User Reviews

Neither this Playhouse 90 live production nor the bug screen version of The Helen Morgan Story is completely truthful about the tragic torch singer of the Roaring Twenties. But Polly Bergen gives a good account of herself in the part of Morgan.

We got all the Morgan songs in the story, those she's identified with except for What Wouldn't i Do For That Man which she sang in the early sound film Applause. Helen was on Broadway at the time in Sweet Adeline and on off days and night she shot Applause at Paramount's Astoria Studio. It was the height f her career.

The production shows that the Roaring 20s were one long party for Helen as it was for a lot of the country. She made money and spent it just as fast. She was a generous touch for anyone in real life and in this teleplay. Her health was permanently ruined.

Bergen gets good support from Sylvia Sidney as her mother and there's a nice part for Hoagy Carmichael as a mentor who spots her talent early on.

See this and the big screen production with Ann Blyth and Paul Newman and compare.

The sound quality of this episode of "Playhouse 90" isn't great...which is a more serious problem since the program is about a famous singer! It's also odd that only a few months after this particular show aired that Hollywood made their own version, "The Helen Morgan Story". I am actually surprised either was made, as Helen Morgan was not the best subject for a bio-pic. This is because Morgan was, off the stage, a real mess...an alcoholic with a self-destructive taste in men. And, unlike some characters who mess up and eventually turn it all around, Morgan was dead at 41 from Cirrhosis!

The story begins in Morgan's teenage years. It then follows her from her early singing career to her various successes, personal problems, drinking and untimely death. It's hard to tell how well Polly Bergan is doing as Morgan, as again I felt the sound quality was poor...and it was tough to assess Bergan's singing. A few times, the musical instruments clearly overpowered her voice and she was at her best when singing with a simple accompaniment, not a loud band. Late in the show, she really did sound good with a simple piano solo...and I wish she sounded that good in all the musical numbers.

So is it any good? Well, yes and no. The actors seem to try their best and it is amazing that this was all broadcast live on TV. Bergen received an Emmy for her performance. But on the other hand, even if it was well done, it was hard to feel involved with the story because Helen Morgan was not exactly sympathetic nor noble. She was a talented lady who seemed to throw her life away...which is quite sad. Overall, not a lot of fun to watch but well made.



By the way, Ronnie Burns stars as one of Helen's husbands. He was the real life adopted son of George Burns and Gracie Allen and played himself (of sorts) on their popular 1950s TV series.