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Something to Live For

  • 1952
  • Approved
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
472
YOUR RATING
Joan Fontaine, Ray Milland, and Teresa Wright in Something to Live For (1952)
Drama

An actress becomes an alcoholic after being jilted. She is aided by an Alcoholics Anonymous member with whom she has an affair; however, he is married.An actress becomes an alcoholic after being jilted. She is aided by an Alcoholics Anonymous member with whom she has an affair; however, he is married.An actress becomes an alcoholic after being jilted. She is aided by an Alcoholics Anonymous member with whom she has an affair; however, he is married.

  • Director
    • George Stevens
  • Writer
    • Dwight Taylor
  • Stars
    • Joan Fontaine
    • Ray Milland
    • Teresa Wright
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    472
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George Stevens
    • Writer
      • Dwight Taylor
    • Stars
      • Joan Fontaine
      • Ray Milland
      • Teresa Wright
    RENT/BUY
    Watch on Prime Video
    from $3.79
    • 11User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos68

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    Top cast99+

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    Joan Fontaine
    Joan Fontaine
    • Jenny Carey
    Ray Milland
    Ray Milland
    • Alan Miller
    Teresa Wright
    Teresa Wright
    • Edna Miller
    Richard Derr
    Richard Derr
    • Tony Colter
    Douglas Dick
    Douglas Dick
    • Baker
    Herbert Heyes
    Herbert Heyes
    • J.B. Crawley
    Harry Bellaver
    Harry Bellaver
    • Billy, Elevator Operator
    Paul Valentine
    Paul Valentine
    • Albert Forest
    Lee Aaker
    Lee Aaker
    • Alternate Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Jean Acker
    Jean Acker
    • Wife
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    Ed Agresti
    • Stage Manager
    • (uncredited)
    Alex Akimoff
    • Waiter
    • (uncredited)
    Eric Alden
    Eric Alden
    • Pharaoh
    • (uncredited)
    Erville Alderson
    Erville Alderson
    • Critic
    • (uncredited)
    Judith Allen
    Judith Allen
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Andre
    • Frenchman
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Barron
    • Headwaiter
    • (uncredited)
    Lavonne Battle
    • Slave Girl
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • George Stevens
    • Writer
      • Dwight Taylor
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    6.4472
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    Featured reviews

    7jotix100

    Torch song

    This Paramount 1952 release came on unexpectedly since it is not often seen. The main interest was the three principals, under the direction of George Stevens, whose body of work speak by itself. Even with a screenplay that is somewhat dated, the film kept out attention from the start.

    Jenny Carey, an actress whose stage fright contributes to her alcoholism, meets and falls for Alan Miller, himself a recovering alcoholic. The problem is that Alan is married; he is a decent man who realizes the danger of falling too deep for Jenny. Even if they feel deeply about one another, the stigma of their love for the bottle keeps them grounded. Alan is married to Edna, a decent lady who understands the struggle her husband faces on a daily basis, but never suspects him of seeing another woman. That is, until Edna meets Jenny at a party. Edna, who is expecting a third child, senses something is wrong, but she has no basis for doubting Alan.

    The pairing of Joan Fontaine and Ray Milland pays off in unexpected ways. Ms. Fontaine and Mr. Milland were at interesting points of their careers. Both are perfect with their take on the two doomed lovers who understood their would be relation was doomed from the start. Although the characters are not strongly written, the two stars do wonders with their roles which speak volumes about the strong handling of the situation by Mr. Stevens. Teresa Wright who plays Edna, shows why she was always an asset in anything she appeared on the screen. Also, in a supporting role, Harry Bellaver, a veteran actor who went to star in the television series "Naked City", one of the best things of that early period of that medium.

    "Something to Live For" is worth a look if it ever shown on cable.
    3marthawilcox1831

    Ray Milland and Joan Fontaine

    Despite the fact that you have a good cast, this fails to be a good film, merely because of the script and direction. It is dull from start to finish, and apart from a scene where Ray Milland and Joan Fontaine are reading a script together and then kiss, there is nothing to commend it. I'm not particularly a fan of Theresa Wright, and although her performance may be commendable, she doesn't grow or develop in the part. It is one- dimensional from beginning to end. Having said that, it doesn't harm any of their careers. Fontaine would go on to do 'Ivanhoe' in the same year, and Milland would go on to do 'Dial M For Murder' with Hitchcock. This suggests that as an actor you should do as many films as possible so that the good ones can cancel out the bad ones.
    8adpye

    AA at work

    I enjoyed this film a lot. Joan Fontaine plays Jenny Carey, a struggling actress whose insecurities and stage fright drive her to drink. Ray Milland is Allan Miller, an advertising executive who is a recovering alcoholic and a member of AA. He is called to Jenny's hotel room by the elevator operator one night when Jenny had been on a drinking binge. She was due at a rehearsal of a Broadway play. This meeting of Jenny and Alan lead to romance, even though Allen is married and has two children and one on the way. Jenny tries to cut off the romance as she feels it is improper, but Allan is totally taken with Jenny and wants to continue the romance. Joan Fontaine and Ray Milland have wonderful screen chemistry. Both are excellent as their respective characters, although parts of the script are somewhat weak. Will Alan leave his wife for Jenny? Will Jenny conquer alcoholism and get her chance to star in a Broadway play? This film is seldom seen on cable, but is sometimes put up for bid on eBay. It is certainly worth a look. The film was directed by George Stevens.
    10heartfield-1

    Milland & Fontaine, subtle complex pairing

    Sophisticated tale of a married alcoholic who strays in order to rekindle his own inner fire, SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR (1952) has an almost un-American delicacy. A mere advertising man wasting creative talents on shoe campaigns, Ray Milland comes to the rescue of a fellow alcoholic who happens to be a talented actress recovering from an abusive relationship with a narcissistic director. Joan Fontaine gives arguably her best performance as a sensitive soul saved by her love for a married man who's fighting similar demons. Their impossible love nonetheless strengthnes both of them.

    Director George Stevens paints an intimate portrait of Manhattan work life and night life, including a beautiful evocation of what Broadway theater used to be. He makes space for Fontaine's vulnerability without going maudlin, and gets Milland to let down his guard as the most skewered of lovers. There's so much to love in the framing and lighting, above all a spontaneity thrillingly incarnated by Fontaine.

    The script by Dwight. Taylor is stunning - Romantic but not unrealistic, capturing aspects of the artistic temperament and the human need for love that will inspire artists of all ages.
    2HotToastyRag

    Insulting to Milland, AA, and romance

    I wonder if Ray Milland was roped into Something to Live For due to a contractual obligation, but I don't have to wonder if he was insulted - of course he was! Did Hollywood see him as anything other than a chronic alcoholic? His role in this "romance" is practically a sequel to The Lost Weekend, but somehow his character manages to be even more unlikable. There are some movies you can watch him in that show him as a great actor; in this one, he's just Ray Mi-bland.

    Joan Fontaine is also just Joan Fontaine. Her hunched posture, inability to voice the ends of her sentences, and her ill-fitting smile are all present in this role, not distinguishing it from countless others she played. She's meek and mousey, going on a bender every time she has to perform onstage. If she feels that way about an audition, reading, or opening night, she has no business seeking a career in the theater. Instead of calling AA whenever she collapses, the well-intentioned bellhop Harry Bellaver should have called an employment agency. Joan is a joke.

    At the start of the movie, Harry calls Ray to come over for an emergency drunk resuscitation. Ray is unnerved because AA segregates them by gender, and Joan should have had a woman come. Nevertheless, he spends the evening with her and helps her back on her feet. When he returns to his own home, his wife Teresa Wright isn't happy that he's still involved with alcoholism even though he's kicked the habit himself. There are so many flaws with this plot, it's not even a pleasure to watch and criticize it. Ray would never have been allowed to be a sponsor if he was only one year sober and still holding on by a thread. He would have had his own sponsor, to whom he would have told he's mentoring a single (supposedly attractive) woman; and his sponsor would have put a stop to the dangerous behavior immediately.

    The "romance" of the story is also a problem. It's extremely obvious that Ray is only attracted to Joan's weakness. She makes him feel strong by comparison, and his wife reminds him of his past mistakes (through his own conscience; she never actually does this). Is the audience supposed to think theirs is actually a deep love? Joan is unhinged and would cling to anyone. Through their clandestine relationship, doesn't the audience recognize the signs of addiction? Ray starts lying again, he experiences highs and lows, he makes excuses to see Joan when he knows it's unhealthy, and he enjoys his alternative persona during his secret life. How are we supposed to root for these people? How can we think their affair gives them "something to live for"? I was very mad at Harry's character, encouraging an adulterous relationship when he had no stake in Joan's future. If he was Joan's brother and truly believed Ray was the only man who could help her live another day, he might rationalize his aiding and abetting. He holds no investment and should therefore stay out of their lives.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      This little-known, small-scale intimate drama was made by George Stevens between two of his biggest successes, "A Place In The Sun" and "Shane", both of which are very elaborate, large-scale prestige movies.

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 7, 1952 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mr. & Mrs. Anonymous
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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