I Want to Live!

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Robert Wise directs. Lionel Lindon behind the camera. Johnny Mandel scores. William Hornbeck cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 168 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
• 2Directed by Robert Wise, shot by Lionel Lindon. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 3Original score by Johnny Mandel. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 4Editor William Hornbeck shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Susan Hayward and Simon Oakland and Virginia Vincent carry the top of the cast.
• 6Marketing tagline: "The murder trial that shook the world!".
• 7IMDB entry: tt0051758 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Lionel Lindon

Original score

Johnny Mandel

Editing

William Hornbeck

Makeup / hair

Emmy Eckhardt

Runtime

120 min · 2h 0m

Status

Released

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

NR

IMDB

I Want to Live! (1958) ↗

Rotten Tomatoes

94% 🍅 Fresh

IMDB rating

7.5/10 · 7,509 votes

MPAA

Approved

Also by

Robert Wise

• 
  Something for the Birds

  1952 · ★ 8.5
• 
  The Sound of Music

  1965 · ★ 7.7
• 
  The Day the Earth Stood Still

  1951 · ★ 7.4
• 
  The Set-Up

  1949 · ★ 7.4
• 
  West Side Story

  1961 · ★ 7.2
• 
  The Sand Pebbles

  1966 · ★ 7.2

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  I Want to Live! 1958 Trailer

  Trailer

Community reviews

What people are saying

• John Chard2019-04-14
  ★ 9/10

  My heart bleeds for you. How can I help you Inspector, buy a few tickets to the policemen's ball? Right from the off there's a realistic feel to the film that immediately draws you in. Be it the characters being acted out so deftly, or the whole composition of director Robert Wise's work, it's quite something and sets the viewer up a treat. It somehow manages to put you in there with Barbara Graham so as to make you feel all the emotions that Graham herself feels. The plot is based around the murky life of Barbara Graham and the subsequent trial that would culminate in her execution, all of which is decidedly dark and troubling. Broken home upbringing (merely alluded to here) right through drugs, perjury, prostitution, shilling, robbery and ultimately murder? It's all in there, yet why does the viewer feel complete sympathy with Barbara? Could it be that she is portrayed as a victim of society? Or merely that it's just so shattering watching this woman get knocked from pillar to post at every turn? Either way the film is a triumph of a character piece, an explosive look at the destruction of one woman's hopes and dreams, a murky peek at the impact that the press can have on such trials, as they turn them into national parties and the accused into national stars. As a criminal biography it is handled adroitly, maybe too much so? For the makers here hint at Graham actually being innocent, and yet nothing substantial is offered up so a to put meat on the bones of such a hint. Other than Graham's own repeated claims of innocence, it's just comes off as a daft slant for the film to aim for, especially since any research into the real life case leads you to finding her out as being guilty anyway. It's a minor complaint though, hell most of my favourite films of all time are historically twisted, and since so much is great and right with the film it would be churlish of me to not advocate it as a must see for anyone remotely interested in classic film history. Susan Hayward gives a faultless display as Graham, she nails every emotional tick of the human condition. Her feisty shows are a pure delight, whilst her scenes of heartbreak and bewilderment look genuine and are up with the best in classic film. Oh yes the academy got this one right, a long overdue Oscar for Susan Hayward. She took on a lot of edgy roles in her career, a great actress for sure. The academy simply found it impossible to ignore such a layered masterclass back in 1958. The rest of the cast are splendid, and I would be doing a disservice if I didn't mention the wonderful jazz arrangement from Johnny Mandel (well done Gerry Mulligan) that tones in perfect with the film's sizzles and sadness. It looks and sounds fantastic and holds you enthral from the first reel right through to the last. And what a final reel, where come the denouement you may find yourself holding your breath along with Barbara herself. A truly superb piece of film making. 9/10

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  United Artists

  US

• FI

  Figaro Incorporated Production

  US

Key crew

• EditorWilliam Hornbeck
• ProducerWalter Wanger
• CastingLynn Stalmaster
• HairstylistEmmy Eckhardt
• Set DecorationVictor A. Gangelin
• Makeup ArtistJack Stone
• Makeup ArtistThomas Tuttle
• HairstylistLillian Ugrin
• Assistant DirectorGeorge Vieira
• Art DirectionTed Haworth
• Sound RecordistFred Lau
• CostumerAngela Alexander
• CostumerWesley Jeffries
• Script SupervisorStanley K. Scheuer
• Production ManagerForrest E. Johnston

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• death penalty
• death row
• biography
• framed for murder
• fallen woman

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical1958-11-18NR

Also known as

International titles

• Jag vill leva!SE