Most beautifully written Errol and a pleasure to read especially hearing how you first became MESMERIZED by Susan. I love to read how fans are first drawn to her.

I am always reading about the wonderful lip synchronization when Susan sang as Jane Froman - I believe it was so perfect because Susan was actually singing in her own voice during the numbers. She said as much on the Joey Bishop Show when she was
interviewed in, I believe, 1968. She said something along the lines - "soundtrack back on - I didn't like to hear myself singing!" Then she went on to tell Joey that she did her own singing in "I'LL CRY TOMORROW" and her favourite song from that movie was "Happiness is Just a Thing Called Joe".

Anyway Errol, thanks again and also for the piece on I WANT TO LIVE.

Trish

Errol:

I swear that in reading your posting, it was as if I was reading my own! As I've said on this website before, I saw WASIMH at my local movie theater and was so mesmerized that I sat through it twice! Unfortunately for me, my mother wasn't mesmerized, wondering why I hadn't come home on time and she sent my father to find me. While I was watching the film for the second time, suddenly a flashlight was shining on me, and there stood my irate dad and the usher.

Unlike your experience with your uncle, I couldn't convince my father that I'd just witnessed an event equal to the earth's spinning on its axis (or whatever it does spin on, LOL), for to me -- like you -- seeing this wonderful film with an effervescent star like Susan was an experience I'd never had previously and haven't had since.

Prior to the film, I'd never heard of Jane Froman. She was before my time, but I followed her career with her own show on TV after the film.

Of course, I knew about Susan Hayward, but I'd never known she could evoke the physical, emotional and spiritual quality of another real person so completely. I knew then that there would never be another movie star like Susan for me. And there never has been.