Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman

Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman
theatrical release poster
Directed by	Stuart Heisler
Produced by	Walter Wanger
Written by	Frank Cavett [ Dorothy Parker \
Starring	Susan Hayward Eddie Albert
Music by	Frank Skinner Daniele Amfitheatrof (uncredited)
Cinematography	Stanley Cortez
Editing by	Milton Carruth
Studio	Universal International Pictures
Release date(s)	March 1947
Running time	103 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,360,286[1]
Box office	$2,301,555[1]

Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman (1947), also called A Woman Destroyed,^[2] is a drama film which tells the story of a nightclub singer who marries a rising singer and falls into alcoholism when she gives up her own career. It stars Susan Hayward and Eddie Albert, and was written by Frank Cavett, John Howard Lawson, Dorothy Parker, and Lionel Wiggam, and was directed by Stuart Heisler.

The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Susan Hayward) and Best Writing, Original Story.

The story is loosely based on the life of Dixie Lee, the first wife of actor-singer Bing Crosby.

Plot[edit]

In a hospital, Angie Evans, her face bandaged, recounts the events that brought her here.

A nightclub singer, Angie becomes involved with another singer, Ken Conway, whose career has yet to take off. Her agent Mike Dawson helps get Ken and piano accompanist Steve Anderson a spot on a radio show singing cowboy songs. Ken sings a ballad on the day Angie, now his wife, gives birth to their daughter. The attention he gets leads to a new career opportunity.

Ken soon is a big success, gaining popularity and wealth, while Angie stays home, her career at a standstill. She begins to drink. Ken counts on her to present a sophisticated image for his new high-society friends and contacts, but her alcoholism worsens, so secretary Martha Gray comes to Ken's aid.

It isn't long before Angie is certain an affair has begun with Martha and her husband. Steve tries to intervene on Angie's behalf, but he can see Martha has fallen in love with Ken.

Angie neglects the child, continues to drink, then creates a scene at a party. Ken asks for a divorce and custody. A fire starts from a lit cigarette of hers, shortly after she kidnaps their daughter from a nurse, results in Angie's suffering serious facial burns while saving the child.

There may be no hope, but Ken tries to stand by his wife as her life hits rock bottom.

Cast[edit]

• Susan Hayward as Angie Evans
• Lee Bowman as Ken Conway
• Eddie Albert as Steve Anderson
• Marsha Hunt as Martha Gray
• Carl Esmond as Dr. Lorenz
• Carleton Young as Fred Elliott
• Charles D. Brown as Michael Dawson
• Janet Murdoch as Miss Kirk, baby Angelica's nanny
• Sharyn Payne as Angelica "Angel" Conway
• Robert Shayne as Mr. Gordon

Reception[edit]

The film lost $111,664 in its initial release.^[1]

References[edit]

Notes

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman

• Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman at the Internet Movie Database
• Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman at the TCM Movie Database
• Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]

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