Smash Up: The Story of a Woman (1947)
Smash Up: The Story of a Woman is so similar to I’ll Cry Tomorrow that sometimes I get them confused! Both are about a singer’s downward spiral in alcoholism, both star Susan Hayward, and both feature Eddie Albert!
Suzy was nominated for both films, and although I would have given her the Oscar for I’ll Cry Tomorrow, she gives an excellent performance in this film as well. She’s got the market cornered on being strong but letting an outside force control her, whether that force is ambition, love, stubbornness, pride, or alcohol. She’s married to Lee Bowman in this film, and as his music career takes off, boredom and neglect make her take to alcohol.
This is a fantastic interpretation of how an upper-class woman with no problems on the surface deals with her inner demons. Suzy is multi-faceted, raw, and beautiful, and it’s fascinating to watch the differences in her two alcoholism performances. I recommend watching them in chronological order, so you can see her grow as an actress, and to save the slightly better film for last. While I’ll Cry Tomorrow is straight realism and raw grit, Smash Up. . . is slightly more schmaltzy and truly feels like an old movie. But, since the differences are slight, and both films are very enjoyable, give them both a whirl!
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Classic Cinema Central Seleus B" for posting!
More Susan Hayward movies here!
Suzy was nominated for both films, and although I would have given her the Oscar for I’ll Cry Tomorrow, she gives an excellent performance in this film as well. She’s got the market cornered on being strong but letting an outside force control her, whether that force is ambition, love, stubbornness, pride, or alcohol. She’s married to Lee Bowman in this film, and as his music career takes off, boredom and neglect make her take to alcohol.
This is a fantastic interpretation of how an upper-class woman with no problems on the surface deals with her inner demons. Suzy is multi-faceted, raw, and beautiful, and it’s fascinating to watch the differences in her two alcoholism performances. I recommend watching them in chronological order, so you can see her grow as an actress, and to save the slightly better film for last. While I’ll Cry Tomorrow is straight realism and raw grit, Smash Up. . . is slightly more schmaltzy and truly feels like an old movie. But, since the differences are slight, and both films are very enjoyable, give them both a whirl!
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Classic Cinema Central Seleus B" for posting!
More Susan Hayward movies here!