Torch Singer (1933)

Directors:

Alexander Hall
George Somnes

Writers:

Grace Perkins (story)
Lenore J. Coffee (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

8 September 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The worst woman in New York...sang the best love songs! Lips that had kissed more men than she could remember ...crooned lullabies no one could forget!

Plot:

When she can't support her illegitimate child, an abandoned young woman puts her up for adoption and pursues a career as a torch singer.

Plot Keywords:

Illegitimate Child | Torch Singer | Singer | Adoption | Baby

Cast

Claudette Colbert	...	Sally Trent, aka Mimi Benton
Ricardo Cortez	...	Tony Cummings
David Manners	...	Michael 'Mike' Gardner
Lyda Roberti	...	Dora Nichols
Baby LeRoy	...	Bobby, Dora's Baby at 1 Year (as Baby Le Roy)
Charley Grapewin	...	Andrew 'Juddy' Judson
Sam Godfrey	...	Harry, Radio Announcer
Florence Roberts	...	Mother Angelica
Virginia Hammond	...	Mrs. Julia Judson
Mildred Washington	...	Carrie, Mimi's Maid
Cora Sue Collins	...	Sally at 5 Years
Helen Jerome Eddy	...	Miss Spaulding
Albert Conti	...	Carlotti
Ethel Griffies	...	Agatha Alden
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean Acker	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Bobbe Arnst	...	The Blonde (uncredited)
James Burke	...	Taxicab Driver (uncredited)
Kathleen Burke	...	Sobbing Girl (uncredited)
Shirley Ann Christenson	...	Baby Sally (uncredited)
Davison Clark	...	Mr. Seymour - Detective (uncredited)
Edward Cooper	...	Agatha Alden's Butler (uncredited)
William B. Davidson	...	Jarrett (uncredited)
Anna Demetrio	...	Italian Diner (uncredited)
Lester Dorr	...	Man in Radio Station (uncredited)
Grace Goodall	...	Head Nurse (uncredited)
Gladys Hulette	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Perc Launders	...	Bass Fiddle Player (uncredited)
Edward LeSaint	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Margaret Mann	...	Miss Thomas, Little Sally's Nanny (uncredited)
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Eddie Phillips	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Ronald R. Rondell	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Harry Semels	...	Waiter in Bistro (uncredited)
Walton Trout	...	Baby (uncredited)
Jerry Tucker	...	Mickey (uncredited)
Toby Wing	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Florence Wix	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Alexander Hall
George Somnes

Writing credits
Grace Perkins		(story "Mike")
Lenore J. Coffee		(screenplay) (as Lenore Coffee) and
Lynn Starling		(screenplay)

Produced by
Albert Lewis	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Ralph Rainger

Cinematography by
Karl Struss

Film Editing by
Eda Warren		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Travis Banton

Sound Department
Harold Lewis	....	sound recording engineer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Howard Jackson	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
John Leipold	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (as Paramount Productions Inc.)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Included in the "Pre-Code Hollywood Collection")

Also Known As:

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1379-R, 31 August 1935 for re-release) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.

Quotes:

Mimi Benton:[to baby daughter] Maybe... maybe you'll take a mother's advice before she goes. You might as well. ^That's the only thing she's got to give. Don't ever let any man make a sucker out of you. Make him know what you're worth. Anything they get for nothing is always cheap.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Complicated Women (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Mimi Was a Good Girl

A great Claudette Colbert Pre-Code

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!