Woman's World

Initially skeptical about "Woman's World" (1954), especially since it was directed by Jean Negulesco, whose previous work hadn't impressed me, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this romantic drama. The film's great merit lies in its impeccable cast. June Allyson, commonly perceived as bland, delivers a hilarious and touching performance as the naive Katie, while Lauren Bacall and Arlene Dahl exude elegance and charm as the sophisticated wives of Ralph (Fred MacMurray) and Ernest (Van Heflin), respectively. Clifton Webb, with his imposing demeanor, commands the screen as the acerbic Mr. Pendergast. MacMurray and Wilde overflow with sympathy in their roles, while Heflin demonstrates his versatility as an actor.

The plot revolves around Katie's "mishaps" and the "schemes" of the ambitious Carla (Dahl), while their husbands vie for the coveted position of company president. Despite the focus on the women, it's a shame that the three husbands are relegated to the background in the story.

Tension mounts as we try to guess which of the candidates will be chosen. The narrative holds some surprises, and I confess I guessed the outcome correctly.

"Woman's World" is a light and enjoyable film, ideal for those seeking quality entertainment. The chemistry between the actors, sharp dialogue, and Negulesco's competent direction (which excels here) ensure a rewarding cinematic experience. I recommend it to all lovers of classic romantic comedies and films with stellar casts.

Van Heflin with wife Arlene Dahl, Fred MacMurray with wife Lauren Bacall, and Cornel Wilde with June Allyson are competing for a position left vacant by an executive who has died and left some big boots to be filled in an automobile corporation. Clifton Webb is the President of the company who'll make the decision for the best man for the job (and the best woman) - because she has duties herself - to be an asset to her husband and the company, to be a social butterfly, and just to be ready for anything. Clifton Webb as the President has high expectations for those around him, and he is just the actor for the role, as he has the ego and presence to carry the film on his own. With different personalities and what each can give to the job, Clifton has quite a decision to make. June Allyson is a standout, as she is her usual ebullient self, and Arlene Dahl is decked out to the nines. But of course. As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. The characters of the candidates and their spouses are established early on and we feel we are watching real people as they relate to each other in moments of love and moments of disharmony. The film may feel too much like the 1950s and therefore a bit dated, but I think it adds to its entertainment value. But I do grant you the title and how it works itself in is rather corny. But, hey, you're either invested in these peoples' lives or you're not. And, while it may not be that important to be remembered in the long run, Woman's World certainly gives us a chance to see all these stars together. Everyone wins!

Big, glossy drama about three men (and their wives) competing for a top job at a glossy auto company in glossy New York City. This is one of many of those mid-century films that touted NYC as the greatest city in the world what with its wealth of money and arts and society and all those tall buildings.

In this one Clifton Webb plays the imperial head of the Gifford Auto Co., which boasts its cars are "luxury on wheels." He's interviewing three company men for the general manager job. There's the rather grim Van Heflin from Dallas, easy-going Cornel Wilde from Kansas City, and the up-from-the-ranks Fred MacMurray from Philadelphia. Each one wants ... or thinks he wants ... the big job.

Then there are the wives. Webb tells us over and over again the the manager's wife must also be a special type of gracious thing who'll fit into the Long Island set. Heflin's wife is a man-eater and a social climber (Arline Dahl), Wilde's wife is the homey but not-so-dumb type (June Allyson), and MacMurray's is the salt-of-the-earth type (Lauren Bacall).

Each couple has some private domestic dramas to deal with as they are dazzled by Emerald City and as the men jockey for position. Dahl heads right for the prize (Webb) while Bacall and Allyson deal with life in the big city. Funniest scene has the latter two going to a "bargain basement" to buy an evening dress for Allyson and almost being killed in the mob of hysterical women. Film culminates in a weekend party at Webb's Long Island estate where his sister (Margalo Gilmore) assesses the wives.

As the title suggests, the women basically take the story while the men drone their way through the auto factory etc. And while the men are pretty much forgettable, the gals (and Webb) have a high old time. Allyson and Bacall are especially good. As for the cars, the various models are Fords and Mercurys and Lincolns (minus any emblems) are showcased and the story includes one of those "cars of tomorrow" scenes that's quite fascinating.

Also in the cast are Elliott Reid as the nephew, Alan Reed as the Italian restaurateur, and look fast for Billie Bird, Kathryn Card, and Elinor Donahue in the bargain basement.

Highly enjoyable mid-century drama with a dash of comedy.

Slick, superficial CinemaScope stuff from Hollywood's early-'50s panic attack: How ya gonna keep 'em down at the flicks after they've seen TV? Fox tried to with big screens, splashy colors, and half a dozen or so stars crammed into one entertaining soap-opera premise. There's no cinema-making genius going on here, but the movie is overwhelmingly entertaining, both for its look and its morality. A consumerist's paradise, it's so stuffed with cars and gowns and doodads that you're seized with an overwhelming urge to go shopping after you've seen it. (The cars, in particular, are '50s-futurists designs from Ford/Lincoln/Mercury, and they're knockouts.) And the morality is so utterly of its time: The onscreen drinking and smoking are nonstop, the gender premises (men seek power, women seek men) are unquestioned, and the subtext is clearly that money and power are fine, but holding on to your man is what really counts. And to do that, you'd better learn to be a dear little klutzy wifey like June Allyson instead of a calculating harlot like Arlene Dahl. Of the women, Allyson's wife-waif act becomes monotonous, and while Dahl is luscious to look at and seems to be in on the joke of how one-note her character is, she's not really much of an actress. So Bacall, her crisp-sophisticate act honed to a fine sharpness, comes off best by default. The men are all OK, but New York is the real star.

Last night I saw Woman's World: The plot concerns three hot shot salesmen who have been summoned to New York for consideration as the general manager of a fictional automobile company. They salesmen are asked to bring their wives along as the company president believes his executives need the proper kind of wife to be an effective senior manager. Much intrigue, drama, and hilarity ensue.

Ford motor company participated significantly in this movie. In addition to a large number of 1954 Ford products, the movie featured two Ford fiftieth anniversary concept cars from 1953: the X-100 and the XL-500

At the beginning of the movie, one couple is shown driving to New York in a Mercury Monterey.

The lead character played by Clifton Web is the president of 'Gifford Motors. Gifford Motors' cars all resemble Ford Motor Company cars. In one scene, the lobby of the Gifford building is shown with the X-100 and the XL-500 displayed. A Gifford manager is demonstrating the features of the X-100 to a member of the public. The Plexiglas roof panel is shown automatically sliding into position as the windows rise to prevent the interior from being damaged in case it rained while the car was left open. Apparently this was a big problem in the 50s as 'automatically closing in case of rain' was a feature of many concept cars including the Buick LeSabre.

Later, the three wives are given a tour of New York in the X-100 with street scenes of the car in front of the New York Public Library and the United Nations among other locations.

Throughout the movie, company executives come and go in a Lincoln sedan and a convertible.

In one scene the president take the three potential general managers to the 'proving grounds' where we see a variety of Fords whizzing around a banked oval at high speeds with appropriate sound effects.

Another scene shows a futuristic feature being demonstrated by three large-scale tabletop models of prototype cars: one model drives forward, stops, makes a whirring sound, and then moves sideways into a parking space between the other two models. Presumably it was lowering dolly wheels when it made the whirring sound. This was a 50s approach to solving the age-old parallel parking problem for which solutions are still being pursued today – see the latest Lexus automatic parallel parking feature. A boardroom scene also shows a tabletop model although it's not clear if it's different from the previous three. There is also a scene in the interior design department with many prototype seats of varying color and design.

In addition to being a great movie, it is a real treat for lovers of early 50s Ford products.