Torch Song Trilogy (film)
| Torch Song Trilogy | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Paul Bogart |
| Produced by | Ronald K. Fierstein |
| Written by | Harvey Fierstein |
| Starring |
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| Music by |
Peter Matz Allan K. Rosen |
| Cinematography | Mikael Salomon |
| Edited by | Nicholas C. Smith |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
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Release date
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Running time
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120 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $4,865,997 (US) |
Torch Song Trilogy (1988) is an American comedy-drama film adapted by Harvey Fierstein from his play of the same title.
The film was directed by Paul Bogart and stars Fierstein as Arnold, Anne Bancroft as Ma Beckoff, Matthew Broderick as Alan, Brian Kerwin as Ed, and Eddie Castrodad as David. Executive Producer Ronald K. Fierstein is Harvey Fierstein's brother.
Wanting to highlight the work of female impersonator Charles Pierce, Fierstein created the role of Bertha Venation specifically for him. Broderick originally refused the role of Alan because he was recuperating from an automobile accident in Ireland. Tate Donovan was 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 of New Line Cinema, necessitating much editing and excisions. The time frame was regressed to begin several years earlier than when the play was set.
The soundtrack for Torch Song Trilogy was released on the Polydor label on LP, cassette, and CD on December 8, 1988. The album charted on the jazz charts of industry magazines Billboard and Cashbox.
The song "This Time the Dream's On Me" sung by Ella Fitzgerald, which is used several times throughout the film including over the closing credits, was excised from the planned soundtrack album by Norman 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 of Universal Music), for the use of the song in the film and refused permission for its inclusion on the album out of spite.
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