I WANT TO LIVE
US, 1983, 100 minutes, Colour.
Lindsay Wagner, Martin Balsam, Pamela Reed, Harry Dean Stanton, Seymour Cassell, Robert Ginty, Anne Ramsay.
Directed by David Lowell Rich.
I Want to Live is a remake of the 1958 Robert Wise film for which Susan Hayward won her Oscar, portraying Barbara Graham who was executed in June 1955.
One of the authors of the original screenplay, Don Mankiewicz, co-wrote this adaptation for the '80s. It is a glossy film, but nonetheless sombre. Lindsay Wagner is effective as Barbara Graham - although she lacks the inner toughness that seemed to inspire Susan Hayward's performances. There is a very strong supporting cast including Martin Balsam, Pamela Reed, Harry Dean Stanton. The atmosphere of the '40s and '50s is re-created. Especially powerful are the scenes of the gas chamber (as they were in the original).
The last woman to be executed in England, Ruth Ellis, was the subject of a British film of the mid-50s, Yield to the Night, with Diana Dors. It was also remade in the '80s as Dance-With? A Stranger, with Miranda Richardson. They make interesting comparisons.
1. The impact of the 1958 film, the telemovie remake? For an '80s audience? Colour, gloss?
2. The film as a telemovie: tough but adapted for the widest audience?
3. California, San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Mexican border, San Quentin - the '40s and '50s period? Musical score?
4. Lindsay Wagner persuasive as Barbara Graham? Comparisons with Susan Hayward?
5. The framework of San Quentin: the opening vistas, the people in 1955 picnicking outside, the journalists assembling, the reporters, the warden for Barbara's execution? Inside, Barbara and the nurse, her need for help, the stays of execution, getting ready?
6. The flashbacks: explanation, her perspective or an objective perspective on her? Leaving the reformatory, being taken by-the Cooley’s, her attitude to work, with Mrs Cooley, Mr Cooley's approach and her resistance? Her going, with the sailor, pregnant and marrying him? The break-up of the marriage, leaving the baby with her mother-in-law? The separation?
7. Going to the bar, wanting work, the barman urging her to be a hostess, the drinks, saved from the police by Jim? Going to Tijuana with him, the buying of the tiger, held up by the police, the smashing of the tiger? His persuading her to be an alibi? Perjury, jail? on parole? Her going to Los Angeles,
meeting Henry, his saving her from the police? In love, marriage, the child?
8. Emmett and Santo, the card games, Henry and his habit, Barbara as the lure, the child, the break-up, going to Emmett, Mrs Cooley and the baby, the arrest?
9. John True's accusation, jail? Brady and the law, his helping Barbara, the adequacy and inadequacy of his defence? Her story, Cooper coming to her in the prison, offering an alibi, her taping the request? Innocent or guilty?
10. The courtroom sequences, True and his testimony, Emmett and Santo and their reactions? Damning for Barbara?
11. The condemnation, the appeal, Al Sheehan and his first encounter with her, his seeking for legal advice, Edie and her giving clues, analyses of the trial? The possibilities, the strength of the appeal?
12. The journalists, Edie and her concern, the headlines and the damning photos of Barbara (a severe photo, caption: 'Is this the last face the victim saw?')? Edie's research? Helping? The attitude of the journalists and her nickname of Bloody Babs?
13. The finale, the chaplain, Psalm 23, the concern of the warden, Barbara's weakness, going to the electric chair, the details about the gas, the stethoscope, her death? The journalists watching in silence?
14. The portrait of a criminal woman? Her opportunities and lack of opportunity? Punishment? Capital punishment - life or execution? Justice? Personal entrapment, perjury, the ability of lawyers, the media campaigns?
