The Best of Everything (film)

The Best of Everything
VHS cover
Directed by Jean Negulesco
Produced by Jerry Wald
Screenplay by Edith Sommer
Mann Rubin
Based on The Best of Everything
by Rona Jaffe
Starring Hope Lange
Diane Baker
Suzy Parker
Joan Crawford
Robert Evans
Stephen Boyd
Louis Jourdan
Brian Aherne
Martha Hyer
Music by Alfred Newman
Cinematography William C. Mellor
Edited by Robert Simpson
Distributed by Twentieth Century-Fox
Release date
  • October 9, 1959 (1959-10-09) (United States)
Running time
 121 mins.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $1,965,000[1]

The Best of Everything is a 1959 American romantic drama film released by 20th Century-Fox, and starring Hope Lange, Diane Baker, Suzy Parker, Stephen Boyd, Louis Jourdan, Robert Evans, and Joan Crawford. The movie follows the professional careers and private lives of three women who share a small apartment in New York City and work together in a paperback publishing firm.

The screenplay, which was adapted from the 1958 novel of the same name by Rona Jaffe, was written by Edith Sommer and Mann Rubin.[2] The film was directed by Jean Negulesco and produced by Jerry Wald. Alfred Newman wrote the musical score, the last under his longtime contract as Fox's musical director. The film has been released on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray.

Plot

Recent Radcliffe College graduate Caroline Bender (Hope Lange) is hired as a secretary at Fabian Publishing Company. She works for Amanda Farrow (Joan Crawford), a bitter, demanding, middle-aged editor who resents Caroline and suspects she wants her job. Caroline meets two other young women in the typing pool — April Morrison (Diane Baker), a naive rube from Colorado, and Gregg Adams (Suzy Parker), a glamorous aspiring actress — and the three women become roommates.

April is assigned to work for the lecherous editor-in-chief, Mr. Shalimar (Brian Aherne), who persuades her to work late one night in a ploy to sexually harass her. When she rejects him, he is undaunted and continues to pursue other young female employees. At an alcohol-fueled office party, an intoxicated Mr. Shalimar makes sexual overtures to Barbara Lamont (Martha Hyer) while they are alone in her office. Sidney Carter (Donald Harron), a coworker with whom she has an affair, intervenes to stop Shalimar after he hears Barbara yelling. Shalimar shows no remorse over the incident and suggests that because Lamont has been married and divorced, she should expect such advances from male coworkers.

Gregg is cast in a play directed by David Savage (Louis Jourdan) and the two become lovers. Gregg is demoted to understudy when she repeatedly flubs her lines. She becomes obsessed with David, whose affections turn to Gregg's replacement in the play. After David ends his affair with Gregg, she becomes mentally unstable and starts stalking him. While lurking outside his apartment, she is startled by a boisterous neighbor and panics. Gregg flees to a fire escape and falls to her death when her high-heeled shoe gets caught in the grating, causing her to stumble.

April meets Dexter Key (Robert Evans), a spoiled playboy, at a company picnic. The two start an affair, but Dexter threatens to dump the romantic April unless she agrees to have sex. When April becomes pregnant, Dexter persuades her to ostensibly elope, but once they are en route, Dexter admits his marriage proposal is a ruse: he is actually taking her to a doctor to get an abortion. Distraught at the idea of ending her pregnancy, April leaps from Dexter's moving car. She survives, but the impact causes a miscarriage and she is hospitalized. April becomes romantically involved with her attending physician.

Caroline, upset after her fiancée Eddie Harris (Brett Halsey) marries another woman, goes on a blind date with Paul Landis. The date ends awkwardly when Caroline spots a coworker, Mike Rice (Stephen Boyd). After Paul leaves, Mike and Caroline get drunk and she falls asleep at his apartment. At the office the next day, a badly hungover Caroline is worried she and Mike had sex, but he assures her nothing happened.

While working for Amanda Farrow, Caroline adds her own editorial comments to the manuscripts submitted by writers. Shalimar takes notice of Caroline's comments and promotes her to the position of manuscript reader. When Caroline thanks Farrow for recommending her as a reader, Farrow admits she advised Shalimar not to promote her. Later Mike disparages Caroline's ambition and advises her not to become career-driven, but to seek marriage instead.

Mike and Caroline consider becoming romantically involved, but their plans are interrupted by Eddie, who dines with Caroline while in New York on a business trip. Thinking Eddie wants to leave his wife and rekindle their relationship, Caroline visits his hotel room; she leaves after Eddie reveals he has no intention of divorcing his rich wife and only wants Caroline to be his mistress.

When Farrow quits her job to marry a man and move to St. Louis, Caroline takes her place at Fabian. Caroline relinquishes the position after Farrow's marriage fails and she returns to New York. While leaving the office one day, Caroline bumps into Mike. She lifts the veil she is wearing to mourn Gregg's death and locks eyes with him; they walk away together as the film ends.

Cast

Production

20th Century Fox producer Jerry Wald announced he was buying the rights to the novel of the same name in April 1958. In his first interview about the film adaption, Wald said: "There are 10 roles in this for young people, and I hope to get some of our outstanding actors such as Lee Remick, Hope Lange, Diane Varsi, Suzy Parker, Robert Evans, Lee Philips and Bob Wagner."[3] In further early casting considerations, Wald mentioned Joanne Woodward, Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Bacall and Margaret Truman.[4] Rona Jaffe officially sold the rights to her book for $100,000 in November 1958.[5] She did not want any part in writing the screenplay, but instead wanted a cameo role: "I want to appear in the movie in a walk-on part. I would just appear briefly as one of the office's pool of stenographers", she said. [6]

Martin Ritt was initially set to direct, but he was replaced by Jean Negulesco in January 1959, reportedly because Ritt was upset with the casting of Suzy Parker. Ritt dismissed this rumor, saying the script was not his "cup of tea".[7] When she learned that Wald was sick, Parker agreed to do the film, reporting for work in January 1959.[8] (Parker had agreed to take the role in the summer of 1958, but a broken arm and a fourteen-month recovery delayed her appearance.)[9] On playing a neurotic actress, Parker commented: "I know the type extremely well."[10]

During casting, several actors were considered, cast and replaced. In August 1958, Diane Varsi and Lee Remick were, along with Suzy Parker, attached to star in the film, but Varsi and Remick withdrew.[11] Remick was forced to leave production in early 1959 due to physical problems. In September 1958, Julia Meade signed on for the film, planning to make her screen debut.[12] She ultimately did not appear in the film. In January 1959, the unknown actress Diane Hartman was cast as Barbara Lamont, but she was later replaced by Martha Hyer.[13] Jack Warden agreed to a co-starring role in March 1959, but he did not appear in the film.[14] Less than a month later, Jean Peters was planning to make her comeback in this film.[15] Had Peters not been replaced, it would have been her fifth film under the direction of Negulesco. Another actress cast in March 1959 without appearing in the film was June Blair, who was set to play one of the starring roles.[16]

Joan Crawford was cast in May 1959, ten days before shooting began.[17] Crawford was almost broke at the time.[18] She commented on her role: "I'm on the screen only seven minutes. But I liked the part, and I want to do other movies and TV films if I can find what I want." She had recently been elected to the Board of Directors of Pepsi-Cola and planned to spend more time promoting the soft drink.[19] (In fact, Crawford was exaggerating somewhat; she is onscreen more than seven minutes.)

Music

The score was composed and conducted by Alfred Newman, with orchestrations by Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer. Additional development of Newman's themes were done by Cyril Mockridge for two scenes. The songs "Again" and "Kiss Them for Me" (by Lionel Newman) and "Something's Gotta Give" (by Johnny Mercer) are used as source music.[20]

The title song for the film was composed by Newman, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn, and performed by Johnny Mathis. Producer Jerry Wald first showed interest in Mathis for the title song in August 1958.[21]

The music, as recorded for the motion picture, was released on CD by Film Score Monthly records in 2002.

Reception

In The New York Times of October 9, 1959, critic Howard Thompson described the film as a "handsome but curiously unstimulating drama" and noted, "the casting is dandy" with kudos to Lange. Commenting on Joan Crawford, the critic described her performance as "suave trouping". Thompson pointed out that, "...for all its knowing air and chic appointments, the picture talkily lumbers onto the plane of soap opera, under Mr. Negulesco's reverential guidance."[22]

Paul V. Beckley ended his review in the New York Herald Tribune with: "...Miss Crawford comes near making the rest of the picture look like a distraction."[23]

Crawford's peripheral role in the film generated much criticism. The men she was involved with romantically never appeared on the screen, and several of her scenes — including, according to co-star Diane Baker, a superbly acted drunk episode — were cut, reportedly due to the film's length.[24]

Due to the film's success, a short-lived daytime soap opera of the same name was aired on ABC in 1970.

Oscar nominations

The Best of Everything received two Academy Award nominations during the 32nd Academy Awards: Best Original Song for the title song and Best Costumes-Color (Adele Palmer).[25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p252
  2. ↑ Dagan, Carmel (2013-10-17). "Mann Rubin, Screenwriter of 'First Deadly Sin,' Dies at 85". Variety. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  3. ↑ "Amounts Join "John Paul Jones" by Louella O. Parsons, Cedar Rapids Gazette, April 24, 1958, p. 18
  4. ↑ "Jerry Wald's Big Secret: Make Hard Work Look Easy" by Eddie Fisher, Chester Times, October 1, 1958, p. 7
  5. ↑ "Working Girl Wants Marriage, Expert Says" by Bob Thomas, The Post Register, November 11, 1958, p. 11
  6. ↑ "Even Before the Book Was Done, Films Paid $100,000 for Rights", Miami Daily News-Record, September 9, 1959, p. 3
  7. ↑ "Anthony Quinn Signs To Make Film In Yugoslavia" by Louella O. Parsons, Anderson Daily Bulletin, January 28, 1959, p. 11
  8. ↑ "Bardot Film 'Night in Paris' Scrapped; New Movie Substituted" by Louella O. Parsons, Albuquerque Journal, December 12, 1958, p. 58
  9. ↑ "Oilman's Story Scripted" by Louella O. Parsons, Daily Review, July 9, 1958, p. 36
  10. ↑ "Suzy Parker Return to Work After Taking 14-month Layoff" by Vernon Scott, Simpson's Leader-Times, April 25, 1959, p. 2
  11. ↑ "Mr. Hollywood" by Mike Connolly, The Independent, August 23, 1958, p. 6
  12. ↑ "Ava Is Still In Limelight" by Dorothy Kilgallen, The Oneonta Star, September 2, 1958, p. 4
  13. ↑ "Hollywood Today" by Erskine Johnson, Eureka Humboldt Standard, January 31, 1959, p. 2
  14. ↑ "Hedda Hopper" by Hedda Hopper, Tucson Daily Citizen, March 4, 1959, p. 35
  15. ↑ "Hedda Hopper" by Hedda Hopper, The Lima News, March 30, 1959, p.11
  16. ↑ "Real Life Can Be Like A Bad Movie" by Jean Cornel, Tucson Daily Citizen, March 21, 1959, p. 33
  17. ↑ "Hedda Hopper Hollywood" by Hedda Hopper, The Lima News, May 12, 1959, p. 8
  18. ↑ Joan Crawford: the Essential Biography (2002) by Lawrence J. Quirk and William Schoell. p. 202
  19. ↑ "Joan Crawford Embarks On New Career in Cold Cruel World of Business" by Hal Boyle, Ada Evening News, August 13, 1959, p. 19
  20. ↑ Kendall, Lukas (2002). Alfred Newman. "The Best of Everything". Film Score Monthly (CD insert notes). Culver City, California, U.S.A. 4 (11): 5, 10.
  21. ↑ "Hedda Hopper" by Hedda Hopper, Altoona Mirror, August 4, 1958, p. 16
  22. ↑ The New York Times Review. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  23. ↑ Joancrawfordbest.com
  24. ↑ Quirk, Lawrence J.. The Films of Joan Crawford. The Citadel Press, 1968.
  25. ↑ "The 32nd Academy Awards (1960) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
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