Review of Humoresque (1947) by Doc M — 15 Jul 2008

An above average weepy melodrama with superb performances.

John Garfield proves his chops as the ambition driven violinist who puts his quest for musical stardom over everything, and everyone else, including the woman who gave him his start and has consequently fallen in love with him, Joan Crawford.

The plot is covered in soap, but it's good soap. The melodrama moves along relatively well, and is bold for its time period. Unfortunately it doesn't completely stand up to the test of time. The ending seems a bit over-the-top and slightly contrived. The musical pieces that are so abundant throughout the film are especially good.

What makes the picture really work, however, are the performances. Garfield gives his all and Crawford proves once again why she was recognized as a Hollywood icon. But the real standout was Oscar Levant. His turn as the cynically witty, down-on-his-luck piano player stole nearly every scene. It was possibly his greatest role. On top of that the rest of the supporting cast did a fine job as well.

Overall, I highly recommend the movie to all classic film buffs, as well as to fans of Garfield, Crawford, and Levant. Despite its creaky plot and less-than-stellar writing it still manages to please.