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6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Torch Singer remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you're looking for a warm, fuzzy movie about motherhood, keep walking. Torch Singer is a prickly, strange, and honestly kind of fascinating little film that treats the 'sacrificing mother' trope like a rough draft. Claudette Colbert doesn't play a saint here; she plays a woman who gets kicked around until she decides to stop caring, which is way more interesting to watch.
This isn't for people who need their leads to be likable or noble. If you want a tearjerker that follows the rules, you'll probably hate this. If you want to see someone be brutally honest about how much poverty ruins your plans, you'll probably dig it.
The first act is grim. It’s not playing for sympathy points, which is a relief. When Sally hands over that baby, the movie doesn't linger on the tears; it moves on to the grit. Watching her transform into a high-society lounge singer is like watching someone put on armor. She’s got this icy look in her eyes that reminds me a bit of the hardened characters you see in Circus Rookies, just with better lighting.
Colbert is incredible when she’s just staring people down. There’s a scene where she’s performing, and the way she holds the microphone—it’s like she’s holding a weapon. The songs aren't even the point. The point is the way she handles the room.
The film hits this weird stride about halfway through where it stops feeling like a drama and starts feeling like a survival story. It’s not perfect. Sometimes the dialogue feels like it was written on a napkin five minutes before the cameras started rolling, but that’s the charm. It’s got a messy, real-world energy.
It’s not as polished as some of the other stuff from the era, like Sally of the Sawdust, but that’s fine. I’m tired of polished movies. Sometimes I just want to watch a woman in a fancy dress be completely done with everyone's nonsense. It’s a solid watch for a rainy Tuesday night. Just don't expect a neat ending. Life rarely gives you those anyway. 🍸
IMDb —
1919
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