TORCH SONG

US, 1953, Colour.
Joan Crawford, Michael Wilding, Marjorie Rambeau, Gig Young, Harry Morgan, Dorothy Patrick.
Directed by Charles Walters.

An interesting serious musical. It was also the first colour film for Joan Crawford. Almost 50 at this stage, she had had a career in musicals, comedies and romances. She had also achieved a reputation for portraying strong vigorous heroines both on the good side of the law and against it. A strong big woman, she had a powerful presence and portrayed fierce women, often having a veneer over great vulnerability.

She brings this kind of performance to a role of a Broadway star living in isolation, being very demanding, giving herself completely to her audience. She is challenged by a blind pianist, played somewhat blandly by Michael Wilding. Joan Crayford, however, is charge of the melodramatics and it is certainly a Crawford vehicle. Marjorie Rambeau portrays her mother and received an Oscar nomination for this role. The director in Charles Waters, the director of many musicals from Easter Parade to Lili to High Society. A choreographer, he is also in charge of the dances. The musical numbers are enjoyable, but it is the dramatic melodramatics which count.

1. How interesting and enjoyable a musical, drama? How well did these two styles blend?

2. The appeal of the musical. the appeal of the theatre story, the appeal of the character study, melodrama? The story of a woman? Audience interest in the fifties, Joan Crawford? Now?

3. The contribution of colour, New York atmosphere? The world of the theatre and its atmosphere? The music the theme Tenderly, the songs? The dubbing of Joan Crawford's voice? The focus of the title?

4. The film's complete focus on Jenny? The introduction to her, the Broadway play, her career and its importance, her dancing? The rehearsal? The sudden eruption of her tantrums, her anger? The way that she treated people? Her arrogance? The fear basis? Jenny as the role made famous by Joan Crawford? The particular Crawford qualities brought to this interpretation?

5. How well portrayed was the character of Jenny? Her love of the theatre, her complete dedication to the audience and her statements about it? Her perfectionism and obsession? The admiration of her co-stars? The dancer who was not successful? Her relationship with Denner and his ignoring her tantrums but doing her will? The alcoholic producer whom she insulted? Her controlling the music, reaction to the pianist? Her ability to confront people, take the initiative, fire them? The sequences of her many arguments?

6. The contrast with her loneliness, as dramatised by the rehearsal of her lines with her secretary, her learning her lines in the bedroom and the evidence of her loneliness? Her charm to her fans, her parties and her irascible moods and throwing people out? Her wanting to do everything herself, taking charge of the fittings and the style of her dresses for example? Her relationship with her family? Paying their bills? Her being understanding with her secretary? A complicated character?

7. The support from Willard? Her almost owning him paying his bills, having him around, liking him, having him at parties, getting his support? The nice sponging man-around-town lacking character?

8. The introduction of Ty Graham? Michael Wilding's British style? The realization that he was blind, his playing the piano, his critique of her work as well as knowledge of it? Their working well together? Her confronting him, getting Denner to fire him. the confrontation in the restaurant? Her liking to talk to him and be with him without her realizing it? Their various arguments? Her trying out his musical arrangement and liking it? How well did the film present Ty as a character - his presentation of himself, background, war injuries and blindness, the guide dog? The demands that Jenny made on him, visiting his flat and the glimpse of him playing music with his friends? His response to her and idealizing her? His moving away from her, refusing to go to her party? Her greater realization of her dependence? Her hurting him especially as regards the dog, Martha? The confrontation between the two and her return to his apartment?

9. The character sketch of Jenny's mother, her incessant chatter, explanation of her background, intuitive understanding of Jenny? Her sister and the bills to be paid, the coat? Jenny and her memories? The sharing of memories with her mother, the scrapbook? The finding out who Ty really was and his love and devotion to her?

10. The melodramatics of the confrontation, Jenny breaking and Ty breaking? His facade going and the possibility of the two of them helping each other? The genuineness of their love?

11. Jenny's future as actress, woman?

12. The use of the musical themes especially Tenderly during the credits, the number of times it was played? The theme and its relationship to the character of Jenny?

13. How interesting a study of human nature, men-women relationships? The theatre, career, loneliness, ruthlessness? Fear and its facades?