Torch Song Trilogy(film)

Torch Song Trilogyis a 1988 Americancomedy dramafilm adapted byHarvey Fiersteinfrom hisplay of the same name.

Torch Song Trilogy
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Paul Bogart
Screenplay by	Harvey Fierstein
Based on	Torch Song Trilogy by Harvey Fierstein
Produced by	Howard Gottfried
Starring	Anne Bancroft Matthew Broderick Harvey Fierstein Brian Kerwin
Cinematography	Mikael Salomon
Edited by	Nicholas C. Smith
Music by	Peter Matz Allan K. Rosen
Distributed by	New Line Cinema
Release date	December 14, 1988(1988-12-14)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,800,000
Box office	$4,865,997 $7,500,000 (rentals)

The film was directed byPaul Bogartand stars Fierstein as Arnold,Anne Bancroftas Ma Beckoff,Matthew Broderickas Alan,Brian Kerwinas Ed, andEddie Castrodadas David. Executive Producer Ronald K. Fierstein is Harvey Fierstein's brother.

Fierstein created the role of Bertha Venation to highlight the work offemale impersonatorCharles Pierce.Broderick originally refused the role of Alan because he was recuperating from an automobile accident inNorthern Ireland.Tate Donovanwas cast, but two days into the rehearsal period Broderick had a change of heart and contacted Fierstein, who fired Donovan.

Although the play was over four hours, the film was restricted to a running time of two hours at the insistence ofNew Line Cinema,necessitating much editing and excisions. The time period the film covers is several years earlier than the time period of the original play.

Plot

• 1971:Arnold, a New York Cityfemale impersonator,meets Ed, abisexualschoolteacher, and they fall in love. Ed, however, is uncomfortable with his sexuality and he leaves Arnold for a girlfriend, Laurel.
• 1973–79:During Christmas, Arnold meets the love of his life, a model named Alan. They settle down together, later spending a weekend with Ed and Laurel in the country, where their relationship is tested, including by a sexual encounter between the jealous Alan and Ed, but endures. Eventually, they apply to foster a child together with a view to adoption, and their application is eventually successful. They move to bigger apartment in Brooklyn so their son can have his own room, but on their first night at their new home, Alan is killed in ahomophobic attack.
• 1980:In the spring of 1980, Arnold's mother comes to visit fromFlorida,but her visit leads to a long-overdue confrontation. Arnold's mother disapproves of Arnold's homosexuality and his plannedadoptionof a gay teenage son, David, as well as Arnold's use of their family burial plot for Alan. They have a series of arguments where Arnold demands that she accept him for who he is, insisting that if she can't then she has no place in his life. The following morning, before she returns to Florida, they have a conversation where, for the first time, they seem to understand each other. With both David and Ed, who is now more mature and settled and asks Arnold to give him another chance at a romantic relationship, in his life, and a successful new career creating his own stagerevue,Arnold's life is finally fulfilled. The film ends with him holding objects belonging to each of the people he loves and smiling.

Cast

• Harvey Fiersteinas Arnold Beckoff
• Anne Bancroftas Ma Beckoff
• Matthew Broderickas Alan Simon
• Brian Kerwinas Ed Reiss
• Karen Youngas Laurel
• Eddie Castrodadas David
• Ken Pageas Murray/Marcia Dimes
• Charles Pierceas Bertha Venation
• Axel Vera as Marina Del Ray
• Robert Neary as Chorus Boy
• Nick Montgomery as Chorus Boy
• Robert Lee Minoras Gregory
• Peter Mackenzieas Young Man

Soundtrack

The soundtrack forTorch Song Trilogywas released on thePolydorlabel on LP, cassette, and CD on December 8, 1988. The album charted on thejazzcharts of industry magazinesBillboardandCashbox.

The song "This Time the Dream's on Me"sung byElla Fitzgerald,which is used several times throughout the film including over the closing credits, was excised from the planned soundtrack album byNorman Granz,Fitzgerald's long-time manager, when he invoked a contractual clause which gave Fitzgerald the right to refuse her material to appear on an album featuring another artist (known in the music industry as a "coupling clause" ). In actuality, Granz was unhappy with the money offered by the record company,PolyGram Records(now part ofUniversal Music), for the use of the song in the film and refused permission for its inclusion on the album out of spite.

Original music byPeter Matzand contemporarypoptunes such asRod Stewart's "Maggie May"were used in the film, but not contained on the soundtrack as its producers, Larry L. Lash and Matz, felt they broke the overall"torch song"theme of the album. The track listing is as follows:

1. "'S Wonderful"–Count Basie Orchestra,Joe Williams
2. "Dames" –Harvey Fierstein,Nick Montgomery, Robert Neary,Ken Page,Charles Pierce,Axel Vera
3. "But Not for Me"–Billie Holiday
4. "Body and Soul"–Charlie HadenQuartet West
5. "Svelte" – Harvey Fierstein
6. "Skylark"–Marilyn Scott
7. "I Loves You, Porgy"–Bill Evans
8. "Can't We Be Friends?"–Anita O'Day
9. "Love for Sale"– Harvey Fierstein
10. "What's New?"– Billie Holiday

Home media

Torch Song Trilogywas released onVHSin 1989, and onDVDin May 2004. The DVD version contains an audio commentary track by actor and writer Harvey Fierstein.

Reception

Torch Song Trilogywas generally well received by critics, with reviews fromVariety,Time Out,Roger EbertandJanet Maslinall praising the film. It holds a 77% score onRotten Tomatoesbased on 22 reviews.

Janet Maslin fromThe New York Timeswrote “LikeLa Cage aux Folles,Torch Song Trilogypresents a homosexual world that any mother, with the possible exception of Arnold Beckoff’s, would love. Greatly shortened from Mr. Fierstein’s long-running,Tony Award-winning play, the film version emphasizes the lovable at every turn, but the surprise is that it does this entertainingly and well.”Roger Ebertcommented “As written and performed by Harvey Fierstein as a long-running stage hit, it was seen as a sort of nostalgic visit to the problems that gays had in the years before the horror ofAIDS.The movie has more or less the same focus, but because it’s a movie, it becomes more intimate and intense.”

Awards and honors

At the 1989Deauville Film Festival,directorPaul Bogartwas nominated for the Critics Award and won the Audience Award. The film was also nominated forBest Featureand Fierstein was nominated forBest Male Leadat the4th Independent Spirit Awardsthat same year.

External links

• Torch Song TrilogyatIMDb
• Torch Song TrilogyatAllMovie
• Torch Song Trilogyat theTCM Movie Database
• Torch Song Trilogyat theAFI Catalog of Feature Films
• Torch Song TrilogyatBox Office Mojo