Torch Song (1953)

Since I’ve been aggressively watching more movies in the last year or two, I have lost count of the number of times I’ve been taken aback by blackface that suddenly inexplicably appears in a musical number. Here again is one of those times. It’s hard to not feel that this musical is a bit of a parallel to Joan Crawford’s real life. Her character here is a Broadway star who aggressively feels like she knows better than anyone else, alienating those around her. There’s a campiness to her portrayal, especially in the choice to have her lip sync to a voice that does not match her own. 

Oscar Nomination: Best Actress in a Supporting Role