If you enjoy watching Joan Crawford smoke, drink and act amidst the ugliest lamps in film history, then Warner Brother’s stunning 1946 picture, Humoresque is for you.
With a screenplay by Clifford Odets based upon the novel by Fannie Hurst, Humoresque tells the story of a young man (John Garfield) named Paul Boray who dreams of rising above his life above his parents’ grocery store to become a celebrated violinist. Boray gets his chance when his friend, Sid Jeffers (played by the charmingly disturbed Oscar Levant) invites him to go along to a high society party at the home of a wealthy family.
Warner Brothers Pictures
There, Paul meets his hostess, Helen Wright for the first time. Helen is the beautiful and dissatisfied wife of an older wealthy man. She takes an immediate interest in Boray despite taunting him. Soon, Helen begins encouraging Paul’s career and acting as his patron—and more. Paul’s doting mother does not take kindly to his relationship with this married, seemingly-treacherous woman, and makes her opinions known, however Paul is undaunted. Their coupling, of course, has disastrous results. As Paul’s career rises, Helen descends further into her neuroses. In a scene cleverly directed by Jean Negulesco, Helen makes a final decision about her fate.
Warner Brothers Pictures
A character unto itself in this picture, the music speaks for the characters in many instances. Franz Waxman’s original score incorporates some of the most beautiful classical pieces ever written. From Boray’s editorial selection of music which he feels represents Helen to the motif of Dvorak’s Humoresque, the film’s score is as prominent as any of the characters.
This is a film that feeds your senses. In classic Warner Brother’s style, it’s grand, but gritty. Crawford is at her very best and is an excellent match for the powerful John Garfield. If you haven’t seen Humoresque, I’d wholeheartedly recommend it. It will keep you endlessly entertained.
