This acclaimed biopic tells the cautionary tale of Broadway star Lillian Roth (Susan Hayward), who by the age of 20 has risen to fame due to the efforts of her pushy mother. Though a success on stage, Lillian has her hopes of happiness dashed when her fiancé dies tragically, and responds to her loss by drinking. Alcoholism and a string of failed marriages destroy Lillian’s career and ultimately leave her destitute. After a brush with death, however, Lillian resolves to return to the spotlight.

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Video Quality

Warner Archive presents I’ll Cry Tomorrow for the first time on Blu-Ray with 1080p transfer sourced from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative. As per the usual, the team at Warner Archive has delivered a presentation that is a major win for fans of classic cinema. This black and white feature has perfectly resolved natural film grain throughout that provides a grand amount of detail to the image. The presentation provides a pleasing amount of depth in every location, especially in the shadows where there is no evidence of any black crush. Print damage is simply a non-issue with nary a speck to be spotted throughout. Warner Archive has provided a release that more than likely bests the original release prints. This one is a stunner.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray release comes with a newly restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that brings this movie to life admirably. This film primarily acts as a rather talky affair, and the dialogue comes through crystal clear throughout the duration. None of the environmental effects or the music ever overpowers the dialogue on this release. The sequences when Lillian sings a tune are appropriately lively in the speakers. There does not appear to be much in the way of damage or age related wear and tear to the track outside of some fleeting harsher inflections. This is a really strong audio presentation that gives the material the life it deserves. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles available on the disc.

Special Features

Story Conference: A nearly 21-minute Vitaphone short featuring the subject of the feature film, Lillian Roth, in which story ideas from various studio executives are brought to life by talented singers and dancers. This is presented in HD and Dolby Digital 2.0 audio.

Excerpt From MGM Parade Episode 11: A nearly five-minute promo with Susan Hayward in which the actress discusses her work in I’ll Cry Tomorrow.

Excerpt From MGM Parade Episode 13: Another three-minute promo for I’ll Cry Tomorrow, this time without the in-person exchange with Hayward before the clip.

Excerpt From MGM Parade Episode 16: A final three-minute scene introduction from MGM to promote I’ll Cry Tomorrow.

Unique Meeting At The Premiere Of I’ll Cry Tomorrow: A 42-second newsreel which shows the meeting between Susan Hayward and Lillian Roth at the film’s premiere.

Top Awards for MGM Stars: A 45-second newsreel report in which Hayward can be seen receiving an award from MGM for Best Actress.

Theatrical Trailer: The three-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

I’ll Cry Tomorrow is a solid true-life melodrama which depicts the crushing lows and the journey towards redemption of a major Broadway talent. The narrative is not exactly an unfamiliar one, but it is executed with great power thanks to the knockout performance of Susan Hayward and the talented ensemble supporting her. The pacing can be a bit sluggish for the material, but all in all the film delivers a compelling viewing experience thanks to the performances and craftsmanship. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a standout A/V presentation and a fun array of special features. If you enjoy old-school Hollywood melodrama, there is no reason to pass up this top-tier release. Recommended

I’ll Cry Tomorrow can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.