Amazon.com: Susan Hayward has a signature role in I'll Cry Tomorrow, a pedal-to-the-metal look at the troubled times of singer Lillian Roth. Hayward snagged her fourth Oscar nomination for the part, which takes Roth from humble beginnings through great stardom and finally into a hell of alcoholism and recovery. The movie delivers on a couple of tendencies of its era (1956): a fresh frankness about addiction (The Man with the Golden Arm had come out the year before), plus some handy psychoanalyzing of the heroine--in this case, Roth's problems are laid at the feet of her pushy stage mother (Jo Van Fleet). With all the sturm und drang, there's not a lot of room for songs, but we do get to hear vintage tunes such as "Sing You Sinners" and "When the Red, Red, Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along." Hayward does her own singing, and she can best be described as a belter rather than a singer ("belter" describes her acting style, too). Also in the cast, portraying the men at various stages of Roth's life, are Ray Danton, Eddie Albert, and Richard Conte (trailing the aura of violent noir behind him); Daniel Mann directed, just after his duties on The Rose Tattoo. It's a slice of Fifties melodrama, the kind that hasn't aged particularly well, but if you appreciate Hayward's customary pull-it-from-the-guts style, you'll be engrossed. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - I like the old stuff.
great old movie. they just don't make them anymore. this is good.
acting is great, etc.
Rating: - True Boozehound
I really do believe this is a true and harrowing account of an alcoholic woman, Lillian Roth. They put everything in the movie they could in the 50s. I read her book I'll Cry Tomorrow. In the book she went through even worse than what is shown in the movie. Alcoholism ruined her career as a singer and actress in the 30s and 40s. She never completely recovered what could have been a brillant career but at least she conquered alcoholism and was able to live a reasonably happy life. Susan Hayward is brillant, a no-nonsense, nitty-gritty actress who brings the heroine of the story to painful, ... Read More
Rating: - Be Fair--Susan lived THEN, Not Now
It never ceases to amaze me when some reviewers say Susan's movies haven't "aged well," or "the direction is slow" or--worst of all--she "overacted."
Times were different then. "Cool" meant a temperature below 65, not an attitude. People had the time and attention span to take in all the details of a scene and allow a story to develop, without needing today's jerky quick-cuts to keep their ever-wandering eye on the screen. They weren't glancing constantly at their non-existent cell phones to see if yet one more call or text message had come in to confirm to them that someone still ... Read More
Rating: - Good, but Not Great
This is a movie that is marred by slow-paced direction at times, bogging the movie down.
The performances are o.k. but Susan Hayward, who I love dearly mind you, is a bit over the top in this. She does her own singing in this and is not dubbed (as she was in With a Song in My Heart). This is another hindrance, however. Hayward's deep, throaty vocals fall flat at times. Its her performance that counts however and she turns in a fine one (although I prefer her Angelica Evans in Smash-Up).
The movie gets a little frustrating at times because one finds it hard to feel ... Read More
Rating: - I'm smiling today
The movie was excellent. The product was sent to me in great condition and timely. I truly loved the movie and would order from this company without hesitation.
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