I Want to Live!

Sunk by an insane performance from Hayward.

Susan Hayward finally won her Best Actress for her role in this movie, after being nominated four times before. She was a perfect choice to play tough chick, Barbara Graham. I always enjoy her parts as tough, wise-cracking dames and alcoholics the best, though she played her share of wimpy women. Despite Hayward's Oscar-winning role, this is not a film I enjoy watching. Based on a true story, it is harrowing and emotionally draining Depressing and upsetting, but not to be missed.

Dated melodrama is nevertheless stylishly directed by Wise, and has a vibrant jazz soundtrack; Hayward's forceful performance is notable in a historical context, even if her arch theatricality has not aged especially well. Still a compelling case against the death penalty, which works best in its second half as Graham is subjected to the cruelties of bureaucracy, especially the ever ringing phone. Bikel is excellent in his brief appearance as one of Hayward's supporters.

Hayward is excellent. It's also a great looking film, particularly in the first third. It's a film about a woman's descent into crime, but here the focus is more on her wait to be executed than on the descent, or even the trial. That makes it something different and as an anti death penalty message film it's relatively effective, showing the vagaries and cruelties of the system. So it's a very good film, but I have to admit I would have preferred to watch more of that first third than the last.

Susan Hayward has crumbs from the scenery dribbling down her chin through most of it--but anyway, a generally absorbing film.

I really cannot stand Hayward. I think she's an overly melodramatic and phony actress, and I dislike her performance in this film quite intensely. That leads me to mostly dislike this film despite it being a somewhat interesting docudrama with a deliberately hip (for it's time), jazzy atmosphere. I was pretty much set to write this one off, but the last act ... the long wait for execution ... really won me over.

bitter sweet