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IMDbPro

I Want to Live!

  • 19581958
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
I Want to Live! (1958)
A prostitute, sentenced to death for murder, pleads her innocence.
Play trailer2:19
1 Video
38 Photos
  • Biography
  • Crime
  • Drama
A prostitute, sentenced to death for murder, pleads her innocence.A prostitute, sentenced to death for murder, pleads her innocence.A prostitute, sentenced to death for murder, pleads her innocence.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Wise
  • Writers
    • Nelson Gidding(screenplay)
    • Don Mankiewicz(screenplay)
    • Ed Montgomery(newspaper articles)
  • Stars
    • Susan Hayward
    • Simon Oakland
    • Virginia Vincent
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Wise
  • Writers
    • Nelson Gidding(screenplay)
    • Don Mankiewicz(screenplay)
    • Ed Montgomery(newspaper articles)
  • Stars
    • Susan Hayward
    • Simon Oakland
    • Virginia Vincent
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 89User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 6 wins & 16 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:19
    Official Trailer

    Photos38

    Susan Hayward in I Want to Live! (1958)
    Susan Hayward and Olive Blakeney in I Want to Live! (1958)
    Susan Hayward, Alice Backes, Olive Blakeney, and Gertrude Flynn in I Want to Live! (1958)
    Susan Hayward in I Want to Live! (1958)
    Susan Hayward in I Want to Live! (1958)
    Susan Hayward and Gage Clarke in I Want to Live! (1958)
    Susan Hayward and Gage Clarke in I Want to Live! (1958)
    Susan Hayward in I Want to Live! (1958)
    Susan Hayward and Virginia Vincent in I Want to Live! (1958)
    Susan Hayward in I Want to Live! (1958)
    Susan Hayward in I Want to Live! (1958)
    Susan Hayward and John Marley in I Want to Live! (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Susan Hayward
    Susan Hayward
    • Barbara Grahamas Barbara Graham
    Simon Oakland
    Simon Oakland
    • Edward S. 'Ed' Montgomeryas Edward S. 'Ed' Montgomery
    Virginia Vincent
    Virginia Vincent
    • Pegas Peg
    Theodore Bikel
    Theodore Bikel
    • Carl G.G. Palmbergas Carl G.G. Palmberg
    Wesley Lau
    Wesley Lau
    • Henry L. Grahamas Henry L. Graham
    Philip Coolidge
    Philip Coolidge
    • Emmett Perkinsas Emmett Perkins
    Lou Krugman
    • John R. 'Jack' Santoas John R. 'Jack' Santo
    James Philbrook
    James Philbrook
    • Bruce Kingas Bruce King
    Bartlett Robinson
    Bartlett Robinson
    • District Attorney Miltonas District Attorney Milton
    Gage Clarke
    Gage Clarke
    • Attorney Richard G. Tibrowas Attorney Richard G. Tibrow
    • (as Gage Clark)
    Joe De Santis
    Joe De Santis
    • Al Matthewsas Al Matthews
    John Marley
    John Marley
    • Father Deversas Father Devers
    Raymond Bailey
    Raymond Bailey
    • San Quentin Wardenas San Quentin Warden
    Alice Backes
    Alice Backes
    • Barbara, San Quentin Nurseas Barbara, San Quentin Nurse
    Gertrude Flynn
    Gertrude Flynn
    • San Quentin Matronas San Quentin Matron
    Russell Thorson
    Russell Thorson
    • San Quentin Sgt.as San Quentin Sgt.
    Dabbs Greer
    Dabbs Greer
    • San Quentin Capt.as San Quentin Capt.
    Stafford Repp
    Stafford Repp
    • Police Sgt.as Police Sgt.
    • Director
      • Robert Wise
    • Writers
      • Nelson Gidding(screenplay)
      • Don Mankiewicz(screenplay)
      • Ed Montgomery(newspaper articles)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A woman named Betsy Ann Smith from Wakefield, Virginia won a bit part in this film as a prize on The Price Is Right (1956).
    • Goofs
      When Barbara's son is brought to the jail for a visit and the presence of the news media upsets Barbara, she retreats to an interior area of the jail and pounds on the wall in frustration. The "brick" wall gives slightly as she throws her weight onto it.
    • Quotes

      Barbara Graham: I never even knew the dame.

      Police lieutenant: You know she's been murdered, don't you?

      Barbara Graham: Yeah. So was Julius Caesar. I didn't know him either.

    • Crazy credits
      The film opens with this statement: The pitiless story told in this film is a true story. This story had to be told to the whole world; the whole world should see it and hear it. What good are films if they do not make us face the realities of our time? Here is the reality of our time, and we have no right to be ignorant of it. The day will come when such documents will seem to us to refer to prehistoric times, and we shall consider them as unbelievable that in earlier centuries witches were burned or thieves had their right hands cut off. Such period of true civilization is still in the future, but this film has the honor of at least contributing to its coming". Albert Camus - Nobel Prize winner.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Clock (2010)

    User reviews89

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Powerful performance and imagery
    Capital Punishment was, is, and probably always will be immensely controversial. "I Want to Live" offers an argument against the practice, approaching the issue with a fervently emotional message.

    Susan Hayward (perhaps the finest work of her career) portrays the real-life convicted murderess Barbara Graham with urgency, strength, and sensitivity. We follow the story of Graham as she gets in trouble with the law repeatedly. Eventually, she is involved with a couple of thugs; a woman is murdered, and the three are accused. Which one actually killed the woman is uncertain. The movie provides information from Graham's trial (after she is implicated by the other two), but cleverly skirts the issue of guilt, and leaves the viewer to come to one's own opinion about this.

    Whatever your view on capital punishment is, and whether or not you believe Graham was the actual killer should not skew your opinion of the movie; artistically, it's a gem. It is guaranteed to get you thinking about the issue of capital punishment, and some of the questions that are inherent in the arguments for and against it.

    The final sequence of the movie is poignant and eloquent in depicting the preparations for a gas chamber execution. These images are haunting and will stay with you long after you see the movie.

    This movie is artistic and masterfully done; but one must set aside preconceived opinions on the issue (pro OR con) to fully appreciate it.
    helpful•11
    2
    • MartianOctocretr5
    • May 15, 2006

    FAQ5

    • Is "I Want to Live" based on a book?
    • Who is Barbara Graham?
    • Was Barbara Graham innocent or guilty?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 3, 1958 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Barbara Graham Story
    • Filming locations
      • San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Walter Wanger Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,383,578 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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