Something to Live For

Director: George Stevens George Stevens

Overview

Something to Live For is the last of director George Stevens' "small" films, before he concentrated full-time on such blockbusters as Shane and Giant. Joan Fontaine plays a popular actress who descends into alcoholism. Ray Milland, in an unofficial extension of his Lost Weekend role, plays a reformed drunkard who comes to Fontaine's rescue. He encourages her to join Alcoholics Anonymous--one of the first times that this organization was given any kind of screen treatment. Milland's concern strains his relationship with his wife (Teresa Wright), who doubts that Ray's interest in Fontaine is merely humanitarian. But Milland refuses to endanger his marriage no matter how strong his feelings towards Fontaine--nor how much the audience wants him to.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/27/2012
UPC:	0887090037105
Original Release:	1952
Rating:	NR
Source:	Olive
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:29:00
Sales rank:	27,220

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ray Milland	Alan Miller
Joan Fontaine	Jenny Carey
Teresa Wright	Edna Miller
Richard Derr	Tony Collins
Douglas Dick	Baker
Herbert Heyes	Mr. Crawley
Harry Bellaver	Billy
Paul Valentine	Albert
Frank Orth	Waiter
Robert Cornthwaite	Young Man
Helen Spring	Mrs. Crawley
Rudy Lee	Chris Miller
Patric Mitchell	Johnny Miller
Richard Barron	Headwaiter
Paul 'Tiny' Newlan	Bartender,Bartender
John Indrisano	Party Guest
Jessie Proctor	Old Lady
Lillian Clayes	Old Lady
Genevieve Bell	Old Lady
Patsy O'Byrne	Old Lady
Helen Dickson	Old Lady
Cora Shannon	Old Lady
Mari Blanchard	Hatcheck Girl
Ida Moore	Woman
Mary Field	Woman,Man
Judith Allen	Woman
Kerry Vaughn	Cocktail Waitress
Jean Acker	Wife
Sue Carlton	Intellectual
Alex Akimoff	Waiter
Eric Alden	Pharoah
Jody Gilbert	Woman in Telephone Booth,Woman in Telephone Booth
Maurice Cass	Critic
Erville Alderson	Critic
Paul Maxey	Hoffstater
Douglas Spencer	Joey
Donald Dillaway	Executive
Al Kunde	Executive,Cleaning Woman
George Lynn	Executive
Arthur Tovey	Desk Clerk
Harold Miller	European,European
James E. Moss	Alternate Boy
Lee Aaker	Alternate Boy
Slim Gaut	Derelict
Raymond Bond	Box Office Man
Peter Hanson	Stage Cast
Laura Elliott	Stage Cast
Charles Dayton	Stage Cast
Susan Freeman	Little Child
Gerald Courtemarch	Little Child
Helen Brown	Miss Purdy
Rolfe Sedan	Frenchman
Marcel de la Brosse	Frenchman
Charles Andre	Frenchman
Jeanne Lafayette	Frenchwoman
Dulce Daye	Actress
Korla Pandit	Hindu Man
King Donovan	Stage Manager
Gloria Dea	Slave Girl
Josette Deegan	Slave Girl
Lavonne Battle	Slave Girl
Peter Hansen	Actor
Sherry Jackson	Actor

Technical Credits

George Stevens

Director,Producer

Editorial Reviews

Because of the presence of Ray Milland as a reformed alcoholic, Something for Live For seems to come across as something of a sequel to The Lost Weekend. But whereas Lost Weekend is a brilliant classic drama, Something is merely a good but far from brilliant melodrama. The blame lies with the screenplay, which is more than serviceable but far less than inspired and which relies far too often on coincidence and easy outs. The convoluted emotional intertwinings of the two leading characters are not given the depth that they deserve but are treated in a rather conventional fashion by scenarist Dwight Taylor, and that damages the film somewhat. Fortunately, director George Stevens is on hand to take the skimpy screenplay and by judicious emphasis and a careful attention to nuance, shape it into a convincing and fairly gripping little flick. He's aided enormously by Milland and Joan Fontaine as the would-be lovers brought together by their tangles with alcohol, as well as by the always lovely Teresa Wright, who does very well with the wife who stands in their way. This trio of actors keeps the viewer much more engaged than he has a real right to be -- and the viewer is quite thankful for their efforts.