I'll Cry Tomorrow

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I'll Cry Tomorrow

Released Dec 25, 1955

1h 57m

Biography

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86%

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7 Reviews

75%

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250+ Ratings

This acclaimed biopic tells the cautionary tale of Broadway star Lillian Roth (Susan Hayward), who by the age of 20 has risen to fame due to the efforts of her pushy mother. Though a success on stage, Lillian has her hopes of happiness dashed when her fiancé dies tragically, and responds to her loss by drinking. Alcoholism and a string of failed marriages destroy Lillian's career and ultimately leave her destitute. After a brush with death, however, Lillian resolves to return to the spotlight.

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Jean Yothers

Orlando Sentinel

Susan Hayward stellar performance as the tragic Lillian Roth In the frank biographical film, I'll Cry Tomorrow, may leave moviegoers wondering why she didn't beat out Italy's Anna Magnani for the coveted Academy Award for best actress.

Sep 27, 2021

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Dan Callahan

Slant Magazine

In the '40s, Hayward had a distinctive and rather bitchy sex appeal and clear hunger for stardom that gave way in the '50s to a weary but still authoritative command of frank self-pity and tough-broad defiance.

Rated: 2.5/4

Nov 18, 2007

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Few actresses from Hollywood’s Golden Age are as ripe for rediscovery as Susan Hayward.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 19, 2023

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André Bazin

L'Éducation Nationale

Almost the entire picture lacks credibility in spite of the theoretical likelihood of the situations depicted.

Dec 8, 2021

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Lori Hoffman

Atlantic City Weekly

We always love Susan Hayward

Rated: 4/5

Jul 11, 2007

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 4/5

Aug 16, 2005

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S R

A sad drama about alcoholism, young stars and their mothers. Despite it having a good message of redemption and AA meetings, it does not quite cut it for overall movie success. Some good acting and songs that get stuck in your head. Saw on TCM.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/16/24

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Audience Member

Susan Hayward in the great story of Lillian Roth.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/14/21

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Audience Member

Susan Hayward is rightfully lauded for her performance, although it's tough to buy her in the role of a teen in the first half of the movie. The film runs a little too long, but when Eddie Albert appears in the last third his performance is especially noteworthy.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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steve d

Overly depressing but really well acted.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Exemplary Hollywood biography still packs a wallop; Susan Hayward (who does her own singing) gives a flawless performance as singer Lillian Roth, with Jo Van Fleet equally good as her stage mother; Richard Conte is a standout as one of Roth's abusive husbands. Gritty and censor-bending for its time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

This film shows its age, but is still an interesting film about alcoholism from 1955. I've anyways loved Susan Hayward and I still do. She's excellent. Her performance is melodramatic but still has its moments. Jo Van Fleet is marvelous as her stage mother. Susan Hayward sings and is not dubbed. Lilian Roth was a consultant on the film which tells her story.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Daniel Mann

Director

Susan Hayward

Lillian Roth

Richard Conte

Tony Bardeman

Eddie Albert

Burt McGuire

Jo Van Fleet

Katie Roth

Don Taylor

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Synopsis

This acclaimed biopic tells the cautionary tale of Broadway star Lillian Roth (Susan Hayward), who by the age of 20 has risen to fame due to the efforts of her pushy mother. Though a success on stage, Lillian has her hopes of happiness dashed when her fiancé dies tragically, and responds to her loss by drinking. Alcoholism and a string of failed marriages destroy Lillian's career and ultimately leave her destitute. After a brush with death, however, Lillian resolves to return to the spotlight.

Director: Daniel Mann
Producer: Lawrence Weingarten
Screenwriter: Helen Deutsch, Jay Richard Kennedy
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1955, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 57m

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