Review of I Want to Live! (1958) by Edith N — 01 Mar 2011

Barbara Graham (Susan Hayward) is a good time girl, former prostitute and small time hood who becomes involved in a murder rap. She may have a heart-of-gold and no stoolie but she is also impulsive, quick tempered and stubborn.

The film dramatizes Barbara's life, showing her just before the murder charge as someone unafraid to spend a little time in the pen. But her ways soon catch up to her when her past catches up with her together with a rather inept defense attorney.

She is sentenced to death by the gas chamber. Susan Hayward gives an exceptional performance of the condemned woman, wrongfully convicted and never overplays her hand. She would earn the Academy Award for leading actress for this role.

Behind the camera Robert Wise is much flashier than usual employing many different shots in the film to establish a certain mood - and they work quite well. The screenplay is well written with characters quite human and certainly less cartoonish - there is no big bad warden.

.. this is real. A finely crafted Hollywood prison film.