Torch Song is a musical/drama starring Joan Crawford from 1953. She portrays an aging musical actress, Jenny Stewart, who is a very hard-edged woman that has used her talent and her her brashness as a means to move further in her career. She alienates everyone around her and yet, has garnered the attention of a blind piano player who insists “he can see her.” She fights with him tooth and nail throughout the majority of the film. Their relationship is tumultuous and yet, they are bonded through their own disabilities, his lack of vision, her lack of self awareness, forcing them each to isolate themselves from the world around them.
Popular British film actor, Michael Wilding, plays Ty Graham, the piano player who vies for her attention, but usually throws his hands into the air with her harsh nature. The musical numbers in this film are not particularly notable, with the exception of the singing of Ms. Crawford, who was dubbed with the lush singing voice of India Adams, which was kept a secret for many years. Joan began her career singing and dancing in films, so it’s not entirely inconceivable for her to have starred in this film, her voice, however, would not have been able to carry these particular numbers. Other notable perfomances include Marjorie Rambeau, who plays Jenny Stewart’s mother. Dance numbers were staged by Charles Walters who appears in the opening scene rehearsing with Jenny.
There is one particularly odd musical number, the “finale” for the production portrayed that is done in blackface, which was somewhat shocking for me. The number itself was actually quite good, so the addition of the blackface just seemed like such an odd addition to the film. It was 1953, I’m not sure if that was still quite as acceptable in film as it may have been in 1933. Ms. Crawford is quite lovely in this film and the sets are really wonderful examples of the early area of mid-century design. I would say this film is worth watching, particularly if you are a fan of Crawford or Wilding, both of whose performances are quite strong. This is not the typical lighthearted musical, more of a drama that happens to take place in the presence of a musical production.