The Best of Everything (1959)

An expose of the lives and loves of Madison Avenue working girls and their higher ups.

Director:

Jean Negulesco

Writers:

Edith Sommer (screenplay), Mann Rubin (screenplay)

Stars:

Hope Lange, Stephen Boyd, Suzy Parker

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Hope Lange	...	Caroline Bender
Stephen Boyd	...	Mike Rice
Suzy Parker	...	Gregg Adams
Martha Hyer	...	Barbara Lamont
Diane Baker	...	April Morrison
Brian Aherne	...	Fred Shalimar
Robert Evans	...	Dexter Key
Brett Halsey	...	Eddie Harris
Donald Harron	...	Sidney Carter
Sue Carson	...	Mary Agnes
Linda Hutchings	...	Jane
Lionel Kane	...	Paul Landers
Ted Otis	...	Dr. Ronnie Wood
Louis Jourdan	...	David Savage
Joan Crawford	...	Amanda Farrow

Storyline

With her unofficial fiancé Eddie Harris studying in England for a year, Radcliffe educated Caroline Bender decides to get her first ever job as a secretary at Manhattan located Fabian Publishing, which offers its employees "the best of everything". There, she finds her story is somewhat similar to all the other secretaries, who are biding their time in the secretarial pool either before getting married - to a current or future beau - or moving on to their dream job. In the latter category is aspiring actress Gregg Adams, who with fellow secretary, the naive and inexperienced April Morrison, become Caroline's new roommates. Caroline also finds that as a secretary to the editors, she has to learn the special needs and foibles of each. They include the "witch" Amanda Farrow whose demanding exterior masks a truly lonely woman, the aging Lothario Fred Shalimar, and the understanding Mike Rice, whose best friend is a bottle of booze. The path to true happiness for each of Caroline, Gregg ...

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Plot Keywords:

actress | publishing house | unfaithfulness | adultery | vocational obsession | 

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Taglines:

The story of the girls who claw and scratch their way to the top...only to realize too late - there's no wedding ring on their finger!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 October 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Las audaces

Filming Locations:

Alfred E. Smith Housing Project, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jerry Wald Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Amanda (Joan Crawford) takes a phone call from her lover, who is canceling their date, was written by Crawford herself. She had received her character's lines the day before filming, but felt they would not work, and asked producer Jerry Wald if she could rewrite them. Crawford did so, with the permission of screenwriter Edith Sommer, who was delighted with the new dialogue.

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Goofs

When Caroline is in Mike's apartment the New York City skyline is seen in the background. However, it is clear this is a backdrop and only two lights are seen to flicker throughout the whole skyline.

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Quotes

Gregg Adams: Here's to men. Bless their clean-cut faces and dirty little minds!

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Connections

Followed by The Best of Everything (1970)

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Soundtracks

Again
(uncredited)
Music by Lionel Newman
Played when Caroline is introduced over drinks

User Reviews

People still the same, decades later

More equality today, much more, but overall nothing has changed. All the sad, tawdry, pathetic, moving and bitter moments between women and men in the office is just as it is today, less the blatant sexual harassment. Love looking at old pics of nyc and looking in store windows....things seem surprisingly familiar and not dated.