I'll Cry Tomorrow is one of the best 1950s biopics, built around Susan Hayward's outstanding performance as singer Lillian Roth. The film serves as a cautionary tale against the horrors of alcoholism; though the story is slow to set up, Tomorrow dramatically pays off in its latter portion, when Roth seeks help. In its attempt to cover a substantial number of years in Roth's life, the screenplay's narrative flow ebbs at times, but this is a common problem with biographical films of the era. Among the supporting cast members, Jo Van Fleet is a highlight as Roth's mother. Her scenes with Hayward give the film its emotional core. As with much of director Daniel Mann's work, the dialogue and character interplay is sharp, and the visual aspects are simple and straightforward. The production values are solid but not extravagant; Helen Rose won an Oscar for her occasionally anachronistic costumes.