The Helen Morgan Story 1957 () Paul Newman

Helen Morgan begins her career as a Chicago carnival dancer. She catches the eye of fast-talking, double-dealing Larry Maddux, whose promotion catapults her to fame as a Broadway performer in Show Boat and a headliner in her own nightclub. Helen is involved in two romantic relationships - with Maddux, and with wealthy attorney Russell Wade - each of which cause her great anguish. When she realizes the caddish Maddux has been merely using her to support the upscale lifestyle he has come to enjoy, she turns to alcohol. Wade, who is genuinely in love with Helen, is nonetheless married and a divorce is impossible; this helps drive her further into the bottle. She loses the bulk of her money to the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Wall Street Crash of 1929, hits rock bottom and, finally is hospitalized in the alcoholic ward of Bellevue. Maddux has a redemptive change of heart and arranges a gala dinner, hosted by Walter Winchell and Florenz Ziegfeld, in Helen’s honor. The film’s ending suggests this was her first step on the road to recovery, success, and happiness; this, however, was not the case for the real Helen Morgan. Directed by Michael Curtiz Produced by Martin Rackin Written by Nelson Gidding Stephen Longstreet Dean Riesner Oscar Saul Starring Ann Blyth Paul Newman Richard Carlson Cinematography Ted D. McCord Edited by Frank Bracht