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Torch Song (film)

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Director
  
Charles Walters

Music director
  
Adolph Deutsch

Duration
  

Language
  
English

5.2/10
IMDb

Genre
  
Drama, Music, Romance

Producer
  
Charles Schnee

Country
  
United States

Torch Song (film) movie poster

Release date
  
October 23, 1953 (1953-10-23)

Based on
  
Why Should I Cry? (1949)  by I.A.R. Wylie

Writer
  
John Michael Hayes, Jan Lustig, I.A.R. Wylie (story)

Cast
  
Joan Crawford
(Jenny Stewart),
Gig Young
(Cliff Willard),
Michael Wilding
(Tye Graham),
Marjorie Rambeau
(Jenny's mother)

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Tagline
  
Tough Baby - a wonderful love story with the star of

Torch song 1953 joan crawford two faced woman


Torch Song is a 1953 American Technicolor musical romantic drama film distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring Joan Crawford and Michael Wilding in a story about a Broadway star and her rehearsal pianist. The screenplay by John Michael Hayes and Jan Lustig was based upon the story "Why Should I Cry?" by I. A. R. Wylie in a 1949 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. The film was directed by Charles Walters and produced by Sidney Franklin, Henry Berman and Charles Schnee. Crawford's singing voice was dubbed by India Adams.

Contents

Torch Song (film) movie scenes

Torch Song has gained note for the musical number "Two-Faced Woman" from The Band Wagon in which Crawford, in blackface, lip-syncs to Adams' voice while writhing with male dancers. The film marked Crawford's return to MGM after a ten-year absence. Her original recordings for the soundtrack, which were not used in the film, have survived and been included in home video releases.

Torch Song (film) wwwgstaticcomtvthumbmovieposters39117p39117

Torch song original theatrical trailer


Plot

Torch Song (film) Torch Song film Wikipedia

Jenny Stewart is a tough Broadway musical star, alienating her colleagues with her neurotic demands for absolute perfection. Jenny takes offense when her new rehearsal pianist Tye Graham criticizes her song stylings and ruthless ways.

Torch Song (film) TORCH SONG Joan Crawford in BlackfaceAnd Thats Not All Sister

Graham was blinded in World War II but fell in love with Jenny when he was a young reporter. Deep down, Jenny yearns for a real and lasting love but is disenchanted with the men around her such as Broadway parasite Cliff Willard.

Torch Song (film) torch song film Pesquisa Google 1950s Film Posters Pinterest

At the home of her mother, Jenny discovers an old newspaper clipping in which Tye reviewed one of her first shows and made it evident he loved her. Jenny realizes she is loved, goes to Tye, and they embrace.

Cast

Torch Song (film) TORCH SONG Joan Crawford in BlackfaceAnd Thats Not All Sister

  • Joan Crawford as Jenny Stewart
  • India Adams as Jenny's dubbed singing voice
  • Michael Wilding as Tye Graham
  • Gig Young as Cliff Willard
  • Marjorie Rambeau as Mrs. Stewart
  • Harry Morgan as Joe Denner (as Henry Morgan)
  • Dorothy Patrick as Martha
  • James Todd as Philip Norton
  • Eugene Loring as Gene, the Dance Director
  • Paul Guilfoyle as Monty Rolfe
  • Benny Rubin as Charles Maylor
  • Peter Chong as Peter
  • Maidie Norman as Anne
  • Nancy Gates as Celia Stewart
  • Chris Warfield as Chuck Peters
  • Rudy Render as Singer at Party
  • Bill Lee as Singer's dubbed singing voice
  • Musical numbers

    Torch Song (film) Tina bring me my tights Joan Crawfords Torch Song as Swan Song
    1. "You're All the World to Me" - Danced by Crawford and Walters
    2. "Follow Me" - Sung by Crawford (dubbed by Adams)
    3. "Two-Faced Woman" (outtake) - Sung by Crawford (dubbed by Adams)
    4. "You Won't Forget Me" - Sung by Crawford (dubbed by Adams)
    5. "Follow Me" (reprise) - Sung by Render (dubbed by Lee)
    6. "Two-Faced Woman" - Sung and danced by Crawford (dubbed by Adams) and chorus
    7. "Tenderly" - Sung partially by Crawford along to a recording by Adams

    Reception

    Torch Song (film) torch song BELT

    Otis Guernsey, Jr. in the New York Herald Tribune wrote, "Joan Crawford has another of her star-sized roles...she is vivid and irritable, volcanic and feminine...Here is Joan Crawford all over the screen, in command, in love and in color, a real movie star in what amounts to a carefully produced one-woman show."

    Torch Song was regarded as a return for Joan Crawford, who, when the picture was released, was fresh off an Academy Award nod for her performance in Sudden Fear, the previous year.

    According to MGM records, the film made $1,135,000 in the US and Canada and $533,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $260,000. The film is now regarded as a camp classic, and a possible influence on Faye Dunaway's portrayal of Crawford in Mommie Dearest.

    Accolades

    Rambeau was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 26th Academy Awards.

    References

    Torch Song (film) Wikipedia
    Torch Song (film) IMDb Torch Song (film) themoviedb.org