{"id":48927,"date":"2020-06-03T11:48:10","date_gmt":"2020-06-03T18:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=48927"},"modified":"2021-01-23T14:19:51","modified_gmt":"2021-01-23T21:19:51","slug":"helen-morgan-story-the-1957","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=48927","title":{"rendered":"Helen Morgan Story, The (1957)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Why does it always have to be you?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Poster-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-48928\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Poster-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Poster.jpg 666w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nTorch singer <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Helen_Morgan\">Helen Morgan<\/a> (Ann Blyth) falls in love with a married producer (Richard Carlson) and retains a lifelong attraction to a charming hustler (Paul Newman) while rising to the top of her field and then beginning a steady descent into alcoholism.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alcoholism and Drug Addiction<\/li>\n<li>Ann Blyth Films<\/li>\n<li>Biopics<\/li>\n<li>Downward Spiral<\/li>\n<li>Michael Curtiz Films<\/li>\n<li>Paul Newman Films<\/li>\n<li>Singers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nTwelve years after directing Ann Blyth in her breakthrough role as scheming Veda in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5008\"><em>Mildred Pierce<\/em> (1945)<\/a>, Michael Curtiz worked with Blyth once again in her final film, this big-budget biopic about talented torch singer Helen Morgan, viewable in real life by film fanatics in two Peary-listed titles &#8212; <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=34493\"><em>Applause<\/em> (1929)<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26032\"><em>Showboat<\/em> (1936)<\/a>. Blyth fully inhabits the title role, playing Morgan with sympathy and emotional depth &#8212; though it&#8217;s unfortunate the storyline plays so lightly with the true details of her life; for instance, Newman&#8217;s fictional character is an amalgam of all the no-good heels Morgan encountered and couldn&#8217;t seem to stay away from, thus playing conveniently into the sentiments of her two most famous songs from <em>Showboat<\/em>: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bill_(song)\">&#8220;Bill&#8221;<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Can%27t_Help_Lovin%27_Dat_Man\">&#8220;Can&#8217;t Help Loving&#8217; Dat Man&#8221;<\/a>. Morgan&#8217;s alcoholism (the direct cause of her death at the age of 41) isn&#8217;t quite glossed over, but isn&#8217;t handled with nearly as much candor as it could have been. With that said, the film is fluidly directed, with impressive CinemaScope cinematography, and the musical sequences (dubbed by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gogi_Grant\">Gogi Grant<\/a>, despite Blyth&#8217;s own fine voice) are enjoyable &#8212; so it&#8217;s worth a one-time look. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ann Blyth as Helen Morgan<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Helen-Morgan-Singing.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Helen-Morgan-Singing-1024x490.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"306\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-65352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Helen-Morgan-Singing-1024x490.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Helen-Morgan-Singing-300x143.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Helen-Morgan-Singing-128x61.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Helen-Morgan-Singing-768x367.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Helen-Morgan-Singing-1536x735.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Helen-Morgan-Singing-564x270.png 564w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Helen-Morgan-Singing.png 1752w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine CinemaScope cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography-1024x575.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48930\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography-1024x575.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography-1536x862.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography.png 1783w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography7.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography7-1024x596.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"373\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography7-1024x596.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography7-300x174.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography7-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography7-768x447.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography7-1536x893.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Cinematography7.png 1721w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many well-staged musical numbers<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Song.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Song-1024x559.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"349\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48931\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Song-1024x559.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Song-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Song-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Song-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Song-1536x838.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Helen-Morgan-Story-Song.png 1827w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though fans of Morgan will of course be curious to check it out. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0050494\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1957\/10\/03\/archives\/screen-helen-morgan-ann-blyth-stars-in-singers-biography.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/77662\/the-helen-morgan-story#articles-reviews?articleId=636890\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=12598&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Why does it always have to be you?&#8221; Synopsis: Torch singer Helen Morgan (Ann Blyth) falls in love with a married producer (Richard Carlson) and retains a lifelong attraction to a charming hustler (Paul Newman) while rising to the top of her field and then beginning a steady descent into alcoholism. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Ann Blyth Films Biopics Downward Spiral Michael Curtiz Films Paul Newman Films Singers Review: Twelve years after directing Ann Blyth&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=48927\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=48927"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65353,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48927\/revisions\/65353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=48927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=48927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=48927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}