# "Torch Song"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torch-song/619272>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 19, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torch-song/619272 "2012-04-19T14:45:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torch-song/619272/1 "2012-04-19T14:45:24Z")

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Picked up _Stage Fright_ in the library a few weeks ago, which got me going on Michael Wilding, who, in addition to being Elizabeth Taylor’s second husband, was a reasonably successful actor, more in England than in Hollywood.

So I checked Netflix to see what else they had, and ended up with _Torch Song_ (1953) in my DVD player last night. Oh good lord. Joan Crawford, trying to show her versatility, plays a Broadway musical star – Michael Wilding plays her pianist, who, though blind, is the only one who can see beyond her hateful facade to the passionate woman within. Crawford ain’t much of a dancer, but damn, the stems on that tomato – and the woman who dubbed her singing voice did a fine job.

All of which is all okay, but then you get to the penultimate scene, the dress rehearsal of the big musical number – “Two-Faced Woman” – which Joan performs, for absolutely no reason explained or unexplained, in blackface.

Wow.

I’m sure **Eve** has seen it (I was wishing she was there to provide running commentary) – but has anyone else?

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**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torch-song/619272/2 "2012-04-19T15:27:13Z")

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Proof again that no matter how awful the vehicles she was handed (and \*boy \*did they hand Joanie some stinkers), she always gave 100% and never phoned it in. Terrible film, but damn if she doesn’t believe in her character and turn in as good a performance as was possible.

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torch-song/619272/3 "2012-04-19T15:33:16Z")

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_Torch Song_ is one of the funniest movies ever made.

Glad to hear it’s out on DVD – for the longest time you could only see it on TCM.

“Two Faced Woman” was originally written for the movie _The Band Wagon_\*\* – – but it was dropped from the movie.

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7LMUJtcID5c/hqdefault.jpg "Joan Crawford and Cyd Charisse sing Two Faced Woman") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LMUJtcID5c)

It’s one of those movies that’s so bad it’s wonderful.

[http://www.coolcinematrash.com/movies/torchsong.htm](http://www.coolcinematrash.com/movies/torchsong.htm)

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torch-song/619272/4 "2012-04-19T15:38:57Z")

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> [@TubaDiva](#):
>
> It’s one of those movies that’s so bad it’s wonderful.

Yeah, I’m a little at a loss to know how to rate it on Netflix. On the one hand, it really is just godawful – on the other hand, it’s immensely entertaining in its awfulness. So, two stars for actual quality? or four stars for entertainment value?