The Best of Everything *** (1959, Joan Crawford, Hope Lange, Stephen Boyd, Louis Jourdan, Suzy Parker, Martha Hyer, Diane Baker, Brian Aherne, Robert Evans) – Classic Movie Review 9919

Director Jean Negulesco’s 1959 romantic drama The Best of Everything is based on Rona Jaffe’s novel and stars Joan Crawford, Hope Lange, Stephen Boyd, Louis Jourdan, Suzy Parker, Martha Hyer, Diane Baker, Brian Aherne and Robert Evans.

A lady who always got the best of everything, Joan Crawford enjoys herself in a typical Fifties role for her as Amanda Farrow, an ageing magazine tycoon taking out her frustrations on her attractive women employees. Talk about harassment in the workplace!

Meanwhile Caroline Bender (Hope Lange) renounces her promotion to save a handsome alcoholic, a playboy seduces April Morrison (Diane Baker) and actress Gregg Adams (Suzy Parker) goes crazy over a flighty director.

Rona Jaffe’s novel makes a good vehicle for heartless Joan and the rest, and the junky soap opera is expertly written for what it is by Edith Sommers and Mann Rubin, and smoothly made by director Negulesco, with a handsome production. It is shot by William C Mellor in CinemaScope and colour by DeLuxe.

Also in the cast are Brett Halsey, Donald Harron, Sue Carson, Linda Hutchings, Lionel Kane, Ted Otis, June Blair, Myrna Hansen, Alena Murray and Rachel Stevens.

There were two Oscar nominations: for Best Costume Design, Color (Adele Palmer) and Best Original Song for Alfred Newman (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) for the song ‘The Best of Everything’.

It was the first time Crawford accepted a star supporting role in a movie, with her filmed role cut even further before release.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9919

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