Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

I'll Cry Tomorrow Blu-ray Movie Review

Requiem for a dreamer.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III March 6, 2023

Not to be confused with -- but obviously based on -- Lilian Roth's autobiography of the same name, Daniel Mann's biopic I'll Cry Tomorrow tells the sad, sorry tale of a child actress-turned Broadway star whose meteoric rise led to a sharp downward spiral after alcoholism took full control of her life. As portrayed by Susan Hayward (who earned an Academy Award nomination for her performance), Roth is painted as a sympathetic figure but I'll Cry Tomorrow isn't afraid to show the less glamorous side of things... or at least what Hays Code rules would allow at the time.

A full or even majority run-through of the plot isn't needed here; as-is, I'll Cry Tomorrow already hurdles over sizable chunks of the actor's life and career. partially for dramatic effect but also due to time constraints. It nonetheless covers plenty of ground in just under two hours, devoting the first 10-15 minutes to Lilian's early life as her single mom Katie (Jo Van Fleet) drags the passive eight year-old (Carole Ann Campbell) around to various auditions, pushing her in front of studio executives and becoming visibly hostile when things don't go Lilian's way. From there, I'll Cry Tomorrow zips through her landmark Broadway years, including trademark performances of standards like "Sing, You Sinners", "The Red, Red Robin", and "I'm Sitting on Top of the World", as well as her brief romance with former childhood friend David Tredman (Ray Danton). Sadly, both wouldn't last long: David died of tuberculosis during their engagement, while a series of career downturns -- and future ex-husbands -- led to her increased dependence on alcohol.

You'll have to see where it goes from there... but at the risk of mild spoilers (and, of course, the fact that Lilian Roth lived another 25 years after the film's premiere), let's just say that I'll Cry Tomorrow is ultimately a hopeful film that, like its source material, aims to give support to those in similar situation. As a relative non-drinker I can't relate much, of course, but this film still remains an accessible drama regardless of the addiction at hand. Though it certainly goes a bit over the top at key moments (a critique that applies to both the film as a whole and Susan Hayward's colorfully committed performance), it nonetheless reels itself right back in when needed. The result is a relatively even-handed biopic that capably toes the line between juicy melodrama and shrewdly-scrubbed Hollywood entertainment.

Not surprisingly given the autobiography's confessional nature (not to mention the fact that Roth was portrayed by someone only seven years her junior, while she was very much still alive) and the small gap between publication and premiere, I'll Cry Tomorrow feels like a very in-the-moment production, one that's peppered with voice-over narration and an almost purely linear structure. Yet it also feels strangely out of time for two reasons: (1) it takes place over the course of several decades but is peppered with anachronisms, and (2) exact years are implied rather than carefully spelled out. For both reasons and several others, I'll Cry Tomorrow is the kind of film you have to accept at face value to fully enjoy, but luckily its considerable strengths more than make up for most potential weaknesses.

Warner Archive kicks off a busy month with I'll Cry Tomorrow and the soon-to-be-reviewed Camille, treating this black-and-white beauty with their typically careful touch and porting over a handful of short but valuable vintage extras that promote either the film or its real-life subject. It's a worthy tribute to a film that deserves the extra love.

I'll Cry Tomorrow Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Any time you hear "new 4K scan from the original camera negative", you can be extra-sure you're getting a fantastic-looking Blu-ray from the reliable Warner Archive. I'll Cry Tomorrow is no exception, as this black-and-white beauty absolutely sparkles even when the subject matter gets a little grim. Fine detail is, as always, superb with wonderfully preserved film grain visible in almost every shot, while their careful treatment also allows a full range of light to deep grays and blacks to flourish with no obvious signs of crush, blooming, or posterization. Speaking of which, as usual this is a perfectly encoded disc with no other visible compression artifacts, with the whole show running at a suitably high bit rate. Also free of dirt and debris thanks to Warner Archive's usual round of manual cleanup, it's another picture-perfect 1080p transfer that easily stands as the film's best-looking home video presentation to date.

I'll Cry Tomorrow Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Also impressive is Warner Archive's purist-friendly DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono restoration, a split one-channel mix that captures all the literal and figurative highs and lows here with almost no difficulty. A reliable sourced informed me that only one reel of footage was sourced from alternate means due to possible damage-related issues -- which, to my estimation, occurs around the two-thirds mark -- but you almost wouldn't know it from the overall consistency that this track manages to maintain. This affected stretch of I'll Cry Tomorrow carries with it a few moderate sibilance issues, resulting in a somewhat harsher texture that stands in contrast with the majority of this otherwise perfectly good track, but again it's not all that distracting and was likely the best option available. Elsewhere, it impresses despite a narrow dynamic range, whether during a quiet exchange, a bustling party, or one of a handful of music breaks, showing very few telltale signs of hissing, pops, or other age-related wear and tear. Fine work, under the circumstances.

I'll Cry Tomorrow Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with original one-sheet poster artwork and no inserts. Several extras are ported over from older DVD editions, as well as a few small additions to round out the package.

• "Story Conference" (20:25) - This 1934 musical Vitaphone short, directed by Roy Mack, features the real Lilian Roth in action with other signing and dancing talents of the day. Among other performances, it spoofs 'Honeymoon Hotel' number from the excellent 1933 Busby Berkeley musical, Footlight Parade.

• Excerpts from "MGM Parade" (3 clips, 10:24 total) - A trio of promotional pieces for I'll Cry Tomorrow, each hosted by George Murphy and featuring Susan Hayward along with short clips from the film.

• Unique Meeting at the Premiere (0:42) - A short newsreel segment with footage of Susan Hayward meeting Lilian Roth at the Hollywood theatrical premiere of I'll Cry Tomorrow in December 1955 (above).

• Top Awards for MGM Stars (0:45) - Another short newsreel-style segment, this promotional clip features a pair of Look magazine acting awards handed out to Susan Hayward and James Cagney.

• Theatrical Trailer (3:02) - "Filmed on location... inside a woman's soul!" Gotta love it.

• Song Selection - Instant access to the film's occasional musical breaks, listed below.

• Main Title
• Sing You Sinners
• When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along
• Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe
• Medley: When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along / Valse Huguette /
  Sing You Sinners / Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe
• End Title / Cast Credits

I'll Cry Tomorrow Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Released barely a year after its autobiographical source material, I'll Cry Tomorrow remains an effective cautionary tale about childhood stardom, impulsive behavior, and how quickly substance abuse can clip even the biggest set of wings. Fully encompassed by star Susan Hayward (for better and occasionally for worse, if I'm being honest), this story of Broadway sensation Lillian Roth is a perfectly accessible roller-coaster ride whether you're familiar with her life or not. Warner Archive's new Blu-ray follows suit with another A+ restoration, polishing its crisp black-and-white visuals to an absolute shine. A few minor audio issues and relatively thin (but thoughtful) extras keep it from scoring higher... but even as-is, this one's a perfectly well-rounded disc worth picking up sight unseen. Recommended.