On the heels of winning the Academy Award for her performance in Mildred Pierce, Joan Crawford starred in the 1946 film Humoresque, a movie in which some critics argue that Crawford surpassed her excellent performance in Mildred Pierce. She and John Garfield star in this story of the relationship between a brilliant young concert violinist and a sophisticated yet self-indulgent patron of the arts.

This film is directed by Jean Negulesco and is a screen adaptation by Clifford Odets and Zachary Gold of the novel Humoresque by Fannie Hurst. Crawford plays Helen Wright, a rich and glamorous woman who takes an interest in Paul Boray (Garfield) and uses all of her influence and social status to further his career. Although the film makes it clear that Helen Wright has a husband, their relationship is not fully explored. It is implied that her husband leaves her to do as she pleases and that he does much the same.

Boray is an extremely talented musician but lacks the means to promote his career. Coming from a poor Jewish-American slum, Boray finds every career step a struggle. Still, music is his great passion and he does everything he can to perfect his art and make a name for himself. When he meets Helen, she is immediately attracted to him, partly because he does not seemed impressed by her. This piques her interest and she finds herself strongly attracted to him. She becomes his sponsor and introduces him to the benefits and advantages that only someone with wealth and position can bring him. Later, they become lovers.

Success comes quickly to Paul and his head is turned by what he encounters in his new world of fame and privilege. He turns his back on the poverty and ugliness of his roots, as well as his family. Paul rises to the heights he has only dreamed of before in the concert music world. However, Helen is a very possessive woman and becomes jealous of the attachment that Paul has for his music. He makes it clear that even though he loves her, music must come first--above all else. She feels that the gift she has given him is a mistake and that she has engineered the undoing of their relationship.

The relationship is doomed as Helen suffers from jealousy as well as guilt and self-destructive behavior. Drinking had always been a problem with Helen and, as things deteriorate for her and Paul, the drinking increases. She realizes that she can no longer endure the pain of his total devotion to his art and not to her. This revelation results tragically when, in memorable movie ending, she commits suicide.

Joan Crawford must have felt very confident after her Oscar win the year before and it showed in her flawless performance in Humoresque. The pairing with John Garfield filled the screen with sensual sparks, even though they were never paired in another movie after that. There was a wonderful subtlety in the way Garfield interpreted his role, a definite departure from his usual tough-guy characters. His mastery of the violin sequences was also perfect. The timing and physical movements were so well done that it was impossible to tell that it was not Garfield but Isaac Stern who played the violin pieces. There is even a bit of comic relief in the movie with Oscar Levant's portrayal of Paul's best friend, Sid Jeffers. Levant exhibits the biting wit and sarcasm that made him a fixture in many films of the 1940's era.

The musical score of Humoresque was written by Franz Waxman and features a background of selected pieces by Wagner, Bizet and Rossini. All of the brilliant violin pieces are performed by the legendary Isaac Stern. The dramatic last scene of the film is accompanied by Wagner's Liebestod, adding even more intensity and drama to the end of the film. I highly recommend Humoresque for anyone who loves classic films or wants to see Joan Crawford at her best.





Recommended:
Yes

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