Something to Live For

Set in the mid-1930s urban America, the film follows a recovering alcoholic ad man and an aspiring actress as they navigate temptation, career pressure, and personal responsibility. The period’s social norms shape relationships, marriage, and the tension between private struggles and public life. The city’s nightlife, theatres, and offices provide the backdrop for the characters’ evolving dynamics.

The action unfolds across a bustling New York City backdrop, centering on a Times Square hotel, an advertising agency, and the theatre scene. Key moments occur in a museum with an Egyptian room and at Pennsylvania Station, highlighting urban venues that frame the characters’ personal struggles. The story travels to Boston for a theatre tryout, illustrating a broader urban landscape tied to performance and public life.

🥃 Addiction & Recovery

The narrative centers on Alan’s battle with alcoholism and his efforts to stay faithful while helping Jenny. Temptation tests the characters, highlighting the pull between professional ambition and personal commitment. The story references support mechanisms like Alcoholics Anonymous, underscoring the difficulty and importance of recovery.

💔 Relationships & Temptation

Romantic tension drives the plot as Alan's connection with Jenny clashes with his marriage to Edna. Jenny’s vulnerability and Tony Collins’ involvement add layers of betrayal and longing. The characters’ choices reveal how love, loyalty, and miscommunication shape their fates.

🎭 Art & Identity

Acting and creative work define the characters’ identities—Jenny’s rising career and Jenny’s new play, The Egyptians, intersect with Alan’s advertising world. Scenes in rehearsal rooms and museum spaces blur the line between stage performance and real life. The film explores how public performance can mask private turmoil.

🧭 Duty & Sacrifice

Edna’s pregnancy and Alan’s commitment to his family test notions of duty amid personal failings. The story weighs professional success against marital responsibility and the costs of addiction. Ultimately, sacrifice and support emerge as pivotal forces guiding the characters’ decisions.