I’ll Cry Tomorrow Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Famous singer escapes controlling stage mom only to find solace in booze after tragedy, marrying progressively worse dudes before hitting rock bottom and finding sobriety through group therapy and televised tearjerkers.

🍿 I’ll Cry Tomorrow: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Ascent to Stardom

The film opens by introducing a young Lillian Roth, whose childhood is largely dictated by her ambitious stage mother, Katie. Pushed into performing from a very young age, Lillian quickly rises through the ranks. By her early twenties, Lillian has achieved significant fame as a singer and actress on both Broadway and in Hollywood. Despite her professional success, her personal life remains heavily influenced by her mother’s control and expectations, leaving her yearning for independence.

Tragedy and the First Drink

Lillian finds love with David Tredman, her childhood sweetheart, and plans for a future outside of her mother’s demanding career path. However, tragedy strikes when David unexpectedly dies shortly before their planned marriage. Devastated by grief and facing immense personal loss, Lillian takes her first drink as a way to cope with the pain. This seemingly small act marks the beginning of a long and destructive descent into alcoholism that will consume her life for years.

Marriages and Deepening Addiction

As her alcoholism worsens, Lillian enters into tumultuous relationships. She has a brief, ill-fated marriage to an aviation cadet named Wallie, a union she barely remembers due to her intoxication. Following her divorce, Lillian marries Tony Bardeman, a charismatic but ultimately cruel and abusive man. Tony not only fails to help her overcome her addiction but actively encourages her drinking, often using her vulnerability against her and further isolating her as her life spirals out of control.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Lillian Roth (Susan Hayward): The famous singer-actress whose rise to stardom is nearly destroyed by her battle with alcoholism.
• Katie Roth (Jo Van Fleet): Lillian’s ambitious and overbearing mother who pushes her into show business from a young age.
• Tony Bardeman (Richard Conte): Lillian’s cruel second husband who is a sadistic abuser and encourages her drinking.
• Burt McGuire (Eddie Albert): A compassionate recovering alcoholic from AA who provides support and helps Lillian find sobriety.
• David Tredman (Ray Danton): Lillian’s beloved childhood sweetheart whose death is the tragic catalyst for her descent into alcoholism.
• Wallie (Don Taylor): An immature aviation cadet whom Lillian marries during a drunken blackout, highlighting the depth of her addiction.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Katie Roth: “Cry tomorrow. You’ve got all day to cry tomorrow.” – Lillian’s ambitious stage mother tells her to suppress her emotions and focus on performing, prioritizing her career over her feelings.
• Lillian Roth: “OH! Look what ya did! And ya DID IT ON PURPOSE! …Go on, GET THE BOTTLE! GET IT NOW!” – Said to her mother in a desperate rage after her mother drops and shatters a bottle of alcohol, highlighting Lillian’s severe addiction and withdrawal.
• Katie Roth: “Do you know at all why I did it, do you? …You don’t know at all what I tried to save you from, the kind of freedom I never had! I tried to give to you by making you LILLIAN ROTH!” – Lillian’s mother responds to Lillian’s accusations, explaining her harsh parenting as a desperate attempt to give Lillian a better, more secure life than she had.
• Lillian Roth: “Better put the chair on the stage.” – Said backstage before a performance, acknowledging her physical inability to stand or perform without support due to her alcoholism.
• None: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” – Recited during Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the film, representing the core philosophy of recovery and acceptance.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $2,147,000
• Domestic Gross: $5,800,000
• Worldwide Gross: $5,800,000

💥 I’ll Cry Tomorrow Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, ‘I’ll Cry Tomorrow’ is intense! I went into this knowing it was a classic melodrama about alcoholism, but Susan Hayward’s performance blew me away. She just goes *there*. Like, the scenes where she’s hitting rock bottom are genuinely hard to watch, so raw and painful. I felt so much for her character, trapped between her overbearing mother (Jo Van Fleet is incredible!) and her own demons. The way the film shows the slow spiral, how one drink leads to another after tragedy, felt really honest, even if some parts are a bit rushed. It’s not a feel-good movie by any means, but seeing her journey towards recovery, even with the slightly ‘Hollywood’ ending, was genuinely moving. It made me think about resilience and the power of hitting bottom before you can build back up. Definitely stuck with me after the credits rolled.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic Hollywood dramas”
  • “Viewers interested in true stories and biopics”
  • “People interested in films about addiction and recovery”
  • “Admirers of strong lead performances, particularly Susan Hayward”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depiction of severe alcoholism and substance abuse”
  • “Scenes of domestic abuse”
  • “Portrayal of a suicide attempt”
  • “Intense emotional content”

Professional Reviews

• Classic Film Journal: “Susan Hayward delivers a powerhouse, often overwhelming performance as Lillian Roth. While director Daniel Mann pushes the melodrama to its limits, Hayward’s raw intensity in depicting alcoholism is undeniably compelling. Jo Van Fleet provides equally memorable support as the demanding mother. The film stumbles with period accuracy and narrative flow, jumping abruptly through Roth’s life, yet its unflinching portrayal of addiction and Hayward’s magnetic presence make it a fascinating, if sometimes exhausting, watch.
• Screen Musings: “”I’ll Cry Tomorrow” serves as a stark, albeit simplified, look at addiction through the lens of a celebrity biopic. Hayward is fiercely committed, capturing the desperation and degradation of Roth’s struggles, even doing her own singing with surprising depth. While the film can feel heavy-handed and occasionally lacks nuance, particularly in its historical detail and portrayal of AA, the central performances, especially Hayward and Van Fleet, ground the often-theatrical proceedings, creating several scenes of genuine emotional impact.

Audience Reactions

Susan Hayward’s raw, fearless portrayal of alcoholism is unforgettable.: Viewers consistently laud Susan Hayward’s performance as one of her career best, highlighting the realistic and painful drunk/withdrawal scenes. Jo Van Fleet’s turn as the mother also receives significant praise. The film’s brave (for its time) depiction of addiction and the message of recovery through AA resonate strongly, despite criticisms of historical inaccuracy or melodrama.

Overall Consensus: A powerful, albeit melodramatic and sometimes historically inaccurate, biopic anchored by Susan Hayward’s phenomenal and intense performance as Lillian Roth, offering a raw look at addiction and recovery that still resonates.

Awards

1. Cannes Film Festival (Best Actress)- 1956
2. Academy Award (Best Black-and-White Costume Design)- 1956

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Susan Hayward spent time studying the real Lillian Roth’s vocal style and performance in Las Vegas before filming and the two became friends during production.”
• “Susan Hayward performed her own singing in the film, a departure from her previous musical biopics like ‘With a Song In My Heart’ where she was dubbed.”
• “The film’s popularity helped reignite Lillian Roth’s career after its release.”
• “Despite depicting events primarily in the 1920s and 30s, the film’s costumes and hairstyles largely reflect the mid-1950s, the era of its production, rather than the historical period.”
• “In AA meetings depicted, characters give their full names, which is inconsistent with the anonymous nature of Alcoholics Anonymous in practice.”
• “Director Daniel Mann originally wanted actress June Allyson for the role of Lillian Roth.”

🖥️ How to Watch I’ll Cry Tomorrow?

Discover where to watch ‘I’ll Cry Tomorrow’, the powerful drama starring Susan Hayward. While specific streaming services may vary by region and subscription, you can typically find this classic film available for digital purchase or rental on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and other major digital movie retailers. Check your preferred service for current availability options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed I’ll Cry Tomorrow, you might like these similar films:

• The Helen Morgan Story (1957): Directly comparable biopic about another real-life singer who struggled with alcoholism and show business pressures, released shortly after this film.
• The Lost Weekend (1945): A seminal film depicting the brutal reality of alcoholism and withdrawal, known for its unflinching portrayal of addiction.
• A Star Is Born (1954): Features a storyline of a rising star (Judy Garland) and a declining star (James Mason) grappling with show business and substance abuse issues.
• Love Me or Leave Me (1955): A musical biopic released in the same year, telling the story of singer Ruth Etting and her difficult relationship with her demanding manager.
• Walk the Line (2005): A modern biopic focusing on the life of musician Johnny Cash, including his struggles with addiction and eventual recovery.

🛒 I’ll Cry Tomorrow Related Products

• I’ll Cry Tomorrow (The Autobiography of Lillian Roth): Read the candid and groundbreaking memoir by Lillian Roth herself, which inspired the film. This book delves deeper into her life, struggles with addiction, and eventual recovery.
• Susan Hayward Collection (DVD/Blu-ray): Explore more work from the incomparable Susan Hayward. This collection might include other acclaimed performances, showcasing the range and intensity that made her a star.
• Classic Hollywood Biopics (Various Films): A collection featuring other classic films based on the lives of performers and public figures, often exploring themes of fame, struggle, and resilience during the Golden Age of Hollywood.
• Songs of the 1920s-1950s Compilation (Music CD/Vinyl/Digital): Immerse yourself in the musical era that Lillian Roth dominated. This compilation features popular songs and standards from the time period depicted in the film.

🎧 Soundtrack

I’ll Cry Tomorrow features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Sing You Sinners” – performed by Susan Hayward
• “Sing You Sinners (medley reprise)” – performed by Susan Hayward (vocal), Eddie Albert (piano)
• “When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin’ Along” – performed by Susan Hayward
• “Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe” – performed by Susan Hayward (vocal), Eddie Albert (piano)
• “Waltz Hugette” – performed by Susan Hayward

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

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