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 John Howard Lawson Dorothy Parker Lionel Wiggam
Starring	Susan Hayward Eddie Albert
Music by	Frank Skinner
Cinematography	Stanley Cortez
Edited by	Milton Carruth
Production company	Walter Wanger Productions
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	March 1947 (1947-03)
Running time	103 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,360,286
Box office	$2,301,555

Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman, also called A Woman Destroyed, is a 1947 American drama film with elements of Film Noir, which tells the story of a rising nightclub singer who marries another singer, whose career takes off, then falls into alcoholism after giving up her career for him. The film stars Susan Hayward, Lee Bowman, and Eddie Albert, and was written by Frank Cavett, John Howard Lawson, Dorothy Parker, and Lionel Wiggam, and was directed by Stuart Heisler. Ethel Wales appears in an uncredited part.

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

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

A nightclub singer, Angie becomes involved with another singer, Ken Conway (Lee Bowman), whose career has yet to take off. Her agent Mike Dawson (Charles D. Brown) helps get Ken and piano accompanist Steve Anderson (Eddie Albert) 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 (Marsha Hunt) comes to Ken's aid.