Humoresque (1946)

A classical musician from the slums is sidetracked by his love for a wealthy, neurotic socialite.

Director:

Jean Negulesco

Writers:

Clifford Odets (screenplay), Zachary Gold (screenplay)

Stars:

Joan Crawford, John Garfield, Oscar Levant

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joan Crawford	...	Helen Wright
John Garfield	...	Paul Boray
Oscar Levant	...	Sid Jeffers
J. Carrol Naish	...	Rudy Boray
Joan Chandler	...	Gina
Tom D'Andrea	...	Phil Boray
Peggy Knudsen	...	Florence Boray
Ruth Nelson	...	Esther Boray
Craig Stevens	...	Monte Loeffler
Paul Cavanagh	...	Victor Wright
Richard Gaines	...	Frederick Bauer
John Abbott	...	Rozner
Robert Blake	...	Paul Boray as a Child (as Bobby Blake)
Tommy Cook	...	Phil Boray as a Child
Don McGuire	...	Eddie

Storyline

Paul Boray comes from a working class background. He has been interested in the violin since he was a child, which his father disliked since he felt it a waste of money, but which his mother supported. Into his adult life, Paul wants to become a concert violinist, and although he shows talent, he does not have the right connections to make it into the concert performance world, much like his longtime friend, virtuoso pianist Sid Jeffers, and cellist Gina, both who, like Paul, train with the National Institute Orchestra. Gina and Paul have a connection with each other, Gina who confesses her love for him. While performing at a party with Sid, Paul meets Helen and Victor Wright, their hosts. Victor is a perceptive but self-admittedly weak man, while his wife Helen is strong minded but insecure which manifests itself as neurosis. She constantly tries to forget about her unhappy life by excessive alcohol consumption. Helen becomes Paul's benefactress, which ultimately results in a ...

---

Plot Keywords:

manipulative mother | manipulative woman | bare chested male | possessive mother | possessive girlfriend | 

---

Taglines:

"MILDRED PIERCE" DOES IT AGAIN! LAST YEAR'S ACADEMY AWARD STARS IN THIS YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENT TRIUMPH! (original poster- all caps)

---

Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 January 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

De amor también se muere

Filming Locations:

Malibu, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,164,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,281,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,118,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the brief horseriding scene, neither of the two actors was ever actually in the saddle: they were clearly filmed against a back-projection screen, or their characters were distant, unidentifiable figures, and Crawford's fall from her horse was done by a stunt double (as would have been the case for the initial "distance" shots of the two riders), which is clearly visible in a HD freeze frame. A studio would never have risked injuring one of its stars when there would have been no need for it. Joan Crawford's saying that she "had to repeat the fall from her horse" had obviously been made up for publicity reasons.

---

Goofs

Outside the beach house owned by Helen Wright (Joan Crawford), there is an ornate lantern on top of a post by the stairs leading from the house's terrace to the beach. In early sequences, the lantern has no glass and a bare light bulb is visible. Later sequences show the lantern with its glass installed, concealing the bulb.

---

Quotes

Helen Wright: Oh, here we go again. Only a man who doesn't drink thinks black coffee sobers you up.

---

Crazy Credits

The opening credits are presented on the turning pages of the sheet music for the composition "Humoresque".

---

Connections

Featured in The Music of 'Humoresque' (2005)

---

Soundtracks

Embraceable You
(uncredited)
From the Broadway musical "Girl Crazy"
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Music by George Gershwin
Copyright 1930 New World Music Corp.
Performed by Peg La Centra

User Reviews

The best Joan Crawford performance ever.

As Helen Joan Crawford gives her greatest performance and she should have been nominated for Best Actress that year. She certainly gave a better performance than Olivia De havilland gave in "To each His Own". John Garfield is also at top of his form and he certainly is a good match for Miss Crawford. What a shame that in a few short years he would be backlisted. Oscar Levant gives a typical Oscar Levant snide performance but he is a bit more serious in this role as the best friend of Mr. Garfield. the use of the "Liebestod" from "Tritan und Isolde" coupled with the waves rushing in might appear to some as camp but Miss crawford's handling of the scene is nothing short of magnificent. One usually overlooked performance is that of then billed Bobby Blake who has been much in the news lately. He portrayed Mr. Garfield's as a boy and did a good job of it without the ususal winey voice and mannerisms that made him so easy to hate in the "Our Gang" comedies. I have always thought that the adult robert Blake would have been an excellent choice to portray John Garfield in a biopic of his life. By all means see "Mildred Pearce" which won Miss Crawford the Oscar but don't miss "Humoresque".