Torch singer Helen Morgan rises from sordid beginnings to fame and fortune only to lose it all to alcohol and poor personal choices.
The Watchmen and San Andreas star leans into a different side of herself to play a hard-hitting new role.
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Title: The Helen Morgan Story (1957)
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1 nomination.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| 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 |
|
|
The De Castro Sisters | ... | Singers |
|
|
Jimmy McHugh | ... | Jimmy McHugh |
| Rudy Vallee | ... | Rudy Vallee | |
Edit
Plot Summary
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Storyline
The 1920's and 30's career of singer Helen Morgan is followed from her early days singing outdoors in a carnival, through her speak-easy and chorus-girl days, to her stardom on Broadway in Ziegfeld's "Show Boat". Her involvement with Larry Maddux, a gin-runner and con-man, and Russell Wade, a prominent, married New York lawyer, and her decline thanks to these failed romances and alcohol are punctuated by performances of many of the songs she made famous. Written by Ron Kerrigan <mvg@whidbey.com>
Plot Keywords:
manipulative female | possessive female | character name as title | helen morgan character | four word title |Taglines:
No star ever climbed higher...or fell lower! See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
5 October 1957 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Jazz Age See more »Filming Locations:
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USACompany Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
Whitey Krause: I hope your hooch is better than your suggestion, Larry. What's the canary to you.
Larry Maddux: Nuthin'. I'm just a music lover. Besides, I don't go for that sad stuff she sings.
See more »
(uncredited)
Music by Nat Ayer
Lyrics by Clifford Grey
Performed by Ann Blyth (dubbed by Gogi Grant) at the audition
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Others considered for the role of Helen Morgan were Judy Garland (who reportedly said about the part, "No more sad endings for me"), Susan Hayward, Jennifer Jones and Peggy Lee. See more »Goofs
Paul Newman's character, Larry Maddux, repeatedly refers to Florenz Ziegfeld as "Ziegfield." All the other characters say Ziegfeld's name correctly. See more »Quotes
Larry Maddux: Do yourself a favor. Hire the kid.Whitey Krause: I hope your hooch is better than your suggestion, Larry. What's the canary to you.
Larry Maddux: Nuthin'. I'm just a music lover. Besides, I don't go for that sad stuff she sings.
See more »
Soundtracks
If You Were the Only Girl in the World(uncredited)
Music by Nat Ayer
Lyrics by Clifford Grey
Performed by Ann Blyth (dubbed by Gogi Grant) at the audition
See more »
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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.