Editing I Want to Live! (section)

==Production==
[[File:Susan Hayward in I Want to Live! trailer.JPG|thumb|Susan Hayward in the trailer for ''I Want to Live! '']]

===Development===
The film's screenplay was originally written by [[Don Mankiewicz]] based on letters by convicted murderer [[Barbara Graham]], who was executed in 1955, and a series of articles by journalist [[Edward S. Montgomery]].{{sfn|Cairns|2013|pages=111–112}} In early 1958, after a draft of the screenplay was completed, [[Nelson Gidding]] was commissioned to write a redraft and tighten the narrative as it "lacked focus" and contained too many pages concentrating on Graham's troubled childhood.{{sfn|Cairns|2013|p=112}} Gidding's redraft omitted any depiction of the murder of Mable Monohan as well as Graham's months spent at [[San Quentin State Prison]] during her appeals.{{sfn|Cairns|2013|p=112}}

===Casting===
When questioned about taking the controversial role, Susan Hayward said: "I just had to play her. If I hadn't thought they should make [the film], I wouldn't have played the part."{{sfn|Cairns|2013|p=112}}

===Filming===
Principal photography began in March 1958. Production was stopped after Hayward contracted [[measles]].<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=April 2, 1958|page=2|title=Star Gets Measles|url=https://archive.org/details/variety210-1958-04/page/n1/mode/1up?view=theater|via=[[Archive.org]]|access-date=May 6, 2023}}</ref>

To ensure that the execution sequence was depicted as accurately as possible, Wise attended a public execution at San Quentin.{{sfn|Cairns|2013|p=112}} Hayward commented after completing filming that her simulated experience of execution convinced her that the practice was "medieval."{{sfn|Cairns|2013|p=112}}

===Musical score===
{{Main|I Want to Live! (score)}}
In addition to Mandel's score, the film features jazz themes performed by [[Gerry Mulligan]]'s combo. Two [[soundtrack album]]s were released by [[United Artists Records]] in 1958.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsnpubs.com/ua/ua4000-5000.pdf |title=United Artists UAL-40000/UAL 4000 mono/UAS 5000 stereo Series |publisher=Both Sides Now Publications |access-date= August 18, 2015}}</ref>