A Woman’s World is a glossy 1950s drama centered around a high-stakes executive search at an American automobile company. The story follows three men who are being considered for a top job — but the decision hinges just as much on the character and social finesse of their wives as on the men’s business qualifications. As the couples gather in New York City for a series of interviews and social engagements, tensions rise, ambitions clash, and personal revelations reshape their futures.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Jean Negulesco
Jean Negulesco was a Romanian-American director best known for his elegant handling of melodrama and sophisticated visuals, often working in CinemaScope and Technicolor during the 1950s. Starting as a painter and later a screenwriter, he transitioned to directing films like How to Marry a Millionaire and Three Coins in the Fountain. His work often focused on upper-class settings, complex emotional dynamics, and visually striking compositions.
Star Cast:
- Lauren Bacall as Elizabeth Burns
- Fred MacMurray as Bill Baxter
- Arlene Dahl as Katie Baxter
- June Allyson as Carol Talbot
- Clifton Webb as Ernest Gifford
- Van Heflin as Jerry Talbot
- Cornel Wilde as Sidney Burns
The film received generally favorable reviews for its strong performances, especially by Bacall and MacMurray, and its lush production values. Audiences appreciated the inside look at corporate culture and the mid-century expectations placed on executive wives. It was seen as stylish and emotionally engaging, though some critics viewed it as somewhat superficial in its moral conclusions.
Fun Facts:
- The film was shot in CinemaScope, a relatively new widescreen format at the time, allowing for lavish visuals and stylish compositions.
- Lauren Bacall, known for her cool and confident screen persona, played against type here as a more emotionally vulnerable wife.
- The film reflected postwar American values around marriage, gender roles, and corporate life, offering a glimpse into the social dynamics of the era.
- The storyline was loosely inspired by real corporate practices in which executives’ spouses were quietly evaluated as part of leadership selections.
- Clifton Webb, known for his sharp wit and patrician screen presence, played the coldly discerning company head whose judgments shape everyone’s fate.
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