Humoresque

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Humoresque

Released Dec 25, 1946

2h 5m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

70%

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1,000+ Ratings

Although Paul Boray (John Garfield) is a talented violinist, he comes from a poor, working-class background and doesn't have the connections needed to make it in the music world. Woman-about-town Helen Wright (Joan Crawford) does, though, and after seeing him perform, she takes him under his wing, opening doors he couldn't access before. Their relationship soon turns into a romantic one, but the destructive behavior of Helen may be too much for Paul to bear.

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Dan Callahan

Slant Magazine

Crawford and Haller make it into a dreamy wallow in velvety masochism.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 14, 2005

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

A melodrama about desire and passion that lacks a few strings to be moving, dragged by a tide of situations mostly out of tune due to a lack of chemistry between Crawford and Garfield. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/10

Jul 20, 2022

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Jack Moffitt

Esquire Magazine

An artistic triumph that transcends class bias and looks with a compassionate eye upon people of all social groups.

Oct 7, 2020

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Bob Bloom

Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

pot-boiler with Crawford chewing up the scenery; Garfield does his best to retain his dignity.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 11, 2007

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Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

remembered largely for its sublime ability to make Garfield look like a virtuoso violinist

Rated: 3.5/5

Jun 15, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Now a days regarded as camp, Jean Negulesco's melodramatic exploration of desire features Joan Crawford at her limited best, but the music played by Isaac Stern and lush score by Franz Waxman offer pleasure, and so do Garfield, the decor and costumes.

Rated: B-

Jun 11, 2005

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Steve D

The actors elevate the material.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/18/24

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Audience Member

The finale, under moonlight and glissening of sea waves, is a noble piece of art of the director.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Audience Member

Forgive me for saying this, but I think that Joan Crawford was better in this film than she was in the previously released MILDRED PIERCE, her "comeback" film that won her an Academy Award. This is a first-class melodrama that Warner Brothers excelled at and Joan delivers the goods here as a wealthy older woman who falls in love with a down-on-his-luck classical violinist, played by John Garfield. He comes from a poor family and has a domineering mother (Ruth Nelson) and a fellow musician Gina (Joan Chandler) who loves him but he is distracted by the glamorous, married Joan, who also drinks too much. Oscar Levant portrays John's best friend and while he gets some good lines, he seems out of place in a love story. And then there is the music - some of the best classical violin pieces you will hear.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

Amazing! Builds like a powerful piece of music to a crescendo. Joan Crawford acting is incredible and the direction is superb!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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Audience Member

I've recently become a huge admirer of film director Jean Negulesco. If you love films that are impeccably photographed, meticulously directed and don't mind the schmaltz I urge you to see Humoresque and Negulesco's other films.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

The best romance movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

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Jean Negulesco

Director

Joan Crawford

Helen Wright

John Garfield

Paul Boray

Oscar Levant

Sid Jeffers

J. Carrol Naish

Rudy Boray

Craig Stevens

Monte Loeffler

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Synopsis

Although Paul Boray (John Garfield) is a talented violinist, he comes from a poor, working-class background and doesn't have the connections needed to make it in the music world. Woman-about-town Helen Wright (Joan Crawford) does, though, and after seeing him perform, she takes him under his wing, opening doors he couldn't access before. Their relationship soon turns into a romantic one, but the destructive behavior of Helen may be too much for Paul to bear.

Director: Jean Negulesco
Producer: Jerry Wald
Screenwriter: Clifford Odets
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1946, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 2h 5m

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