I Want to Live! (film)

I Want to Live! (film)
Name	I Want to Live!
Director	Robert Wise
Producer	Walter Wanger
Screenplay	Nelson Gidding, Don Mankiewicz
Based on	Letters by Barbara Graham, Articles by Ed Montgomery
Starring	Susan Hayward, Simon Oakland, Virginia Vincent, Theodore Bikel
Music	Johnny Mandel
Cinematography	Lionel Lindon
Editing	William Hornbeck
Studio	Figaro Inc.
Distributor	United Artists
Released	1958, 11, 18
Runtime	120 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

I Want to Live! (film) is a 1958 American neo-noir crime film directed by Robert Wise and produced by Walter Wanger. The film stars Susan Hayward as Barbara Graham, a woman convicted of murder and sentenced to death in California, in a story based on Graham's letters and newspaper articles by Ed Montgomery. A stark procedural drama, it is noted for its unflinching look at the capital punishment system and for Hayward's acclaimed, Oscar-winning performance.

Plot

The narrative follows the troubled life of Barbara Graham, a Los Angeles party girl with a criminal record who becomes entangled with a group of small-time hoodlums. After a Burbank housewife is murdered during a robbery, Graham is arrested alongside accomplices Emmett Perkins and John Santo. Despite her protestations of innocence, she is convicted based largely on the testimony of a criminal associate, John "Jack" Santo, and other witnesses. The film meticulously details her legal battles, failed appeals to the California Supreme Court and Governor, and her final days in the death house at San Quentin State Prison, culminating in her execution in the gas chamber.

Cast

* Susan Hayward as Barbara Graham * Simon Oakland as Ed Montgomery * Virginia Vincent as Peg * Theodore Bikel as Carl G.G. Palmberg * Wesley Lau as Henry L. Graham * Philip Coolidge as Emmett Perkins * Lou Krugman as John R. "Jack" Santo * James Philbrook as Bruce King * Bartlett Robinson as District Attorney * Gage Clarke as Richard G. Tibrow * John Marley as Father Devers * Russell Thorson as Sergeant * Raymond Bailey as the Judge at the second trial

Production

The project was initiated by producer Walter Wanger, who purchased the rights to the articles by San Francisco Examiner reporter Ed Montgomery. Screenwriters Nelson Gidding and Don Mankiewicz constructed the script using Montgomery's work and the published letters of Barbara Graham, aiming for a documentary-like realism. Director Robert Wise employed a stark, cinéma vérité style, utilizing locations like Terminal Island and the actual gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison. The innovative jazz score by Johnny Mandel underscored the tense, modern atmosphere. Hayward immersed herself in the role, meeting with Graham's attorney and witnessing an execution at San Quentin State Prison to prepare.

Reception

Upon its release, the film was met with significant critical acclaim and public controversy. Reviewers in publications like The New York Times and Variety praised its brutal honesty and powerful performances, though some questioned its portrayal of Graham's innocence. The film sparked intense national debate about the morality and application of the death penalty in the United States. It was a commercial success, solidifying its status as a serious, adult-oriented drama from the era.

Accolades

The film received six nominations at the 31st Academy Awards. Susan Hayward won the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film was also nominated for Best Director (Robert Wise), Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Nelson Gidding and Don Mankiewicz), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (Lionel Lindon), Best Film Editing (William Hornbeck), and Best Sound (Gordon Sawyer). Hayward also won the Best Actress Golden Globe.

Legacy

I Want to Live! endures as a landmark film in the courtroom drama and prison film genres. It is frequently cited in studies of capital punishment in cinema and remains a touchstone for performances based on real-life figures. The film's influence can be seen in later works like Dead Man Walking and Monster. Hayward's portrayal is often listed among the greatest in film history. The film is preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Category:1958 films Category:American films Category:Biographical films about American criminals