Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Of 2024Holiday PicksSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Torch Song Trilogy

  • 1988
  • R
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
8.1K
YOUR RATING
Matthew Broderick, Anne Bancroft, Harvey Fierstein, and Brian Kerwin in Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
Open-ended Trailer from New Line Cinema
Play trailer2:20
1 Video
24 Photos
ComedyDramaRomance

Arnold is a gay man working as drag queen in 1971 NYC. He meets a handsome bisexual man.Arnold is a gay man working as drag queen in 1971 NYC. He meets a handsome bisexual man.Arnold is a gay man working as drag queen in 1971 NYC. He meets a handsome bisexual man.

  • Director
    • Paul Bogart
  • Writer
    • Harvey Fierstein
  • Stars
    • Anne Bancroft
    • Matthew Broderick
    • Harvey Fierstein
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    8.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Paul Bogart
    • Writer
      • Harvey Fierstein
    • Stars
      • Anne Bancroft
      • Matthew Broderick
      • Harvey Fierstein
    • 72User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Torch Song Trilogy
    Trailer 2:20
    Torch Song Trilogy

    Photos24

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 17
    View Poster

    Top cast40

    Edit
    Anne Bancroft
    Anne Bancroft
    • Ma
    Matthew Broderick
    Matthew Broderick
    • Alan
    Harvey Fierstein
    Harvey Fierstein
    • Arnold
    Brian Kerwin
    Brian Kerwin
    • Ed
    Karen Young
    Karen Young
    • Laurel
    Eddie Castrodad
    • David
    Ken Page
    Ken Page
    • Murray
    Charles Pierce
    Charles Pierce
    • Bertha Venation
    Axel Lott
    • Marina Del Rey
    • (as Axel Vera)
    Benji Schulman
    • Young Arnold
    Nick Montgomery
    • Chorus Boy
    Robert Neary
    Robert Neary
    • Chorus Boy
    Kim Clark
    • Female Bar Patron
    Stephanie Penn
    • Female Bar Patron
    Geoffrey Harding
    • Man with Lighter
    Michael Bond
    • Bar Patron
    Michael Warga
    • Bartender
    Phil Sky
    • Man in Back Room
    • Director
      • Paul Bogart
    • Writer
      • Harvey Fierstein
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Longtime Companion
    7.6
    Longtime Companion
    Tidy Endings
    8.2
    Tidy Endings
    Love! Valour! Compassion!
    7.0
    Love! Valour! Compassion!
    The Boys in the Band
    7.6
    The Boys in the Band
    Parting Glances
    7.2
    Parting Glances
    Jeffrey
    6.8
    Jeffrey
    Making Love
    6.9
    Making Love
    Torch Song
    5.6
    Torch Song
    'Master Harold'... and the Boys
    7.5
    'Master Harold'... and the Boys
    Sunday Bloody Sunday
    7.0
    Sunday Bloody Sunday
    Priest
    7.1
    Priest
    Tea and Sympathy
    7.3
    Tea and Sympathy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Estelle Getty originated the role of Ma Beckoff on Broadway. She was unavailable filming The Golden Girls (1985) as Sophia, Dorothy's mother, to reprise the part for the movie so Anne Bancroft was cast instead.
    • Goofs
      Arnold hires a car service to take him and Ma to the cemetery, and the car is seen waiting for them. But when Ma storms off and leaves in the car, it's not the same driver that brought them to the cemetery.
    • Quotes

      Arnold: It's easier to love someone who's dead. They make so few mistakes.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Working Girl/I'm Gonna Git You Sucka/Rain Man/Torch Song Trilogy/Haunted Summer (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Dames
      Music by Harry Warren
      Lyrics by Al Dubin
      Performed by Harvey Fierstein (uncredited), Ken Page (uncredited), Charles Pierce (uncredited), Axel Lott (uncredited), Nick Montgomery (uncredited), Robert Neary (uncredited), and Harriet C. Leider (uncredited)
      © 1934 (renewed) Warner Bros. Inc. (ASCAP)
      [Performed in the drag show during the opening credits; reprise in the first 1973 scene]

    User reviews72

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10

    Wonderfully deep

    This film is very deep and superbly acted. It requires a viewer with a heart, but once you got that working you will surely fall into this touching drama. What is most appealing about this film is its realism and the fact that scenes of heartfelt drama are followed by light hearted humour, leading one easily through this well designed
    • sibie
    • Jul 14, 2002
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ20

    • How long is Torch Song Trilogy?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 14, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Hebrew
      • French
      • American Sign Language
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Das Kuckucksei
    • Filming locations
      • Denville, New Jersey, USA
    • Production companies
      • New Line Cinema
      • Howard Gottfried/Ronald K. Fierstein Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,865,997
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $70,022
      • Dec 18, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,870,903
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Matthew Broderick, Anne Bancroft, Harvey Fierstein, and Brian Kerwin in Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Torch Song Trilogy (1988) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.