evanston_dad You can practically hear Susan Hayward begging for an Oscar in every frame of "I Want to Live!", but strong direction by Robert Wise and a frank approach to tough subject matter makes for a powerful and unsettling movie despite Hayward's histrionics.Hayward plays Barbara Graham, a woman who (according to the movie) was wrongfully accused of participating in a murder and was sent to the gas chamber despite numerous appeals. The filmmakers don't think she received a fair trial, and everyone involved works over time to make us sympathize with Graham as a victim of an uncaring society. Hayward can't control herself and plays the character like she's Joan of Arc. The Academy, never one to embrace subtlety, dutifully gave her an Oscar for her efforts.But the thing is, this movie is disturbing no matter whether or not Graham was guilty. Capital punishment is disturbing even if you believe people deserve it, and the last third of the movie, which depicts in agonizing detail what it's like for someone on death row waiting to be marched to their doom, is deeply unsettling. Hayward won the film's only Oscar, but it also received nominations for director Robert Wise, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Black & White Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound.Grade: A

Bill-16 Just like the phony and 1/4 truth "Birdman of Alcatraz", "I Want to Live" is Hollywood trying to preach to the simple citizen type Americans.I guess every generation needs to learn just how corrupt and political Hollywood is. They have no room to preach about Morals.Barbara Graham was not only was guilty of Murder by being involved in conspiring to rob Mabel Monohan, she personally murdered the elderly women. The Jury Says So!This is Hollywood's Statement on the horrors of the Death Penalty. I may agree with them, but lying to the American people and the world doesn't help. The Truth Will Out and you end up hurting the cause.Now to the movie, it is actually well done and Hayward certainly deserved her Academy Award. I have been a Simon Oakland fan all my life and this is very first. The other Reviewers covered the excellent acting and riveting ending.. Gripping is my word for the final 1/2hr.Just remember, Hollywood is filled with disgusting rotten people just like any other business. It is just when them businesses try and preach to Us simple folk how we should vote and causes we should support that they overstep. They Should best Keep Their Mouth Shut and just entertain us.

HerrDoktorMabuse This is a perfect example of a bad performance that turns into an award winner. I have nothing against Susan Hayward, but bellowing and shrieking at high volume is not great acting by any stretch, although frequently confused as such.The rest of the movie, nifty and cool atmosphere, with crazy camera angles and an uncompromising jazz soundtrack to delight any latter day hipster. You can also see the anti-death penalty propaganda from a mile away, although it's easy to understand from the evidence as presented why a jury, judge and the decisive legal system of the day would have her and her buddies on the express to San Quentin. Nothing wrong with propaganda--movies were made for it and it's a highly respected genre when done effectively.The movie is also interesting as it mixes four genres into one--film noir, "women's picture," liberal guilt string puller, andprison movie. There's some very interesting interplay between the 50's home and hearth lifestyle and the deviantly criminal. Here's there's no middle ground between fulfilling domesticity and a sordid life of crime. One slip, and they're carefully wrapping the cyanide in cheesecloth just for you.

vitaleralphlouis When are people who commit murder the true victims, rather than the murdered person lying face down in the street? Answer: When you're watching a Fodder for Liberal Empty-Heads movie from Hollywood 1958 -- a time when the sacred-liberal-cause-of-the-day was the way "society" intrudes on criminals and fails to empathize with their lifestyle.I Want to Live was a particularly obnoxious liberal rant whereby we are supposed to shed crocodile tears for poor Susan Hayward, a person convicted -- with others -- in the robbery/murder of two men. Trapped like a rat in her prison cell, Miss Hayward has ample opportunity to rant and rave in allegedly Academy Award level acting. Gag me, please.There is no mention of -- nor compassion for -- the two dead victims. Heavens, no. According to this movie Hayward is the only victim, and her immoral lawyers will play any trick to help her avoid -- also breaking their arms with self-congratulatory back-pats.Liberals did a lot of damage to society in that era, with propaganda films that undermined justice and kept criminals in circulation. And they're darn proud of it.