventional (at least for 1959) decision.

A contemporary offering which has this film in its DNA is of course, the hit television show Mad Men, which recreates this time and place in a highly stylized, revisionist manner. I do not watch the show (have tried but gave up soon after) and prefer the “two hours and out” disposable format of this film. But I suspect that for fans of the TV show, they would find an equal pleasure in watching The Best of Everything.

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Humoresque (Jean Negulesco, 1946)

The pedigree for the 1946 Warner Brother’s feature is quite impressive –

  • directed by Jean Negulesco
  • co-written by noted playwright Clifford Odets
  • based on a novel by Fannie Hurst (Imitation of Life)
  • starring Joan Crawford and John Garfield.

When I first heard about this film, my expectations were tempered by the fact that it was a drama starring Joan Crawford. Joan Crawford is an interesting screen presence for me – on one hand I do not mind watching her films (Mildred Pierce and The Women especially), but on the other hand, there is that overly stylized/campy aspect to her appearance and performance; this is particularly true for many of the films she did during this period in the 1940’s.

On its surface, I thought Humoresque would devolve into this generic type of “women’s picture” melodrama. Of course, in many ways it lives up to this promise. However, at the conclusion of the film, I was left with a genuine sense of melancholy. In the last 10-15 minutes of this film, the climax/falling actions are sublime and features quite possibly one of the most beautiful intercut sequences I have seen in quite some time.

In my estimation, Joan Crawford’s performance is the best of her long and somewhat varied career. I usually hesitate using superlatives, especially in this case since I have not seen every Crawford performance; but in this case, if this is not her greatest,  it has to be in the top three.

Watching this film also brought me to a renewed appreciation for its director, Jean Negulesco. His filmography is substantial and includes in it many films that I consider among some of my more enjoyable classic film experiences:

  • A Certain Smile
  • Johnny Belinda
  • Phone Call from a Stranger
  • Three Coins in a Fountain
  • The Best of Everything

He is also responsible for films such as:

  • Titanic (1953)
  • Daddy Long Legs (Fred Astaire/Leslie Caron)
  • Boy on a Dolphin (Sophia Loren/Alan Ladd)
  • How to Marry a Millionaire (Marilyn Monroe/Jane Russell)

So if you are a fan of romantic dramas of the 1940s or 1950s, Humoresque  is definitely worth a look see.

If you have seen any films of Jean Negulesco, what is/are some of your faves? Enter in the comments below.

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