What Is The Best of Everything About?
The premise of The Best of Everything in 306 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the glittering heart of Madison Avenue, a fresh‑off‑the‑press graduate steps into the slick corridors of a major publishing house, intent on turning her literary instincts into a career. The office hums with the rush of typewriters, the clatter of manuscript drafts, and the unspoken competition that defines the world of New York’s cultural elite. The atmosphere is equal parts glamorous and unforgiving, a modern “female jungle” where ambition and desire intertwine beneath the polished veneer of corporate success.
Caroline Bender quickly discovers that the only way to survive is to navigate a hierarchy dominated by a sharp‑tongued editor whose reputation for exacting standards borders on legendary. Amanda Farrow—the editor’s formidable protégé—offers both a looming threat and a tantalizing glimpse of what might be achieved if one can endure her icy scrutiny. Their dynamic sets the tone for a workplace where mentorship can feel as precarious as it is empowering, and where personal insecurities simmer beneath professional poise.
Around the office, April Morrison and Gregg Adams become Caroline’s closest allies and roommates, sharing a cramped city apartment that doubles as a haven from the relentless pace of their careers. April arrives with boundless optimism, seeing the publishing world as a stepping stone to larger horizons, while Gregg, a strikingly beautiful actress, dreams of a breakthrough onstage. Their friendship forms a supportive counterpoint to the demanding office culture, offering laughter, shared confidences, and the occasional clash of ambition versus practicality.
Beyond the newsroom, the lives of these women spill into a network of blind dates, lingering past romances, and the ever‑present allure of New York’s social scene. As Mike Rice and Eddie Harris reappear in Caroline’s orbit, and a chance meeting with Paul Landers hints at new possibilities, the story promises a delicate balance between career aspirations and the tangled emotions that accompany love, loyalty, and self‑discovery.
What Happens in The Best of Everything?
The complete story of The Best of Everything, from the first scene to the last, in 853 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 10 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Caroline Bender, a recent Radcliffe College graduate, lands a secretary job at Fabian Publishing Company and finds herself working under Amanda Farrow, Joan Crawford, a bitter, demanding editor who resents Caroline and quietly suspects that she’s after her chair. Amanda is entangled in a troubled affair with a married man, a situation that underscores the tense, competitive atmosphere of the office and foreshadows the compromises many young women will face as they navigate ambition, romance, and power.
In the typing pool, Caroline befriends two other young women who soon become her closest allies and roommates. April Morrison, Diane Baker, is a bright-eyed, energetic newcomer from Colorado who views publishing as an exciting stepping stone. Gregg Adams, Suzy Parker, is a glamorous, hungry-for-success actress who longs for a breakthrough on stage. The three women, sharing a cramped apartment in the city, lean on each other as they juggle careers, friendships, and the ever-present lure of romance.
Caroline’s personal life grows more complicated after her fiancé, Eddie Harris, Brett Halsey, marries another woman. On a blind date arranged by their mothers, Caroline meets Paul Landers, Lionel Kane. The evening falls flat until a co-worker, Mike Rice, Stephen Boyd, joins them and the trio ends up spending more time together than planned. A drunken night at Mike’s apartment leaves Caroline worried she and Mike may have slept together, though Mike insists nothing happened the next day at the office, where the atmosphere remains charged with unspoken desires and professional rivalries.
Caroline’s editorial instincts begin to shine at Fabian. She starts inserting her own comments into manuscripts, a move that catches the attention of management. Mr. Shalimar, Brian Aherne the editor-in-chief, takes notice of Caroline’s sharp eye and promotes her to manuscript reader. Yet Amanda Farrow, who had recommended Caroline for the position, reveals that she had advised Shalimar not to promote her, exposing the depth of professional politics behind a seemingly straightforward promotion. Meanwhile, Mike’s negative view of Caroline’s ambition—urging her to pursue marriage instead of a career—highlights the conflicting pressures faced by young women in the workplace.
April’s trajectory takes a harsher turn when she’s assigned to work under the same lecherous editor-in-chief, Shalimar. The atmosphere grows increasingly exploitative, and at an alcohol-fueled office party, Shalimar makes overt sexual advances toward Barbara Lamont, Martha Hyer while Barbara is alone in her office. The outburst is interrupted by Sidney Carter, a coworker who is quietly entangled in an affair with Barbara. Shalimar’s callous attitude toward the consequences of his actions reveals a culture that tolerates predatory behavior.
Meanwhile, Gregg Adams is cast in a play directed by David Savage, Louis Jourdan the director, and the two quickly become lovers. Gregg’s talent and charisma win her a chance on stage, but the dynamics of the production soon place her in a precarious position. Her initial success gives way to insecurity as she falters with her lines, and she is demoted to understudy. When David ends his affair with Gregg, she becomes obsessed and begins stalking him. Her fixation culminates in a fatal accident: while lurking outside his apartment, a boisterous neighbor startles her, she panics, and a high-heeled shoe gets caught in a fire escape grate, sending Gregg to her death.
April’s romantic life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Dexter Key, Robert Evans, a spoiled playboy at a company picnic. They begin dating, but Dexter threatens to end things unless she agrees to have sex. When April discovers she is pregnant, Dexter orchestrates a cruel plan to marry her only to force an abortion by driving her to a doctor. Distraught at the prospect of ending her pregnancy, April leaps from Dexter’s moving car. She survives the fall, but the impact causes a miscarriage and necessitates hospitalization. Her emotions and priorities shift, and she eventually becomes involved with the attending physician who helps her through the crisis.
Back at the office, Mike and Caroline entertain thoughts of something more than friendship, but their plans are disrupted when Eddie returns to the story, visiting Caroline in New York and implying he wants a different arrangement. Eddie admits he does not intend to divorce his affluent wife and only seeks a clandestine relationship with Caroline, forcing her to weigh the costs of romance against her career.
Farrow eventually quits Fabian to marry and move to St. Louis, and Caroline steps into her former mentor’s shoes. Yet the reassessment of goals continues when Farrow returns to New York after her marriage falters, explaining that she no longer has enough to give. The office remains a place of change and promise, where ambition collides with vulnerability and the people around Caroline continue to pivot between opportunity and consequence.
As the film closes, a quiet, decisive moment unfolds: Caroline, fatally aware of the interplay between ambition, romance, and risk, bumps into Mike on the street. She removes her hat, their eyes meet, and they walk away together, leaving the audience with a sense that the work and the personal lives of these women—and the men who orbit them—are inseparably linked, shaping a future that remains uncertain, but undeniably their own.
The Best of Everything Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Caroline is hired as secretary at Fabian Publishing” to “Caroline and Mike reconnect at the end”. 15 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Caroline is hired as secretary at Fabian Publishing
Caroline Bender, a recent Radcliffe College graduate, is hired as a secretary at Fabian Publishing Company. She begins working under Amanda Farrow, a bitter editor who resents Caroline and suspects she wants Farrow's job. The hire marks the start of a tense, gendered power dynamic in the office.
When:early in her career Where:Fabian Publishing Company
- 2
Amanda Farrow's affair and resentment
Amanda is having an affair with a married man, and her professional demeanor is steeped in insecurity and jealousy. She resents Caroline as a potential rival and questions her ambition to rise in the company. The atmosphere in the office grows charged with manipulation and rivalry.
When:early in her tenure Where:Fabian Publishing Company office
- 3
Caroline befriends April and Gregg; invitation to share apartment
Caroline meets two other junior staffers, April Morrison and Gregg Adams, in the typing pool. They invite her to share their tiny apartment since she commutes from Connecticut. The trio's dynamic becomes a recurring backdrop for both friendship and competition.
When:shortly after Where:Fabian Publishing typing pool / apartment
- 4
Eddie Harris's marriage and Caroline's blind date with Paul Landers
Caroline's fiancé Eddie Harris marries another woman, triggering a cascade of romantic misadventures. At her mothers' arrangement, Caroline goes on a blind date with Paul Landers. The date leaves her unsettled and sets up later complications in her love life.
When:after Eddie's marriage Where:arranged by their mothers
- 5
Drunken night with Mike Rice and concern over consequences
After the date, Caroline and coworker Mike Rice drink and end up at his apartment. She falls asleep there and fears they may have slept together. The next morning, Mike reassures her that nothing happened.
When:the night of the date Where:Mike's apartment
- 6
Caroline edits manuscripts and earns a promotion
Caroline adds her own editorial comments to manuscripts, showing initiative and insight. Shalimar notices her potential and promotes her to the role of manuscript reader. The promotion signals Caroline's rising ambitions within the publishing house.
When:shortly after Where:Fabian Publishing office
- 7
Farrow admits she advised against the promotion
When Caroline thanks Farrow for recommending her as a reader, Farrow confesses she advised Shalimar not to promote her. The revelation exposes a hidden rift and complicates Caroline's ascent. It foreshadows fragile loyalties at the top of the ladder.
When:around the promotion Where:Fabian Publishing office
- 8
Mike questions Caroline's career ambitions
Mike disparages Caroline's ambition, advising her to seek marriage rather than a career. His cynicism reflects the era's gendered expectations and puts pressure on Caroline's professional goals. The conversation underscores the ongoing tension between romance and career in her life.
When:after the promotion Where:Fabian Publishing office
- 9
April's assignment to Shalimar and his predatory conduct
April Morrison is assigned to work for editor-in-chief Mr. Shalimar, who uses late-night hours to pursue her. When she resists, he persists, revealing the toxic sexual politics of the office. The situation adds another layer of danger for the young women in the company.
When:late-night Where:Shalimar's office
- 10
Office party and Barbara Lamont's confrontation
At an alcohol-fueled office party, Mr. Shalimar makes sexual overtures to Barbara Lamont. Sidney Carter intervenes after he overhears her protests. Shalimar shows no remorse and implies that Barbara should expect such behavior from male colleagues.
When:office party Where:office party
Show the other 5 events of The Best of Everything Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Gregg Adams' career decline and fatal obsession
Gregg Adams is cast in a play and begins an affair with its director, David Savage. She is demoted when she flubs her lines and becomes consumed by the relationship. After David ends the affair, Gregg stalks him; during a chaotic moment on the street, she panics and falls to her death when her high-heeled shoe gets caught in a fire grate.
When:during and after the play's run Where:theater and fire escape
- 12
April's pregnancy, Dexter Key, and the abortion attempt
April begins dating Dexter Key, a playboy who pressures her to have sex. When she becomes pregnant, he tricks her into agreeing to elope and take her to a doctor for an abortion. Distraught, April leaps from a moving car, suffers a miscarriage, and is hospitalized, later forming a bond with her attending physician.
When:during their romance Where:company picnic; on the road; hospital
- 13
Caroline and Eddie's New York encounter
While in New York on business, Eddie Harris dines with Caroline and hints at leaving his wife. He returns to the hotel later and reveals he has no intention of divorcing, wanting Caroline to be his mistress. This encounter crushes Caroline's hopes of a stable, exclusive romance with him.
When:during Eddie's business trip Where:New York hotel room
- 14
Farrow quits Fabian; Caroline takes her place
When Farrow quits her job to marry and move to St. Louis, Caroline temporarily takes over her duties. Later, Farrow returns to New York after the marriage falls apart and says she no longer has enough to give, signaling another shift in power at Fabian. Caroline's position becomes unsettled once again.
When:some time later Where:Fabian Publishing office
- 15
Caroline and Mike reconnect at the end
Leaving the office, Caroline bumps into Mike on the street and removes her hat, locking eyes with him. They walk away together, and the film ends on a note of fragile romance between them. The final image ties together Caroline's career and personal life in a hopeful, uncertain balance.
When:end of the film Where:city street
Who Are the Main Characters in The Best of Everything?
10 characters, among them Caroline Bender (Hope Lange), April Morrison (Diane Baker) and Gregg Adams (Suzy Parker): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- CB
Caroline Bender (Hope Lange)
Played by Hope Lange
A recent Radcliffe College graduate who rises from secretary to manuscript reader at Fabian Publishing. Intelligent and ambitious, she skillfully inserts editorial insight but frequently must navigate a male-dominated office culture. Her evolving career and romantic entanglements reveal both her resolve and vulnerability.
- 💼 Career-focused
- 🎯 Ambition
- 💬 Office politics
-
April Morrison (Diane Baker)
Played by Diane Baker
An enthusiastic, naive young woman from Colorado who moves into a tiny apartment with Caroline and Gregg. Her courtship with Paul Landers and later complications with Dexter Key place her at the center of romantic and ethical dilemmas. Her arc tracks the tension between optimism and the harsh realities of adult life.
- 💃 Acting dreams
- 🌅 New beginnings
- 💬 Relationships
- GA
Gregg Adams (Suzy Parker)
Played by Suzy Parker
A glamorous aspiring actress who enters a relationship with David Savage and struggles with professional setbacks in a production. Her obsession with the director escalates into instability, culminating in a fatal fall during a chase that underscores the dangers of unchecked fixation and fame-seeking.
- 🎭 Acting
- 💔 Obsession
- 🕯️ Tragedy
- BL
Barbara Lamont (Martha Hyer)
Played by Martha Hyer
A married woman who becomes the target of Mr. Shalimar’s advances, highlighting the precarious boundaries of workplace flirtations and the consequences of power imbalances. Her experience illustrates the vulnerability of women navigating romance and professional environments.
- 💍 Marriage
- 🔒 Boundaries
- 🗺️ Navigating expectations
-
David Savage (Louis Jourdan)
Played by Louis Jourdan
A director whose affair with Gregg marks the intersection of art, ambition, and temptation. His professional charisma is shadowed by romantic entanglements, illustrating how personal desire can influence creative decisions and workplace dynamics.
- 🎬 Director
- ❤️🔥 Affair
- 🏛️ Ambition
- MR
Mike Rice (Stephen Boyd)
Played by Stephen Boyd
A boisterous co-worker who flirts with Caroline and challenges her career ambitions. His behavior embodies the complexity of office romance, sometimes supportive, sometimes undermining, reflecting the broader tension between personal desires and professional goals.
- 💬 Office romance
- 🚦 Temptation
- 🧩 Rival
-
Dexter Key (Robert Evans)
Played by Robert Evans
A spoiled playboy who pursues April and later tries to manipulate her fate through a coercive marriage proposal. His wealth and arrogance highlight the vulnerability of women caught between desire, autonomy, and exploitation.
- 💸 Wealth
- 🏦 Privilege
- 💔 Heartbreak
- PL
Paul Landers (Lionel Kane)
Played by Lionel Kane
A man arranged for Caroline on a blind date by their mothers; his presence and eventual departure reflect the era’s matchmaking norms and the imperfect navigation of romance in a professional setting.
- 💌 Blind date
- 📜 Etiquette
- 🕊️ Romance
-
Amanda Farrow (Joan Crawford)
Played by Joan Crawford
The bitter, demanding editor-in-chief who resents Caroline and engages in a controversial affair with a married man. Her departure from Fabian marks a shift in the office hierarchy and underscores the precarious balance of power among women in the industry.
- 💼 Editor-in-chief
- 💢 Jealousy
- ⚡ Power dynamics
- FS
Fred Shalimar (Brian Aherne)
Played by Brian Aherne
The lecherous editor-in-chief whose advances to April and disregard for consequences reveal a corrosive abuse of power in the newsroom. His character embodies the moral compromises and dangers of unchecked authority.
- 🔥 Lecherous authority
- ⚖️ Power abuse
- 👁️ Observation
Where and When Is The Best of Everything Set?
The Best of Everything is set in New York City, Connecticut and St. Louis (Late 1950s (circa 1959)). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Late 1950s (circa 1959)
The film unfolds in a period when traditional gender roles were being challenged yet still deeply ingrained. Secretaries and junior editors navigate workplace hierarchies, casual harassment, and the pressure to trade career for marriage. Social norms emphasize propriety and appearances, even as a new generation of women begins to push for professional advancement. The setting underscores the tension between ambition, romance, and personal autonomy.
Where
New York City, Connecticut, St. Louis
The Fischer Publishing Company operates in New York City, forming the corporate heart of the story. Caroline commutes from her family home in Connecticut, highlighting the era’s growing but still evolving opportunities for educated young women. The plot also travels to St. Louis, where Amanda Farrow’s failed marriage prompts a relocation, illustrating the geographic mobility that some women pursued in search of independence.
- 🗽 Urban setting
- 🕰️ Postwar America
- 🏛️ Publishing world
What Are the Themes of The Best of Everything?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Career vs Romance, Women’s Solidarity and Power & Harassment.
-
01
Career vs Romance
Caroline’s sharp editorial instincts push her toward advancement at Fabian Publishing, but romance and personal life continually pull at her. The story juxtaposes professional ambition with the pull of relationships, illustrating how women negotiate power, payback, and progress in a male-dominated workplace. It foregrounds the costs and rewards of choosing career ambition in a social climate that still prizes marriage. The tension remains a central driver of character decisions and plot outcomes.
-
02
Women’s Solidarity
Caroline, April, and Gregg form a bond as they navigate an environment that tests their resilience. The trio supports one another through advances, heartbreak, and career setbacks, symbolizing a collective push for independence. Their camaraderie provides emotional shelter amid office politics, societal expectations, and personal ambitions. The film emphasizes shared experience as a source of strength for women facing a patriarchal system.
-
03
Power & Harassment
The narrative exposes the inequities of authority in the workplace, with senior editors pursuing sexual advances and leveraging their position. Characters confront moral choices, consequences, and the ethics of power dynamics. The story scrutinizes how harassment shapes careers, reputations, and personal agency. It ultimately questions whether power can be tempered by accountability and respect.
What Kind of Film Is The Best of Everything?
Bittersweet in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A bittersweet and dramatic portrayal of ambitious young women navigating the exploitative corporate world of 1950s New York, where career aspirations are constantly tested by romantic entanglements and personal tragedies.
- melancholic
- tense
- hopeful
- realistic
- dramatic
- nostalgic
- workplace politics
- ambition vs love
- female friendship
- sexual exploitation
Content notes: sexual harassment, forced abortion, fatal accident, stalker behavior.
Quiz
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