Screenwriters Edith Sommer and Mann Rubin zip through Rona Jaffe's book about love-starved stenographers at a New York City publishing firm at top speed; brought on-board by an employment agency, it only takes a few scenes before Radcliffe girl Hope Lange moves from the typewriters to the manuscripts...and then it's on to editor! Although the film runs a full two hours, it's never boring due to the rapidly-changing scenario (the narrative plays like an adaptation in shorthand). This coupled with Jean Negulesco's penchant for occasionally heartfelt melodrama and "The Best of Everything" quickly becomes the best of all soap opera clichés. There's the fanny-pinching executive, the hard-drinking heartthrob, the female warhorse who let the one man who ever loved her slip through her hands, the cad who specializes in knocking up naïve virgins, et al. The picture looks good and has a few goosey scenes and strong moments, though Lange's rocket-like ride to the top is laughable, as is Suzy Parker's role as an actress (named Gregg!) who becomes obsessed with Broadway director Louis Jourdan (yet another cad). Most of the women are weak-kneed, weak-willed pushovers for a pretty face, while the majority of the men are smooth-talking liars and cheats. Quite a stew for those in the mood. **1/2 from ****
Review of The Best of Everything
