Torch Song Trilogy (1988)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Paul Bogart

Writers (WGA):

Harvey Fierstein (play)
Harvey Fierstein (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 December 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

It takes a lot of guts and a helluva sense of humor to live life in Arnold's shoes.

Plot:

Tony Award-winning actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein re-creates his role as the unsinkable Arnold...

Plot Keywords:

Drag Queen | Homosexual | Male Prostitution | Autobiographical | Transvestism

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Anne Bancroft	...	Ma Beckoff
Matthew Broderick	...	Alan Simon
Harvey Fierstein	...	Arnold Beckoff
Brian Kerwin	...	Ed Reese
Karen Young	...	Laurel
Eddie Castrodad	...	David
Ken Page	...	Murray
Charles Pierce	...	Bertha Venation
Axel Vera	...	Marina Del Rey
Benji Schulman	...	Young Arnold Beckoff
Nick Montgomery	...	Chorus Boy #1
Robert Neary	...	Chorus Boy #2
Kim Clark	...	Female Bar Patron #1
Stephanie Penn	...	Female Bar Patron #2
Geoffrey Harding	...	Man with Lighter

Runtime:

120 min | Brazil:114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hebrew

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-14 (1989) | Finland:K-16 (1992) | Iceland:L | Canada:14A | Canada:G (Quebec) | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Denville, New Jersey, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The person living next door to the doorway used for the sequence at the end of the movie where the actors are performing in front of Arnold's doorway did not give permission to film outside his home. When the director would shout, "Action," the resident would either put his radio or television really loud, or open his door, thus ruining the shot. The crew got really fed-up with his antics so they nailed his door shut, which caused a law suit to be filed against New Line.

Quotes:

Bertha Vanation: I swear, that queen gives me gas!

Movie Connections:

References What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Soundtrack:

Dames

*THE* quintessential gay film

This film is, undoubtedly, *the* quintessential gay film.

If you even claim to know gay people you should see this film. I used to help run a youth group for under 25s dealing with their sexuality and we screened this film four times in two years.

I have seen this film more times than almost any other film and it still never fails to move me. Take your Kleenex, this'll make you cry! :o)

WATCH IT -- IT'S EXCELLENT!