Review of Humoresque (1947) by Kent B — 02 Jan 2012

This starts off quite promisingly but peters out a little towards the end, its conclusion being far too overwrought even by Joan Crawford's standards. It's a shame because before that she gives one of her best performances, looking ever the iconic star but displaying a believable vulnerability.

The biggest achievement of the film is probably just how convincingly it displayed John Garfield as a virtuoso violinist. It's no wonder Garfield is sometimes referred to as having been a method actor before such a thing existed, because he must have learned how to play to at least an adequate degree, his face and hands being in shot simultaneously during numerous performances.

If he couldn't play a single note then the acting and direction was all the better.