- Robert Wise's I Want To Live! relates the tragic true-life tale of death row inmate Barbara Graham (Susan Hayward), who was executed via gas chamber in 1955 for her role in the brutal murder of an elderly woman. Although the movie protests a little too much concerning its alleged factual nature, everyone agrees that Barbara lived life on the edge, passing bad checks, hosting wild parties, and working as a prostitute. In fact, we first meet Barbara in one of the most sexually lurid scenes in all of film noir as she gasps in ecstacy in a dimly-lit hotel room. Maybe she crossed the county line to get there and maybe she got some money out of the deal, but she's been down this road enough to know exactly what to do when the cops come knocking.
- Fast-forward a bit to find Barbara unhappily married to an abusive addict (Wesley Lau) who abandons her and their infant son. Her employer (Philip Coolidge) puts Barbara to work with two goons (Lou Krugman, James Philbrook) who tangle her up in the aforementioned murder after all three are captured by the police. Given her extensive criminal record and an ill-advised attempt to suborn perjury, Barbara is fast-tracked to death row. Although public opinion is clearly against her, Barbara is fortunate enough to have a few allies in her corner, including her redoubtable friend Peg (Virginia Vincent), prison psychologist Carl Palmberg (Theodore Bikel), lawyer Al Matthews (Joe De Santis), and reporter Ed Montgomery (Simon Oakland), the latter of whom wrote the articles on which the movie is based. Barbara's friends aren't quite enough to save her life, but at least she didn't die alone.
- Being completely unfamiliar with the real-life details of Barbara's case, I Want To Live! worked well for me as both a drama and a suspense picture since I didn't know whether the various last-minute legal appeals would be successful. Amping up the intensity is the film's methodical examination of the minute details of death row, including how the gas chamber pellets work, how the clock must be properly synchronized, and how the phone line must be tested and cleared. Although the film never quite convinced me that its title was accurate, it does work well as a convincing polemic against the death penalty, particularly when you notice that society only starts treating Barbara with respect and concern when she's about to be executed. Wise's direction is top-notch, Lionel Lindon's cinematography is great, and the jazzy soundtrack, scored by Johnny Mandel and featuring Gerry Mulligan, is perfect. Endorsed by Albert Camus!
