Torch Singer

"I get a lot of proposals too, but marriage isn't one of them."

This is such a great vehicle for the adorable and talented Claudette Colbert, so despite this film's flaws, if you're a fan of hers, it's one to see. She plays a woman who has a child out of wedlock, making a highly sympathetic protagonist, something that clearly puts us in pre-Code territory at the beginning of the film (and speaking of adorable, the babies we see early are on are mighty cute too). Her roommate (Lyda Roberti) has to fend off workplace harassment before disappearing, leaving Colbert's character unable to pay the rent and begging for help from the wealthy family of the baby's father. She's turned away, so in her desperation, decides to give up her baby to the church who helped her with her pregnancy. She leaves her baby with this advice: "Don't ever let any man make a sucker out of you. Make them know what you're worth. Anything they get for nothing is always cheap."

The film then settles into its next act, which has her becoming a nightclub, er torch singer, starting from the bottom. The scene of her listlessly singing in front of a couple shoveling spaghetti into their mouths is priceless, but soon she's performing in much finer venues. Of course she is, she's Claudette Colbert, and for me it was a treat to hear her sing in this film. Her sleek hairstyles and the gowns from Travis Banton are stunning, and soon she draws the attention of an admirer (Ricardo Cortez). The film was firing on all cylinders at this point, as Colbert seems to toughened and flirtatious, for example, this interaction with a middle-aged businessman:

Him: "I don't stay up that late on account of my lumbago." Her: "Oh, lumbago? (sweeping her eyes over him, then looking him in the eye) I have something grand for lumbago. ... I'll fix you up."

The film then shifts when after rising to the top, she fills in as the radio voice for a children's bedtime show on a lark, and becomes a hit there too. You can see what's coming a mile away, her desire to reunite with her now 5-year-old daughter, something I had resigned myself to, but then on top of it the film piles on the child's father (David Manners), having returned from China and who says he had wired for her before leaving. I loved how Colbert's character was never punished for having premarital sex, but the film ends with the nuclear family restored in a rather nauseating and predictable climax, complete with Cortez's character bowing out gracefully (not to mention the adoptive parents).

Colbert is radiant though, and shows a lot of range, including desperation, comedy, caring for babies and children, flirtation, singing, and depressed to the point of intoxication. There were several cute kids here too, including a little black girl (Carlena Beard) who is treated with heartwarming love. There's a supporting role for a black maid as well (Mildred Washington) and the scene where she's caught dancing is amusing; it was sad to find out she died at just 28, the year this film came out.

It's fun to see Colbert warbling the blues (several times) and kiddies lullabies in this well made and directed soap. Unwed and unable to manage she gives up her baby and becomes a disreputable torch singer and the hottest attraction around. Colbert goes from forlorn unwed mother to Mae-Westian blues singer in a captivating role. "Realization" puts her "back on track" to find her daughter. All this in 72 minutes! Good support from Lyda Roberti, Ricardo Cortez and David Manners. It's a shame this isn't available on video.

Hollywood sometimes went pretty far afield to find offbeat plots and Torch Singer is one the most offbeat you will see. It starts off soapy and ends up as a love story of sorts and in between there is some comedy and some musical numbers - something for everyone. I kept waiting for it to descend into bathos and tears but Claudette Colbert was so excellent that she singlehandedly kept the show afloat.

Ordinarily I don't care for Colbert much but I found new respect for her acting ability and was amazed to learn she sang her own songs in this picture. Other readers have rehashed the story but I just want to add a few words about the supporting cast. It was refreshing to see Ricardo Cortez in a role that was not sinister - in fact, he was kind-hearted and almost tender. I can never get enough of Lyda Roberti, who I thought had a future as a top film comedienne but died too soon. Here she's only on screen for about 15 minutes. In a night club scene you can get a glimpse of Dennis O'Keefe behind David Manners' shoulder.

This picture was headed for a sub-par rating from me as it is a very odd and contrived story, but as reported it was salvaged by Colbert's performance. Just enjoy it and don't ask too many questions.

This 1933 Paramount film, is a sophisticated and greatly acted drama, with the Depression as background and a powerful performance by the great comedienne and actress, Claudette Colbert, as a chic "fallen" woman. I'd even dare to say that this one pleased me even more than that other favorite 1934 tearjerker, "Imitation Of Life".

Awesome Miss Colbert's costumes, designed by the best Hollywood costume designer of all time, Travis Banton, to "showcase" her "conversion", when she turns into the successful "Torch" Singer-Mimi Benton-of the Title.

Great performance by latin-named, but European born, Ricardo Cortez, as Miss Colbert's lover and mentor and a good one too by David Manners, as the rich guy, who "unwantedly" & "unknowingly" disgraced Miss Colbert's life.

Nice acting by beautiful Mildred Washington, who plays Miss Colbert's maid, and "punchy" Lyda Roberti, who plays an earthy woman who befriends Colbert in the beginning of the film. Ethel Griffies, gives a good "nasty" performance, as Manners' stiff-upper-lip, aristocratic, embittered aunt.

Mention apart deserves Charley Grapewin as the mischievous sponsor of Miss Colbert's Radio Show. He delivers some great lines!

I won't add anything more about the plot of the movie, 'cos you oughta watch it for yourselves! A must see for Pre-Code and 1930's film lovers!

An unwed TORCH SINGER uses her children's radio show to search for her illegitimate daughter.

Claudette Colbert has a fine time in this Pre-Code melodrama playing a distraught female who covers up for the necessary separation from her child by embracing a life of empty decadence. While highly fanciful--the heroine is both sultry nightclub chanteuse and kindly kiddy radio hostess--the plot is still most enjoyable, with Colbert wringing every bit of pathos from her character's plight.

Ricardo Cortez plays the refreshingly decent producer who assists Colbert to become a celebrity. David Manners ably plays her long-lost lover. Peppery Lydia Roberti is most enjoyable as a high-spirited young mother; her character is sorely missed when she disappears early in the film. Old Charley Grapewin adds some spark as the flirtatious breakfast cereal tycoon who sponsors Miss Colbert's radio show.

A quartet of character actresses lend able support in small roles: Florence Roberts as a sympathetic nun; Virginia Hammond as Grapewin's suspicious wife; Mildred Washington as Miss Colbert's energetic maid; and aristocratic Ethel Griffies as Manners' inflexible aunt. Baby LeRoy, nemesis of W.C. Fields, appears in only one scene as Miss Roberti's infant son.

Movie mavens will recognize unbilled Scots actress Margaret Mann as a nanny.