Something to Live For (film)

Something to Live For is a 1952 American drama film starring Joan Fontaine, Ray Milland, and Teresa Wright, directed by George Stevens,[1] and released by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay by Dwight Taylor was the first to focus on the Alcoholics Anonymous program as a means of overcoming an addiction to liquor.

For the 1938 Billy Strayhorn song, see Something to Live For (song).
Something to Live For
Original poster for the French release
Directed byGeorge Stevens
Produced byGeorge Stevens
Screenplay byDwight Taylor
Starring
Music byVictor Young
CinematographyGeorge Barnes
Edited byWilliam Hornbeck
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • March 7, 1952 (1952-03-07)
Running time
89 min
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot summary

Jenny Carey is a budding actress whose developing career is threatened by an increasing dependence on alcohol spurred by her self-destructive romance with theatre director Tony Collins. Reformed drunk Alan Miller attempts to help her by introducing her to AA, but his growing interest in her strains his marriage to Edna, who suspects his motive for assisting Jenny is more than humanitarian.

Principal cast

Production notes

Screenwriter Dwight Taylor based the character of Jenny on his mother, noted stage actress Laurette Taylor, whose struggle with alcoholism kept her from acting for years at a time. She was a longtime friend of director/producer George Stevens' uncle, theatre critic Ashton Stevens.[1]

Joan Fontaine, in San Francisco for the film's premiere, told reporters Jenny Carey was one of her more difficult roles "partly because I've never been drunk." In order to achieve a convincing performance, she said, "I talked to members of Alcoholics Anonymous and watched my friends at cocktail parties."[2]

Reception

Critical response

In his review in The New York Times, Bosley Crowther said, "Mr. Stevens' production and the direction he has given this film . . . are as sleek and professionally efficient as any you are going to see around. But, oh, that script by Dwight Taylor! It is a fearsomely rigged and foolish thing, planted with fatuous situations that even Mr. Stevens can't disguise. And how that long arm of coincidence keeps batting you in the face! At first it is simply embarrassing. Then it is vexingly absurd."[3]

References
  1. "Something to Live For". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  2. "People: Words & Music". Time. New York City: Time Inc. March 10, 1952. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  3. Crowther, Bosley (March 8, 1952). "THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; ' Something to Live For,' With Joan Fontaine, Ray Milland, Bows at the Normandie". The New York Times. New York City: The New York Times Company. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
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