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I Want to Live! (1958),
Director: Robert Wise, rated Approved
The true story
of Barbara Graham-whose murder trial shocked the world!
  Starring:
Susan Hayward, Simon Oakland, Virginia Vincent, Theodore Bikel,
Wesley Lau, Philip Coolidge, Lou Krugman, James Philbrook, Bartlett Robinson,
Gage Clark
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
- great
"A tramp, but smart.
Good-looking girl, too - the kind that fools ya'." -
Police Inspector describing Barbara Graham
Why watch this?
Susan Hayward's performance is unforgettable.
Plot Summary:
Based on the true story of Barbara Graham, a tough and reckless
woman with a shady past is implicated in a robbery-murder when
her criminal associates turn her in. As she fights to maintain
her innocence from death row, the film focuses on her desperate
struggles against the criminal justice system and the
sensationalized press. The gritty narrative highlights her final
days, building toward a tense, emotional climax as she faces the
death penalty.
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Dad's Preview:
This police procedural film would have been very
interesting all on its own, with its in-depth coverage
of the ways cops utilize all means to catch criminals.
The film's precise details regarding death row, and the
preparations for the gas chamber, are step-by-step
harrowing. The creation of this atmosphere is the
perfect setup for Susan Hayward's Oscar-winning
performance as the brash Barbara Graham. The actress
skillfully walks the fine line between chaos and sanity.
There's plenty to not like about her character, yet she
draws us into her story, just like the real-life Barbara
accumulated her own fanatics. There are moments we
actually sympathize with her despite her flaws. Her
steadfast defiance seems like a sort of courage. The
final dollop on this film's cake is a steady soundtrack
of swinging period jazz that perfectly sets the film's
noir mood. |
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Walter Wanger,
Figaro, Inc.; United Artists |
