The Best of Everything (1959 film)
Encyclopedia
The Best of Everything is a 20th Century-Fox film starring Hope Lange
, Diane Baker
, Suzy Parker
, Stephen Boyd
, Louis Jourdan, Robert Evans
, and Joan Crawford
. The movie relates 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 was written by Edith Sommer and Mann Rubin based upon the 1958 novel of the same name
by Rona Jaffe
. 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
and DVD
.
April Morrison (Baker) winds up pregnant, and jumps from a car when her unborn infant's father Dexter Key (Evans) urges an abortion. All three women are under the supervision of editor Amanda Farrow (Crawford), an exacting professional and a frustrated woman who marries, leaves the firm, and returns when she finds the simple life of home and marriage not to her liking.
from 20th Century Fox
announced he was buying the rights of the novel of the same name. 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
." In further early casting considerations, Wald mentioned Joanne Woodward
, Audrey Hepburn
, Lauren Bacall
and Margaret Truman
. In November 1958, Rona Jaffe
officially sold the rights to her book for $100,000. She did not want any part in preparing the screenplay, her intent was appearing in the film, saying: "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."
Martin Ritt
was initially set to direct, but he was replaced by Jean Negulesco
in January 1959, because reportedly, Ritt was upset with the casting of Suzy Parker
. Ritt dismissed this rumor, saying the script wasn't his "cup of tea". When she learned that Wald was sick, Parker agreed to do the film, reporting for work in January 1959. She was persuaded to take the role in the summer of 1958, but a broken arm prohibited her from taking the role. On playing a neurotic actress, Parker commented: "I know the type extremely well."
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 they both withdrew. 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. She eventually did not appear in the film. In January 1959, the unknown actress Diane Hartman was cast as Barbara, but she was later replaced by Martha Hyer
. Jack Warden
agreed to a co-starring role in March 1959, but he did not appear. Less than a month later, Jean Peters
was planning to make her comeback in this film. Had Peters not been replaced, it would have been her fifth film under direction of Negulesco. Another actress cast in March 1959 without appearing in the definite film is June Blair
, who was set to play one of the starring roles.
Joan Crawford
was cast in May 1959, ten days before shooting began. Around the time, Crawford was almost broke. 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." Crawford had recently been elected to the Board of Directors of Pepsi-Cola and planned to spend a greater part of her time promoting the soft drink giant.
, with orchestrations by Earle Hagen
and Herbert Spencer
. Additional development of Newman's themes were done by Cyril Mockridge for two scenes, and the songs "Again" and "Kiss Them for Me," both by Lionel Newman
; and "Something's Gotta Give
" by Johnny Mercer
are used as source music.
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.
The music, as recorded for the motion picture, was released on cd in 2002, on Film Score Monthly
records.
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."
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.
Due to the film's success, a short-lived daytime soap opera of the same name
was aired on ABC
in 1970.
Hope Lange
Hope Elise Ross Lange was an American stage, film, and television actress.- Early life :Lange was born into a theatrical family in Redding, Connecticut...
, Diane Baker
Diane Baker
Diane Carol Baker is an American actress who has appeared in motion pictures and on television since 1959.-Early life:...
, Suzy Parker
Suzy Parker
Suzy Parker was an American model and actress active from 1947 into the early 1960s. Her modeling career reached its zenith during the 1950s when she appeared on the cover of dozens of magazines, advertisements, and in movie and television roles.She appeared in several Revlon advertisements, but...
, Stephen Boyd
Stephen Boyd
Stephen Boyd was an Irish actor, from Glengormley, Northern Ireland, who appeared in around 60 films, most notably in the role of Messala in Ben-Hur.-Biography:...
, Louis Jourdan, Robert Evans
Robert Evans (film producer)
Robert Evans is an American film producer, best known for his work on Rosemary's Baby, Love Story, The Godfather, and Chinatown.-Early life and acting career:...
, and Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
. The movie relates the professional careers and private lives of three women who share a small apartment in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and work together in a paperback publishing firm.
The screenplay was written by Edith Sommer and Mann Rubin based upon the 1958 novel of the same name
The Best of Everything
The Best of Everything is the first novel by Rona Jaffe. It is the story of five young employees of a New York publishing company.-Adaptions:...
by Rona Jaffe
Rona Jaffe
Rona Jaffe was a popular American novelist, publishing numerous works from 1958-2003. She may have been best known for her controversial novel, Mazes and Monsters...
. The film was directed by Jean Negulesco
Jean Negulesco
Jean Negulesco was a Romanian-born American film director and screenwriter....
and produced by Jerry Wald
Jerry Wald
Jerry Wald was an American producer and screenwriter for motion pictures and radio shows.Born Jerome Irving Wald in Brooklyn, New York, he had a brother and sons who were active in show business. Jerry began writing a radio column for the New York Evening Graphic while a student at New York...
. Alfred Newman
Alfred Newman
Alfred Newman was an American composer, arranger, and conductor of music for films.In a career which spanned over forty years, Newman composed music for over two hundred films. He was one of the most respected film score composers of his time, and is today regarded as one of the greatest...
wrote the musical score, the last under his longtime contract as Fox's musical director. The film has been released on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
.
Plot
Caroline Bender (Lange) is an ambitious young secretary in a publishing firm who, when jilted, finds consolation in the arms of editor Mike Rice (Boyd). Gregg Adams (Parker) is a typist and an aspiring actress romantically involved with stage director David Savage (Jourdan). When the director dumps her, she is devastated, falls from a fire escape and dies.April Morrison (Baker) winds up pregnant, and jumps from a car when her unborn infant's father Dexter Key (Evans) urges an abortion. All three women are under the supervision of editor Amanda Farrow (Crawford), an exacting professional and a frustrated woman who marries, leaves the firm, and returns when she finds the simple life of home and marriage not to her liking.
Cast
- Hope LangeHope LangeHope Elise Ross Lange was an American stage, film, and television actress.- Early life :Lange was born into a theatrical family in Redding, Connecticut...
as Caroline Bender - Stephen BoydStephen BoydStephen Boyd was an Irish actor, from Glengormley, Northern Ireland, who appeared in around 60 films, most notably in the role of Messala in Ben-Hur.-Biography:...
as Mike Rice - Suzy ParkerSuzy ParkerSuzy Parker was an American model and actress active from 1947 into the early 1960s. Her modeling career reached its zenith during the 1950s when she appeared on the cover of dozens of magazines, advertisements, and in movie and television roles.She appeared in several Revlon advertisements, but...
as Gregg Adams - Martha HyerMartha HyerMartha Hyer is an American actress.She attended Northwestern University and was a member of Pi Beta Phi fraternity. After completing her education, she next appeared in The Locket in 1946...
as Barbara Lamont - Diane BakerDiane BakerDiane Carol Baker is an American actress who has appeared in motion pictures and on television since 1959.-Early life:...
as April Morrison - Brian AherneBrian AherneBrian Aherne was a British actor of both stage and screen, who found success in Hollywood.-Early life and stage career:...
as Fred Shalimar - Robert Evans as Dexter Key
- Brett HalseyBrett HalseyBrett Halsey , is an American film actor, sometimes credited as Montgomery Ford. He is best known as the original John Abbott on the soap opera The Young and the Restless, a role he held from May 1980 to March 1981, before being replaced by Jerry Douglas.-Career:Interested in acting since he was a...
as Eddie Harris - Donald Harron as Sidney Carter
- Louis Jourdan as David Savage
- Joan CrawfordJoan CrawfordJoan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
as Amanda Farrow
Production
In April 1958, producer Jerry WaldJerry Wald
Jerry Wald was an American producer and screenwriter for motion pictures and radio shows.Born Jerome Irving Wald in Brooklyn, New York, he had a brother and sons who were active in show business. Jerry began writing a radio column for the New York Evening Graphic while a student at New York...
from 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
announced he was buying the rights of the novel of the same name. 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
Lee Remick
Lee Ann Remick was an American film and television actress. Among her best-known films are Anatomy of a Murder , Days of Wine and Roses , and The Omen .-Early life:...
, Hope Lange
Hope Lange
Hope Elise Ross Lange was an American stage, film, and television actress.- Early life :Lange was born into a theatrical family in Redding, Connecticut...
, Diane Varsi
Diane Varsi
Diane Marie Antonia Varsi was an American film actress best known for her performances in Peyton Place – her film debut, and for which she was nominated for an Academy Award – and the cult film Wild in the Streets...
, Suzy Parker
Suzy Parker
Suzy Parker was an American model and actress active from 1947 into the early 1960s. Her modeling career reached its zenith during the 1950s when she appeared on the cover of dozens of magazines, advertisements, and in movie and television roles.She appeared in several Revlon advertisements, but...
, Robert Evans, Lee Philips
Lee Philips
Lee Philips was an actor and director.Philips' acting career started on Broadway, and peaked with a starring role as Michael Rossi in the film adaptation of Peyton Place opposite Lana Turner....
and Bob Wagner
Robert Wagner
Robert John Wagner is an American actor of stage, screen, and television.A veteran of many films in the 1950s and 1960s, Wagner gained prominence in three American television series that spanned three decades: It Takes a Thief , Switch , and Hart to Hart...
." In further early casting considerations, Wald mentioned Joanne Woodward
Joanne Woodward
Joanne Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward is an American actress, television and theatrical producer, and widow of Paul Newman...
, Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was a British actress and humanitarian. Although modest about her acting ability, Hepburn remains one of the world's most famous actresses of all time, remembered as a film and fashion icon of the twentieth century...
, Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall is an American film and stage actress and model, known for her distinctive husky voice and sultry looks.She first emerged as leading lady in the Humphrey Bogart film To Have And Have Not and continued on in the film noir genre, with appearances in The Big Sleep and Dark Passage ,...
and Margaret Truman
Margaret Truman
Mary Margaret Truman Daniel , also known as Margaret Truman or Margaret Daniel, was an American singer who later became a successful writer. The only child of US President Harry S...
. In November 1958, Rona Jaffe
Rona Jaffe
Rona Jaffe was a popular American novelist, publishing numerous works from 1958-2003. She may have been best known for her controversial novel, Mazes and Monsters...
officially sold the rights to her book for $100,000. She did not want any part in preparing the screenplay, her intent was appearing in the film, saying: "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."
Martin Ritt
Martin Ritt
Martin Ritt was an American director, actor, and playwright who worked in both film and theater. He was born in New York City.-Early career and influences:...
was initially set to direct, but he was replaced by Jean Negulesco
Jean Negulesco
Jean Negulesco was a Romanian-born American film director and screenwriter....
in January 1959, because reportedly, Ritt was upset with the casting of Suzy Parker
Suzy Parker
Suzy Parker was an American model and actress active from 1947 into the early 1960s. Her modeling career reached its zenith during the 1950s when she appeared on the cover of dozens of magazines, advertisements, and in movie and television roles.She appeared in several Revlon advertisements, but...
. Ritt dismissed this rumor, saying the script wasn't his "cup of tea". When she learned that Wald was sick, Parker agreed to do the film, reporting for work in January 1959. She was persuaded to take the role in the summer of 1958, but a broken arm prohibited her from taking the role. On playing a neurotic actress, Parker commented: "I know the type extremely well."
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 they both withdrew. 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. She eventually did not appear in the film. In January 1959, the unknown actress Diane Hartman was cast as Barbara, but she was later replaced by Martha Hyer
Martha Hyer
Martha Hyer is an American actress.She attended Northwestern University and was a member of Pi Beta Phi fraternity. After completing her education, she next appeared in The Locket in 1946...
. Jack Warden
Jack Warden
Jack Warden was an American character actor.-Early life:Warden was born John Warden Lebzelter in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Laura M. and John Warden Lebzelter, who was an engineer and technician. He was of Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry...
agreed to a co-starring role in March 1959, but he did not appear. Less than a month later, Jean Peters
Jean Peters
Jean Peters was an American actress, known as a star of 20th Century Fox in the late 1940s and early 1950s and as the second wife of Howard Hughes...
was planning to make her comeback in this film. Had Peters not been replaced, it would have been her fifth film under direction of Negulesco. Another actress cast in March 1959 without appearing in the definite film is June Blair
June Blair
June Blair is an American model and actress. She is best known for being Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for its January 1957 issue. Her centerfold was photographed by Hal Adams.Blair made her first television appearance in 1954...
, who was set to play one of the starring roles.
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
was cast in May 1959, ten days before shooting began. Around the time, Crawford was almost broke. 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." Crawford had recently been elected to the Board of Directors of Pepsi-Cola and planned to spend a greater part of her time promoting the soft drink giant.
Music
The score was composed and conducted by Alfred NewmanAlfred Newman
Alfred Newman was an American composer, arranger, and conductor of music for films.In a career which spanned over forty years, Newman composed music for over two hundred films. He was one of the most respected film score composers of his time, and is today regarded as one of the greatest...
, with orchestrations by Earle Hagen
Earle Hagen
Earle Harry Hagen was an American composer who created music for movies and television. He is remembered for co-writing and whistling "The Fishin' Hole", the melody of the main theme to The Andy Griffith Show, the instrumental classic "Harlem Nocturne" used as the theme to television's Mickey...
and Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer was an English philosopher, biologist, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist of the Victorian era....
. Additional development of Newman's themes were done by Cyril Mockridge for two scenes, and the songs "Again" and "Kiss Them for Me," both by Lionel Newman
Lionel Newman
Lionel Newman was an American conductor, pianist, and film and television composer. He was the brother of Alfred Newman and Emil Newman, uncle of Randy Newman, David Newman and Thomas Newman, and grandfather of Joey Newman....
; and "Something's Gotta Give
Something's Gotta Give (song)
"Something's Gotta Give" is a popular song with words and music by Johnny Mercer in 1954. It was published in 1955. It was written for and first performed by Fred Astaire in the 1955 musical film Daddy Long Legs....
" by Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer
John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
are used as source music.
The title song for the film was composed by Newman, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sammy Cahn
Sammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area...
, and performed by Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
. Producer Jerry Wald first showed interest in Mathis for the title song in August 1958.
The music, as recorded for the motion picture, was released on cd in 2002, on Film Score Monthly
Film Score Monthly
Film Score Monthly is an online magazine founded by editor-in-chief and executive producer Lukas Kendall in June 1990 as The Soundtrack Correspondence List...
records.
Reception
In the New York Times of 9 October 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 lumbers onto the plane of soap opera, under Mr. Negulesco's reverential guidance."Paul V. Beckley ended his review in the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
with: "...Miss Crawford comes near making the rest of the picture look like a distraction."
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.
Due to the film's success, a short-lived daytime soap opera of the same name
The Best of Everything (TV series)
The Best of Everything is an American daytime soap opera which aired on ABC from March 30, 1970 to September 25, 1970. The series was a spin-off of the 1959 film of the same name.-Plot:...
was aired on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in 1970.