I’ll Cry Tomorrow (1955) in Color — Starring Susan Hayward & Richard Conte

I’ll Cry Tomorrow (1955) — Buy This Classic in Color

Buy I’ll Cry Tomorrow (1955) in color — Daniel Mann’s unflinching biographical drama that laid bare one woman’s shattering descent into alcoholism and her courageous fight to reclaim her life. Starring Susan Hayward as Lillian Roth, Richard Conte as Tony Bardeman, Eddie Albert as Burt McGuire, Jo Van Fleet as Katie Roth, and Don Taylor as Wallie. The story that will grip every heart. True story of Lillian Roth — available now as an instant, DRM-free digital download.

Plot Summary

Lillian Roth (Susan Hayward) is pushed onto the stage as a small child by her fiercely ambitious mother Katie (Jo Van Fleet), who sacrifices everything to transform her daughter into a star. Katie’s relentless drive and emotional manipulation shape Lillian’s entire identity around performance and approval, leaving little room for the girl to develop a sense of self beyond the spotlight. As Lillian grows into a genuine talent, she finds success on Broadway and in Hollywood, becoming one of the most celebrated entertainers of her era. But tragedy strikes when David, the young man she deeply loves, dies suddenly before their wedding. The devastating loss shatters Lillian’s fragile emotional foundation, and she begins drinking to numb the unbearable grief. What starts as a coping mechanism rapidly becomes a consuming addiction. Lillian marries Wallie (Don Taylor), a kind but ultimately helpless man who cannot compete with the bottle for her attention. The marriage crumbles under the weight of her drinking, and Lillian spirals further into self-destruction. She then falls into the orbit of Tony Bardeman (Richard Conte), a controlling and abusive man whose volatile temper and jealousy drive her deeper into alcoholism. Tony’s cruelty strips away what remains of Lillian’s dignity, and she descends to rock bottom — performing in seedy nightclubs, living in flophouses, and suffering blackouts that erase entire days from her memory. Her career, once the envy of Broadway, is reduced to humiliating appearances in dive bars where audiences barely notice her. Katie, the mother who built Lillian’s career with iron determination, watches helplessly as everything she constructed falls apart. The turning point comes through Alcoholics Anonymous and through Burt McGuire (Eddie Albert), a gentle and patient man who sees past the wreckage to the woman Lillian can still become. Burt’s steadfast support and the fellowship of recovery give Lillian the strength to confront her demons. The road back is agonizing — filled with relapses, humiliations, and moments of searing self-honesty — but Lillian’s innate courage and talent ultimately carry her through. She rebuilds her career, her relationships, and her sense of self, emerging as an inspiring public advocate for addiction recovery at a time when alcoholism was considered a shameful moral failing rather than a disease.

Cast & Crew

• Director: Daniel Mann
• Starring: Susan Hayward as Lillian Roth, Richard Conte as Tony Bardeman, Eddie Albert as Burt McGuire, Jo Van Fleet as Katie Roth, Don Taylor as Wallie
• Runtime: 117 minutes
• Year: 1955
• Rated: Approved
• Genre: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
• Country: USA

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized version of I’ll Cry Tomorrow elevates Susan Hayward’s towering performance into an overwhelming visual experience. The frame-by-frame colorization process reveals the brutal contrasts that define Lillian Roth’s journey — the dazzling golds and reds of Broadway spotlights against the sickly yellows and institutional greens of her lowest moments. Hayward’s extraordinary physical transformation across the film becomes even more devastating in color, as the rosy glow of the young performer slowly gives way to the ashen, hollow complexion of a woman consumed by addiction. Jo Van Fleet’s domineering Katie is rendered in severe dark tones that visually echo her suffocating control, while Eddie Albert’s Burt McGuire brings warm, steady earth tones that signal safety and redemption. The restored and colorized version of this classic movie brings startling new dimension to the nightclub sequences, where rich jewel tones create an intoxicating atmosphere that mirrors the seductive danger of Lillian’s world. Richard Conte’s menacing Tony Bardeman appears in sharp, aggressive colors that heighten the threat he poses. The colorized version transforms this classic film from a masterful black and white drama into a visceral chromatic experience that makes Lillian’s suffering and triumph feel breathtakingly immediate. Every frame of the original has been preserved while the professional colorization reveals visual storytelling depths that deepen the emotional impact of every scene.

Historical Significance

I’ll Cry Tomorrow stands as one of Hollywood’s bravest biographical films and a landmark in the cinematic treatment of addiction. Released in 1955, it was adapted from the bestselling autobiography of singer and actress Lillian Roth, who courageously shared her story of alcoholism and recovery at a time when such admissions could end careers. Susan Hayward’s performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and won her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival, cementing her status as one of the finest dramatic actresses of her generation. The film broke important ground by portraying alcoholism with unflinching honesty rather than melodramatic moralizing — showing it as a disease that could strike anyone regardless of talent or social standing. Jo Van Fleet’s performance as the overbearing stage mother added complex psychological layers that anticipated later explorations of family dysfunction in cinema. I’ll Cry Tomorrow helped shift public attitudes toward addiction and recovery, contributing to the growing acceptance of organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous in mainstream American culture. The film remains a powerful classic film studied in courses on addiction, biography, and women in Hollywood, and is considered essential viewing among fans of 1950s dramatic cinema.

Technical Details

• Original Format: Black and White (1955)
• Colorized: Professional frame-by-frame HD colorization and restoration
• Resolution: HD 720p
• File Format: MP4 / MKV
• Running Time: 117 minutes
• Language: English
• Delivery: Instant download link on-screen and sent to your email upon purchase
• Price: €15.00
• License: Personal, non-commercial use

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is I’ll Cry Tomorrow based on a true story?
Yes, the film is a faithful adaptation of the autobiography of Lillian Roth, a real Broadway and Hollywood performer who rose to fame in the 1920s and 1930s before her career was derailed by alcoholism. Roth’s book, published in 1954, became a bestseller and her honest account of addiction and recovery inspired millions. The real Lillian Roth publicly endorsed the film and praised Susan Hayward’s portrayal.

How accurate is Susan Hayward’s portrayal of Lillian Roth?
Hayward’s performance is considered remarkably faithful to the real Lillian Roth. She studied Roth’s mannerisms, speech patterns, and singing style extensively, and the real Lillian Roth herself expressed admiration for how authentically Hayward captured both her darkest moments and her eventual triumph. Hayward performed many of the singing scenes herself, though some vocals were dubbed.

What awards did the film receive?
Susan Hayward won the Best Actress award at the 1955 Cannes Film Festival for her performance and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The film was also nominated for several other awards and received widespread critical acclaim for its honest and uncompromising portrayal of addiction.

Does the film portray domestic violence?
Yes, the film includes scenes depicting the abusive relationship between Lillian and Tony Bardeman (Richard Conte). These scenes were considered quite bold for 1955 cinema and contribute to the film’s unflinching portrait of how addiction intersects with destructive relationships. The portrayal is handled with dramatic seriousness rather than exploitation.

Is this the original film with added color?
Yes, this is the complete, uncut original 1955 film that has been restored and enhanced with professional colorization technology. Every scene and all original dialogue are preserved exactly as intended.

What devices can I watch this on?
You can watch this colorized version on any device that plays MP4 or MKV files, including computers, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, and media players like Roku or Apple TV.

Is the download DRM-free?
Absolutely. Your purchase is completely DRM-free, meaning you own the file outright with no restrictions on how many times you watch it or on which devices you play it.

How and when will I receive my download?
You will receive your download link instantly on-screen after purchase, and a backup link will also be sent to your email address. No waiting period — you can start watching immediately.

How much does it cost to buy this colorized classic?
The price for this restored and professionally colorized edition is €15.00 — a one-time payment for a permanent, DRM-free download you can watch anytime.

Also available in colour for international viewers. This restored and professionally colorized edition of I’ll Cry Tomorrow brings Daniel Mann’s searing biographical drama to vivid new life through expert colorization for a generation of classic film fans. Watch this remarkable classic movie and witness the extraordinary performance that defined Susan Hayward’s legendary career.

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• I Want to Live! (1958)
• The Lost Weekend (1945)
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• The Lusty Men (1952)