The Helen Morgan Story (1957)

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Nelson Gidding (writer)
Stephen Longstreet (writer)

Release Date:

5 October 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Plot:

The 1920's and 30's career of singer Helen Morgan is followed from her early days singing outdoors in a carnival...

Plot Keywords:

Singer | New York | Song | Lawyer | Singing

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Ann Blyth	...	Helen Morgan
Paul Newman	...	Larry Maddux
Richard Carlson	...	Russell Wade
Gene Evans	...	Whitey Krause
Alan King	...	Benny Weaver
Cara Williams	...	Dolly Evans
Virginia Vincent	...	Sue
Walter Woolf King	...	Florenz Ziegfeld
Dorothy Green	...	Mrs. Wade
Edward Platt	...	Johnny Haggerty
Warren Douglas	...	Mark Hellinger
Sammy White	...	Sammy White
Peggy de Castro	...	Singer
Cherie de Castro	...	Singer
Babette de Castro	...	Singer

Also Known As:

Both Ends of the Candle (UK)
The Jazz Age (USA) (working title)
Why Was I Born? (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

This movie was originally planned for Doris Day to star in. This is one of the few planned projects that Day vehemently refused to play. She did not feel she wished to portray the sordid aspects of Helen Morgan and it would be totally different from her screen image.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Playhouse 90: The Helen Morgan Story (#1.33)" (1957)

Soundtrack:

Someone to Watch Over Me

Big Story, small budget

If for no other reason, the movie is memorable for the great vocals by Gogi Grant. It has its inconsistencies, such as Helen Morgan wears the same 5 inch stillettos throughout the movie. Were they even available in the 1930s? Go past that and this makes a great tearjerker, or a "rainy-day stay in the house and curl up on the couch" movie. Today, I'd say it would be reated PG-14.