Product Details

• Actors: Susan Hayward, Richard Conte, Eddie Albert, Jo Van Fleet, Don Taylor
• Directors: Daniel Mann
• Writers: Gerold Frank, Helen Deutsch, Jay Richard Kennedy, Lillian Roth, Mike Connolly
• Producers: Lawrence Weingarten
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: March 7, 1994
• Run Time: 117 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301969200
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,330 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of Hayward's Best, November 11, 2000

By 

James L. - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'll Cry Tomorrow [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Susan Hayward stars in this biography of Lillian Roth, a talented singer pushed into the spotlight by her stage mother, and when she is unable to deal with her insecurities and the tragedies in her life, she turns to alcohol. It's one of those roles that every actress must dream of getting, and Hayward really sinks her teeth into it. She goes from glamour to degradation, with a very realistic portrayal of Roth's descent into alcoholism. She puts everything into it, and her performance is forceful and truthful. Jo Van Fleet is also terrific as her grasping mother, too eager to give her daughter the life she never had, and her scenes with Hayward are among the best in the film. It must have taken a lot for Roth to write her life story and let it be filmed, but she has in Hayward an actress that lays bare the painful honesty and ultimate courage of her struggle. It's a tribute to Roth and to the fine work done at Alcoholics Anonymous.

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Susan swings and sways, August 12, 2001

By 

The jonquil (Augusta, Ga ., United States of America) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I'll Cry Tomorrow [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Susan Hayward, in her signature performance, will knock your socks off. Nobody could have done it better and nobody today could possibly match Susan's performance. Miss Hayward could deliver a line like no other and in this musical tragedy she has all the opportunites to display her talent.Many critics decried Susan over acted, but no way. She appropriately storms and declares like only she could. But all is not ranting and raving. Susan has a field day as she delivers singing star Lillian Roth's trademark songs. HAYWARD ACTUALLY SINGS THE SONGS TO THE DELIGHT OF HER FANS AND PRODUCERS OF THE MUCH TOUTED FILM. It is indeed a pleasure to see Susan sway and swing herself to the beat of many old standards. Look out! Susan is at the peak of her illustrious career. She was nominated and did not win for this cinematic triumph, but she captured the Oscar three years later for "I Want to Live." In reality she won the coveted h onor for all the performances she delivered throughout the Forties and Fifties.Unfortunately SUSAN HAYWARD died too soon but her legacy is her wonderful cinematic treats left to us all to enjoy.

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Movie Should of Been Named I Want To Live!, January 26, 2002

By 

MeMyselfandI (MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'll Cry Tomorrow [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie by far was the greatest, I love Susan Hayward, and she's a brilliant actress, she up there with Bette Davis, she really puts her all in this, while filming this movie she was going through hard times so a lot of her emotions are visible in this movie, and that's what makes this movie great. This is a most have to sit at home and watch on a Saturday Night. Basically, it tells the story of what a lot of entertainers, movie stars, and atheletes go through, drugs, alchohol, but this movie is dealing with alcohol and how it can mess up your life and what mess up a lot of entertainers lives. This is better to watch then to go to some 7.00 dollar movie, even though it was made in the 50s and a lot of movies didn't deal with those type of roles this is a most see, and all you young people out there don't let it scare you because it was made in the 1950s it is a really great film for all ages.