Humoresque (1946)

Director:

Jean Negulesco

Writers:

Clifford Odets (screenplay) and
Zachary Gold (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 December 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

TWO WHO MET AND KISSED AND NEVER SHOULD HAVE MET AGAIN! (original poster - all caps)

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Cuckold | Violin | Beach | Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Joan Crawford	...	Mrs. Helen Wright
John Garfield	...	Paul Boray
Oscar Levant	...	Sid Jeffers
J. Carrol Naish	...	Papa Rudy Boray
Joan Chandler	...	Gina Romney
Tom D'Andrea	...	Phil Boray
Peggy Knudsen	...	Florence Boray
Ruth Nelson	...	Mama Esther Boray
Craig Stevens	...	Monte Loeffler
Paul Cavanagh	...	Mr. Victor Wright
Richard Gaines	...	Bauer - Paul's 1st producer
John Abbott	...	Rozner - conducts Nat.Inst.Orch.
Robert Blake	...	Paul Boray - child (as Bobby Blake)
Tommy Cook	...	Phil Boray - child
Don McGuire	...	Teddy #2 - Prop. of Teddy's Bar

Runtime:

125 min | West Germany:115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Australia:PG | Australia:G (TV rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #11490) | West Germany:16 | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

John Garfield's violin "performances" are actually played by two professional violinists standing on either side of him, one to bow and one to finger. The actual music was performed by Isaac Stern.

Goofs:

Continuity: 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:

Sid Jeffers: You have all the characteristics of a successful virtuoso. You're self-indulgent, self-dedicated and the hero of all your dreams.
Paul Boray: You ought to try a few dreams yourself, it might make you less cynical. When I look at you I know what I want to avoid.
Sid Jeffers: One of us is offensive.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Music of 'Humoresque' (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Humoresque

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".