Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman (1947)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Stuart Heisler

Writers:

Dorothy Parker (story) &
Frank Cavett (story) ...

Release Date:

March 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

Love-Wrecked!

Plot:

Angie Evans, fast-rising nightclub singer, interrupts her career to marry struggling songwriter Ken Conway...

Plot Keywords:

Singer | Alcoholism | Songwriter | Nightclub | Physician

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Susan Hayward	...	Angelica 'Angie' 'Angel' Evans Conway
Lee Bowman	...	Ken Conway
Marsha Hunt	...	Martha Gray, Elliott's Secretary
Eddie Albert	...	Steve Nelson
Carl Esmond	...	Dr. Lorenz
Carleton Young	...	Fred Elliott
Charles D. Brown	...	Michael 'Mike' Dawson
Janet Murdoch	...	Miss Kirk, Baby Angelica's Nanny
Sharyn Payne	...	Angelica 'Angel' Conway
Robert Shayne	...	Mr. Gordon

Also Known As:

A Woman Destroyed (UK)
Smash-Up

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Spain:15 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #11977)

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Based on the life of entertainer Dixie Lee.

Quotes:

Ken Conway: I'm gonna have a baby!
Steve Nelson: I told you you had talent.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Polyester (1981)

Soundtrack:

Life Can Be Beautiful

Only worth seeing for Hayward

A successful singer Angelica Evans (Susan Hayward) gives up her career and marries unsuccessful singer Ken Conway (Lee Bowman). She happily sacrifices for him and his partner (Eddie Albert). Eventually he DOES hit it big, she has a baby...but he never has time for her--his rising career comes first. She slowly drifts into alcoholism.

This was probably hard-hitting in 1947 (a female alcoholic) but it's not even remotely surprising today. It tiredly follows all the rules of a drama like this leading to a jaw-dropping happy ending that was TOTALLY unbelievable (but the Production Code demanded that). Also Bowman is pretty stiff as the husband and this looks pretty cheap (it WAS independently financed).

Still Hayward is so good all the shortcomings can be forgiven. She dives into the role full force and gives everything she has to it. This film (understandably) made her a star and earned her an Academy Award nomination. She's just incredible--it's worth sitting through just for her acting. Also Albert is very good in his supporting role.

So it is dated and really not that good--but worth seeing for Haywood's strong, impressive performance.