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Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman

Play trailer Poster for Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman Released Apr 10, 1947 1h 43m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Nightclub singer Angie Evans (Susan Hayward) puts aside her successful career to marry struggling songwriter Ken Conway (Lee Bowman). Inspired by the birth of their daughter, Ken plays one of his ballads on a morning radio show, and his career explodes. As a stay-at-home wife and mother, Angie finds her shaky self-confidence slipping. Convinced Ken is having an affair with his secretary (Marsha Hunt), Angie begins drinking. When Ken files for divorce, Angie responds by kidnapping their daughter.
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Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman

Critics Reviews

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Susan Hayward received the first of her five Best Actress nominations for this melodrama (woman's picture) in which she plays a fallen woman. Rated: B- Jul 23, 2011 Full Review Phil Hall Film Threat Susan Hayward in an early, sudsy melodramatic peak. Rated: 2.5/5 May 30, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Fountain B Amazing performance from Susan Hayward. Excellent topic, bringing a problem which many, poor and rich, suffer, to the surface. I understood by watching this film that Alcoholism is an illness. I'm very grateful for it, I understand now the struggles some people close to me have gone through. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/25/23 Full Review deke p 1947! Susan Hayward, glookn. She a wife gone incorrigibly drunk, lush. Went on & on. I would have left her. But this was 47. Still, she did great acting. Never heard of this ODD sounding movie title. EDDIE ALBERT! in supporting role. Saw it on Movie channel 12.20.2021 SPOILER ALERT: HAPPY ENDING. Cuz the couple got together after she said she'd never drink again after her negligence almost burned her baby alive. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Well, if you liked what Nomadland had to offer--cold desolation, brutal isolation, false promises, hopelessness, terminal illness, humiliation, bad music---then you'll love this. Susan Hayward really knocks 'em down--one after the other, after the other, after the other, ad nauseum. Like Francis McDormand, the lady can act. If only the ladies had a decent story to put their talents to good use. Anyway, it's a long slog, so pour yourself a stiff one. You'll need it, I assure you... Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Pretty good film, although somewhat similar to Hayward's other Oscar-nominated performance, I'll Cry Tomorrow (where I believe she gave a better performance). However, Hayward's acting is still pretty good, especially in the famous fight scene against Marsha Hunt's character. The film gives a somewhat interesting take on alcoholism, where both party's are at fault, not just the alcoholic's actions (which is shown in most films). Not a very memorable film, but a well-acted, written and directed piece of filmmaking. Hayward was Oscar-nominated in this role. I have not seen the winner's (Loretta Young) performance and Crawford's performance. However, out of the three performance I have seen for Best Actress from that year, I believe Hayward gave the best performance, followed by Russell for Mourning Becomes Electra and then McGuire for Gentleman's Agreement. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review steve d Well acted but no better than a million others just like it. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member I hadn't expected a tale with such poignancy, what a pleasant surprise. If you are familiar with the film "A Star is Born", you know the basic premise of this one. Only this is the one which might help those around such a lush understand the perceived anxieties which make the bottle so appealing. Average cinematography & audio, exceptional script, acting, & editing. A pleasure to watch Albert in yet another role, though he was a bit typecast for a few years. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Nightclub singer Angie Evans (Susan Hayward) puts aside her successful career to marry struggling songwriter Ken Conway (Lee Bowman). Inspired by the birth of their daughter, Ken plays one of his ballads on a morning radio show, and his career explodes. As a stay-at-home wife and mother, Angie finds her shaky self-confidence slipping. Convinced Ken is having an affair with his secretary (Marsha Hunt), Angie begins drinking. When Ken files for divorce, Angie responds by kidnapping their daughter.
Director
Stuart Heisler
Producer
Walter Wanger
Screenwriter
Dorothy Parker, Frank Cavett, John Howard Lawson
Production Co
Universal International Pictures
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 10, 1947, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 11, 2016
Runtime
1h 43m
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