Customer Reviews

I'll Cry Tomorrow [VHS]

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This is a true story of singer, Lillian Roth, her sinking into alcoholism, her abusive relationships with men, her hitting bottom and then recovery via. Alcoholica Anonymous.

Susan Hayward is magnificent in the title roll as well as the other performers. This is also an introduction to Alcoholics Anonymous, a 12-step program, and the price it takes to get "sober."

I enjoyed the film because of the honesty, the acting, and the music score. Everyone can relate to this story.

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 knew they were alive. They liked seeing emotions fully expressed. Over-acting didn't mean being "very emotional," it meant being "excessively emotional to the situation portrayed."

Well, guess what? If I were going through the hell of alcoholism or facing the gas chamber or any of the other agonizing situations Susan portrayed, I'd be spilling my guts out too (if I wasn't so afraid of appearing "uncool"). She showed exactly how most people WOULD feel in these situations. And audiences were mesmerized by it.

I'm not asking anyone today to say they love these movies if they don't. Just don't judge them by the behaviors and pace of today's world, which Susan and her associates had absolutely no awareness of.

Finally, in terms of her being a "belter," read her biography sometime and see just how her belting, in every area of her life, got her to a position most people would have abandoned as impossible to achieve. Susan was a champion in every way and legendary proof that no one can stop you from achieving your goals unless you give up. And Susan never, ever did.

It is a shock to see an actress take on such a low-down, knock-down-and-drag-out role and make a success of it. It was not the norm in the l950s for actresses to play such parts, and Susan Hayward goes for the meat of it. (Ac- tually, I think Jo Van Fleet put Susan on her mettle, and made her act better than she did in any other film.) She was unfortunate not to win an Oscar for it, though she got her fourth nom- ination for the performance, and would win a couple of years later. An absolutely great, riveting performance. Susan, you are remembered.

Susan Hayward and Jo Van Fleet both should have won Oscars for their roles in "I'll Cry Tomorrow." Hayward was absolutely astounding and Van Fleet was excellent in her role as the overly ambitious mother. I had no idea Hayward was such an excellent actress! She is the second person, (next to Judy Garland for her role in "A Star Is Born)" who was robbed of their awards. I don't know who won the year Hayward was nominated, but I'm convinced she performed a performance almost impossible to beat! It left me speechless.

And high time. This is classic Hayward giving one of her finest of many great performances. Although every known actress in Hollywood wanted to play Lilian Roth's tragic story, Susan is the only candidate. A heavy drinker at the time and a near victim of an overdose of sleeping pills due to her turbulent divorce and custody battle, Hayward identified strongly with this role. Although Roth was under the assumption she would do the singing, Hayward makes her musical debut here. Her voice is throaty and gusty, much like the woman she was and she does each number with aplomb. This is the Oscar that got away. She deserved the one she received 3 years later, but should have won this one as well being an odds on favorite to win. She consoled herself with Cannes Film Festival Award for the best actress in the world--the first American female to win.

Jo Van Fleet makes an indelible impression as the pushy stagemother who never resorts to stereotypes. The high voltage confrontations between mother and daughter are unnerving and the film made during the heaving censored period, is gritty and spares no punches. Hayward is ugly and doesn't mind looking like a woman hitting the bottom of the bottler which makes her performance just that more convincing. It's hard to watch her at times when she hits skid row.

This movie was released in soundtrack CD and has been much sought after by fans and movie buffs and thanks to WB Home Video for finally making this a reality. This is Hayward's 3rd role as an alcholic (her first nomination in SMASH UP, and 2nd in MY FOOLISH HEART) were preludes to this realistic no nonsense performance by one of filmdom's greats.

A must watch for all! Thank you Warner Brothers for this fine MGM release.

Susan Hayward is brilliant in her portrayal of Lillian Roth. She brings the character to life & watching this you actually feel her pain as she struggles with alcoholism & a fading career. If you collect Susan Hayward's films, this one is highly recommended.

This movie was an enormous boxoffice and critical hit in the USA in 1956 returning more than $6.000.0000 dollars in domestic run and going on to become an international critical and public smash winnig Susan Hayward the best actress award - the golden palm - at the prestigious 1956 Cannes film festival in France.

Hayward gives it all and she will steal your heart in this gripping story of a 16 years long bout with alcoholism taking her to hell on earth ...and beyond.According to lots of fans and critics,she should have won an oscar for this role (she ultimately won for "I want to live" in 1959)

Supporting work by Jo van Fleet (playing Hayward's mother) is superb too.

Warner video annouces a great list of extra material for this DVD .

A must have in your DVD library of Hollywood classics.