Comments on: Thoughts on a Powerful Actress in Her Best Role

By: Errol Jones

Errol Jones — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:22:45 +0000

I am 68 years old…and avid SUSAN HAYWARD fan and NEVER have I heard such a story of her in footage with the shoes off in the death walk scene of I WANT TO LIVE. I am not talking about tv versions..I am talking about the theatrical release that the public
saw in the theaters. That is why they ‘line’ she has…about..”I look better with them on..” was so important in the film. Someone must be having grand illusions at such a thing! She had the shoes on..and they let her keep the shoes on!

Watch this film (as I do her others) as many times as I watch them
and you will know that there is ‘no scene’ in the film that changes from ‘shoes on to shoes off’…Sounds as bad as Bogey saying…”Play it again Sam” from CASABLANCA, which he never said
but the ‘public’ said it that way…so it has always been thought
that he said it in the film..which he never did. Ask Lauren Bacall..she gets a little peeved every time she hears this said.

By: TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

TCM’s Classic Movie Blog — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:54:55 +0000

[...] Live, winning the Oscar for her role as tough gal/Death Row inmate Barbara Graham. (Movie Morlock Suzidoll recently wrote an amazing piece here on the movie and Hayward’s performance.) In 1961, Spencer Tracy was nominated as [...]

By: suzidoll

suzidoll — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:08:13 +0000

Thanks to everyone on their kind words on my post. I am glad so many people appreciate Susan Hayward, who doesn’t get the attention that other great Hollywood stars do.

Gary: I am not aware that there were two versions of the scene in question. Perhaps in watching a TV print, some parts of the scene were cut out to fit a time slot, so you missed some crucial parts of the scene. It is showing on Turner on January 27 in the afternoon, so that might settle these questions for you.

By: Gary

Gary — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:31:19 +0000

I saw this movie the first time on TV many years ago. Later I saw it on tape and DVD. I remember the execution scene being slightly different and I have asked others and they agree. The first time I saw it she was wearing a dress and black pumps. She was told to take off her shoes and she calmly replied, ‘I look better with them on.” Then the scene went to the guards placing the rug down and when the camera came back to Susan Hayward she was standing there with her shoes off. The other times I’ve seen it she was in a skirt and jacket with opentoed shoes. The rug was put down and she asked what it was for. When told she would have to take her shoes off she agressivlt refused.
Was there two different takes shot of this scene, if so where can I find the first one I described. So many other people remember it this way also so there must be something there.

By: debbe

debbe — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:21:10 +0000

better late than never. Suzidoll, amazing blog. I have to admit I have never seen this film, but will look for it now. I did have the privilege of hearing Robert Wise speak 12 years ago . he showed clips from his films and spoke wisely ( sorry ) about acting and actresses- and at that time a remake of one of his films was being made with catherine zeta jones and lili taylor. I was a kid, my parents went on a business trip, i stayed at my favorite aunts and was allowed to stay up and watch ” with a song in my heart.” I loved it. and was the only kid at king school who knew who susan hayward was. Great blog. cant wait to see the movie. grey’s anatomy just did a three parter about a male serial killer who will be executed in five days. He eventually was and the questions you bring up about the death penalty etc are as important today as they were when I want to live was made. keep em coming suzi doll.

By: Vargas

Vargas — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:08:54 +0000

Thank you for an excellent article. I must watch this film again!

By: Joe aka Mongo

Joe aka Mongo — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:26:55 +0000

Suzi, an interesting blog on one of my favorite actresses. I just watched Miss Hayward in her Oscar nominated role as Lillian Roth in “I’ll Cry Tomorrow” on TCM and from what I hear she did her own singing.
Of course her tour de force was as Barbara Graham in “I Want to Live!”. She pulled out all stops in a performance that finally won her a well deserved Oscar. Only question I have is, was the real Barbara Graham guilty or framed? I guess we will never know.

By: Carolyn Begley

Carolyn Begley — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:10:46 +0000

To whome it may concern:
I Have loved watching Susan HaywardI think she was one of the finest actress I sure wish they made pictures like (I want to live)as far as im concerned they dont make movies any movies like they did back in the 30s 40s and the 50s but of course they went to school to learn to be an actress or & actor and Thank GOD Turner Classic Movies still has the greatest movies ever.
You might say that i am stuck in the 30s 40s &50s people like John Wayne,Humprey Bogart, June Allison, Dick Powell, Myrna Loy, William Powell, Edward G Robinson,Boris Karloff,Lon Cheney, Marks Brothers,Bela Lagosi,James Cagney,also i might add that im glad to be stuck in the 30s 40s &50 i am almost 70 yrs old and i thank god that i still can remember all those people plus movies And i thank you Ted Turner for playing all those movies for me . Mrs Carolyn J Begley
420 A Sam Houston Dr
Lebanon Tenn
37087

By: Al Lowe

Al Lowe — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:36:59 +0000

Susan Hayward faced stiff competition in the 1958 Oscar race for Best Actress.
The contenders included Elizabeth Taylor and her “Maggie the Cat is alive!” performance in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. TCM uses the clip to promote the station. The newcomer, Shirley MacLaine, was attracting a lot of attention with her sympathetic performance in Some Came Running. Rosalind Russell had the role of her life in Auntie Mame; it didn’t matter that she overacted and was nowhere near her best, as shown by His Girl Friday. And there was poor Deborah Kerr in Separate Tables; she was always giving great performances and never getting the prize.
But Susan got it and deserved it. I think one reason movie buffs watch the Oscars is to feel satisfied when the right person wins.
When I caught up with the film about three years ago, I am ashamed to admit that I was focused on the fact that Hayward was losing her looks. That great beauty that I loved in earlier films was fading. All those close-ups didn’t help.
I have to think that she didn’t care. She was acting, by God, and saying to the audience, “Watch this!”

By: Medusa

Medusa — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:48:46 +0000

Thanks for a wonderful post about a movie that has haunted me for many years. As a youngster I watched this on one of the old primetime network movie showcases and was completely fascinated especially by the whole death row sequence. When she has to put on that stethoscope so they can listen to her heart, when he has to take off her high heels, when she asks for that mask so she doesn’t have to look at the people staring at her in the chamber…unforgettable, made more so by Hayward’s strength as an actress which allowed her to portray such a character with both intensity and vulnerability.

What a movie! I have watched it many many times since and if it’s on I always try to catch it. (Remade for TV in 1983 with Lindsay Wagner in the title role but not even close in emotional impact.)

Great post, SuziD!