Second Best was apparently a vanity project of Alan Bates, made in 1972. It features an attractive woman moping with great determination while she strolls about the countryside with her fictional sister. Between them, the two women kill two moles and make one easy romantic conquest. That's about it.

This film is poorly photographed and indifferently acted. There is no character development to speak of.

Why did Criterion include this in its deluxe edition of "Women in Love"? The presence of Alan Bates in both, and the shared D.H. Lawrence connection make it seem logical on paper. But the vast gap in quality only underscores how poor a thing "Second Best" actually is.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

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Second Best

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