Film: Torch Song Trilogy
I’m always shocked when this film is not mentioned on rec lists. I just assume because it’s so well-known and well-loved that there isn’t a person who hasn’t memorized every line already and to recommend it is completely unnecessary? But, just in case:
Torch Song Trilogy (New Line 1988) follows the life of drag queen Arnold Beckoff (played by Harvey Fierstein who also wrote the script based on his play that won him 2 Tonys, one for writing and one for acting) as he struggles to find love, family and respect. It is told in three parts that probably have titles, but I call them “Ed,” “Alan” and “David.” All three also featuring Arnold’s struggle with his family, most especially his mother, the epitome of Jewish mother, played flawlessly by Anne Bancroft.
The movie begins when Arnold meets Ed (played by Brian Kerwin) at a gay bar. Arnold is ridiculously and adorably smitten. Ed is really not. It’s one of the MANY differences between them, the bigger ones being that Ed is actually neither monogamous nor openly gay, or, for that matter technically gay. Arnold finds all these things out painfully at the same time.
Arnold: Ed, Angel, I just threw my mother, my mother out of the house, all she wanted was to not talk about it. Do you really think I'm gonna ask less from you?
That’s okay, because act two is Alan. ♥ALAN♥ played perfectly by Matthew Broderick. Alan meets Arnold when he and his fellow models go to Arnold’s drag revue. His friends are obnoxious, Alan is drunk, and Arnold is a Good Samaritan.
This time Alan is the ridiculously and adorably smitten one and Arnold is guarded and reluctant. But then they fall in love. ♥_____♥ Things are lovely between them-mostly-until it isn’t. I won’t tell you exactly what happens; only say that this is a movie very much grounded in its place (New York) and time (Late 70s early 80s).
Alan (sitting behind Arnold at his father’s funeral): Why are there curtains on the mirrors?
Arnold: So we can’t see the pain on our faces.
Alan: Why are we sitting on boxes?
Arnold: To make sure there is pain on our faces.
Ma (leaning over from her box on Arnold’s right and whispering): You told me he was Jewish!
Arnold: Out-of-town Jewish.
♥
Act three is all about David (played by Eddie Castrodad) the foster child that Alan and Arnold had taken in and Arnold plans on adopting (Fun Fact: Broderick originated the role of David in the play *awkward*). It’s also painfully about Arnold, finally, with his new role as David’s “Ma,” trying to deal and come to terms with his own mother.
Arnold: There's one more thing you better understand. I have taught myself to sew, cook, fix plumbing, build furniture - I can even pat myself on the back when necessary - all so I don't have to ask anyone for anything. There's nothing I need from anyone except for love and respect and anyone who can't give me those two things has no place in my life.
I first discovered Torch Song Trilogy years after it had come out, but while it was still incredibly relevant to current events (most of its themes are incredibly still relevant actually, even if the hairstyles and fashion choices are not). It takes place in the 70s and 80s and it shows. It is though, a perfect peek into the place, time and people it represents.
A few recent things reminded me of this absolute classic. The first was seeing the play Casa Valentina last time I was in New York. It is the latest play written by Fierstein about another (much less well known) time in queer history-the Catskills in the 1960s, who knew?
The second was watching the newest HBO production of The Normal Heart which also started as a play. Besides their origins, I also see a lot of similarities in place and time and a bit of a parallel with Arnold’s struggles with his mother and Ned Weeks and his brother (but that’s a review/rec for another time). I do suggest though, if you want a tour of Gay History in New York City, starting with Torch Song Trilogy (pre-AIDS crisis) and The Normal Heart (the beginnings of the AIDS crisis), and then maybe rounding it out with Angels in America.
Oddly enough, Torch Song Trilogy had a bit of backlash at the time the movie was released because of it’s NOT being about AIDS. This weekend, in the attempt to reacquaint myself with the film, I put the DVD in, only to discover that there is now a commentary from Fierstein. It was GLORIOUS and I would recommend that all on its own! But, I was most fascinated about what he had to say to why he didn’t include AIDS.
The press would say things like, 'Well, you have a movie with gay characters, why isn't AIDS ever mentioned?' The truth was, I wrote the play before there was AIDS and AIDS had nothing to do with the story. I keep saying, 'Well, syphilis is in epic proportion in the heterosexual community, yet you see a lot of heterosexual films that don't have syphilis in it, so why couldn't a gay film not have AIDS in it?' But, that's not how heterosexuals think...not that heterosexuals every really think...
Also, oddly enough, I've been a HUGE fan of Fierstein's for a very long time and love how very open he is about his sexuality and how many gay and queer characters he's played both onscreen and in the theater, and yet, the only time I ever got to see him perform on stage, was one of the only straight parts he's ever played--Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. ♥♥ He was still amazing though!
Please do give this movie a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
♥
Torch Song Trilogy (New Line 1988) follows the life of drag queen Arnold Beckoff (played by Harvey Fierstein who also wrote the script based on his play that won him 2 Tonys, one for writing and one for acting) as he struggles to find love, family and respect. It is told in three parts that probably have titles, but I call them “Ed,” “Alan” and “David.” All three also featuring Arnold’s struggle with his family, most especially his mother, the epitome of Jewish mother, played flawlessly by Anne Bancroft.
The movie begins when Arnold meets Ed (played by Brian Kerwin) at a gay bar. Arnold is ridiculously and adorably smitten. Ed is really not. It’s one of the MANY differences between them, the bigger ones being that Ed is actually neither monogamous nor openly gay, or, for that matter technically gay. Arnold finds all these things out painfully at the same time.
Arnold: Ed, Angel, I just threw my mother, my mother out of the house, all she wanted was to not talk about it. Do you really think I'm gonna ask less from you?
That’s okay, because act two is Alan. ♥ALAN♥ played perfectly by Matthew Broderick. Alan meets Arnold when he and his fellow models go to Arnold’s drag revue. His friends are obnoxious, Alan is drunk, and Arnold is a Good Samaritan.
This time Alan is the ridiculously and adorably smitten one and Arnold is guarded and reluctant. But then they fall in love. ♥_____♥ Things are lovely between them-mostly-until it isn’t. I won’t tell you exactly what happens; only say that this is a movie very much grounded in its place (New York) and time (Late 70s early 80s).
Alan (sitting behind Arnold at his father’s funeral): Why are there curtains on the mirrors?
Arnold: So we can’t see the pain on our faces.
Alan: Why are we sitting on boxes?
Arnold: To make sure there is pain on our faces.
Ma (leaning over from her box on Arnold’s right and whispering): You told me he was Jewish!
Arnold: Out-of-town Jewish.
♥
Act three is all about David (played by Eddie Castrodad) the foster child that Alan and Arnold had taken in and Arnold plans on adopting (Fun Fact: Broderick originated the role of David in the play *awkward*). It’s also painfully about Arnold, finally, with his new role as David’s “Ma,” trying to deal and come to terms with his own mother.
Arnold: There's one more thing you better understand. I have taught myself to sew, cook, fix plumbing, build furniture - I can even pat myself on the back when necessary - all so I don't have to ask anyone for anything. There's nothing I need from anyone except for love and respect and anyone who can't give me those two things has no place in my life.
I first discovered Torch Song Trilogy years after it had come out, but while it was still incredibly relevant to current events (most of its themes are incredibly still relevant actually, even if the hairstyles and fashion choices are not). It takes place in the 70s and 80s and it shows. It is though, a perfect peek into the place, time and people it represents.
A few recent things reminded me of this absolute classic. The first was seeing the play Casa Valentina last time I was in New York. It is the latest play written by Fierstein about another (much less well known) time in queer history-the Catskills in the 1960s, who knew?
The second was watching the newest HBO production of The Normal Heart which also started as a play. Besides their origins, I also see a lot of similarities in place and time and a bit of a parallel with Arnold’s struggles with his mother and Ned Weeks and his brother (but that’s a review/rec for another time). I do suggest though, if you want a tour of Gay History in New York City, starting with Torch Song Trilogy (pre-AIDS crisis) and The Normal Heart (the beginnings of the AIDS crisis), and then maybe rounding it out with Angels in America.
Oddly enough, Torch Song Trilogy had a bit of backlash at the time the movie was released because of it’s NOT being about AIDS. This weekend, in the attempt to reacquaint myself with the film, I put the DVD in, only to discover that there is now a commentary from Fierstein. It was GLORIOUS and I would recommend that all on its own! But, I was most fascinated about what he had to say to why he didn’t include AIDS.
The press would say things like, 'Well, you have a movie with gay characters, why isn't AIDS ever mentioned?' The truth was, I wrote the play before there was AIDS and AIDS had nothing to do with the story. I keep saying, 'Well, syphilis is in epic proportion in the heterosexual community, yet you see a lot of heterosexual films that don't have syphilis in it, so why couldn't a gay film not have AIDS in it?' But, that's not how heterosexuals think...not that heterosexuals every really think...
Also, oddly enough, I've been a HUGE fan of Fierstein's for a very long time and love how very open he is about his sexuality and how many gay and queer characters he's played both onscreen and in the theater, and yet, the only time I ever got to see him perform on stage, was one of the only straight parts he's ever played--Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. ♥♥ He was still amazing though!
Please do give this movie a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
♥