The Helen Morgan Story ** (1957, Ann Blyth, Paul Newman, Richard Carlson) – Classic Movie Review 9360

Unfortunately Ann Blyth is rather dull as tragic, ever unlucky in love torch singer Helen Morgan, who turns to the bottle for comfort, in this lame 1957 black and white Warner Bros biopic The Helen Morgan Story [Both Ends of the Candle] that doesn’t really come to life.

Director Michael Curtiz does conjure up the nostalgic mood and period feel, and it is chocka with 1920s and 1930s standards, attractively sung by Gogi Grant (dubbing for Blyth).

Paul Newman co-stars as the smirking bad guy racketeer Larry Maddux and Richard Carlson plays Russell Wade, a nice prominent, married New York lawyer in her life, but neither actor makes much headway. Indeed, it is surprising to see the rising star Newman stuck with such a poor role.  Supposedly Newman argued bitterly with Warner Bros boss Jack Warner, who forced him to be in the movie, and allegedly told him to go f… himself, though this really doesn’t sound like Paul Newman.

Jimmy McHugh, Rudee Vallee and Walter Winchell all appear as themselves.

The original screenplay is by Oscar Saul, Dean Riesner, Stephen Longstreet and Nelson Gidding. It ends up third best to Love Me or Leave Me (1955) and I’ll Cry Tomorrow (1955).

Following The Buster Keaton Story (1957), this is the the last film of Ann Blyth.

Also in the cast are Gene Evans, Alan King, Cara Williams, Virginia Vincent, Walter Woolf King, Dorothy Green, Edward Platt, Warren Douglas, Sammy White, Peggy de Castro, Cherie de Castro, Babette de Castro [The De Castro Sisters singers], Iris Adrian, Joe Besser, Betty Blythe, Paul Bryar, Robert Clarke, Walter Reed, Herb Vigran and Tito Vuolo.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9360

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