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48 of 51 found the following review helpful:
 One of Hayward's BestNov 12, 2000
By James L.
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.
45 of 49 found the following review helpful:
 Susan swings and swaysAug 12, 2001
By The jonquil
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.
32 of 35 found the following review helpful:
This Movie Should of Been Named I Want To Live!Jan 27, 2002
By MeMyselfandI
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.
14 of 14 found the following review helpful:
Bio of singer/alcoholic & recovering, Lillian Roth.Feb 10, 1999
By Ellie Kligman
"Ellie K."
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.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Be Fair--Susan lived THEN, Not NowMay 13, 2008
By Bible Belt Unbuckler
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.
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