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The Best of Everything (1959)
Director: Jean Negulesco
Writers: Edith Sommer & Mann Rubin (screenplay), Rona Jaffee (novel)
Cast: Hope Lange, Diane Baker, Suzy Parker, Stephen Boyd, Louis Jourdan
Genre: Drama, Romance
1959's The Best of Everything, is a stylish, soap opera style drama-romance that comes two years after Peyton Place defined the genera in 1957. Based on the novel of the same name by Rona Jaffe, the movie tells the tale of four women, 'career girls' who work at a Madison Avenue book publishing business.
The film is also a message to young women of the late 1950s who want to have a full time carer....'don't do it! I actually couldn't believe the movie's message, especially as it was written by a 27 year old woman, Rona Jaffe who had worked in a large publish business.
What I found somewhat shocking, or maybe it wasn't shocking for the standards of the day was, the idea that these young women fresh out of college should be content to work a few years 'to prove themselves' then settle down to be a housewife and mom.
This idea is reinforced by the matriarch of the publication business, an older hard nosed woman who's sacrificed femininity and any chance of happiness she could have had, for the pursuit of a career...aptly played by Joan Crawford. Fresh on her heels is a smart young college grad Caroline Bender played by fresh faced Hope Lange. Caroline is after the head editors job and increasingly takes on a hard edge as she moves up the corporate ladder.
Caroline lives with two other young women who also work at the company, played by the likable Diane Baker who falls for a hustler and ends up pregnant....and the inspiring actresses played by Suzy Baker who sleeps with the director, then becomes obsessed with him as he kicks her to the curb.
Hope Lange, reminds me of Grace Kelly, and I have to say I prefer Hope Lange...She looks great in the fashions of the late 1950s and she turns in a solid performance to boot.
One of the highlights of the film is the on location shooting in New York, which never looked more dazzling than it does in the early morning light.
The Best of Everything (1959)
Writers: Edith Sommer & Mann Rubin (screenplay), Rona Jaffee (novel)
Cast: Hope Lange, Diane Baker, Suzy Parker, Stephen Boyd, Louis Jourdan
Genre: Drama, Romance
1959's The Best of Everything, is a stylish, soap opera style drama-romance that comes two years after Peyton Place defined the genera in 1957. Based on the novel of the same name by Rona Jaffe, the movie tells the tale of four women, 'career girls' who work at a Madison Avenue book publishing business.
The film is also a message to young women of the late 1950s who want to have a full time carer....'don't do it! I actually couldn't believe the movie's message, especially as it was written by a 27 year old woman, Rona Jaffe who had worked in a large publish business.
What I found somewhat shocking, or maybe it wasn't shocking for the standards of the day was, the idea that these young women fresh out of college should be content to work a few years 'to prove themselves' then settle down to be a housewife and mom.
This idea is reinforced by the matriarch of the publication business, an older hard nosed woman who's sacrificed femininity and any chance of happiness she could have had, for the pursuit of a career...aptly played by Joan Crawford. Fresh on her heels is a smart young college grad Caroline Bender played by fresh faced Hope Lange. Caroline is after the head editors job and increasingly takes on a hard edge as she moves up the corporate ladder.
Caroline lives with two other young women who also work at the company, played by the likable Diane Baker who falls for a hustler and ends up pregnant....and the inspiring actresses played by Suzy Baker who sleeps with the director, then becomes obsessed with him as he kicks her to the curb.
Hope Lange, reminds me of Grace Kelly, and I have to say I prefer Hope Lange...She looks great in the fashions of the late 1950s and she turns in a solid performance to boot.
One of the highlights of the film is the on location shooting in New York, which never looked more dazzling than it does in the early morning light.