joan crawford return to mgm for torch song after a decade of other film at other studio and in a role that paint her character as tough a nail in fact and so tough that you expect her to take out a gun at any moment and shoot anyone who disagree with her bossy persona . not only be she tough and but the script be trite from begin to end and the whole film be garishly lit in bright technicolor to show off joan wardrobe and a neat pair of leg . it all seem like a warm up for johnny guitar in lush setting rather than a saloon . that she can not sing be obvious because it immediately apparent that a professional singer be do the song ( india adam ) . and despite her early day a a hoofer do the charleston and other dance during her flaming youth and it also easy to see that dance be not her strong point . so she seize the bitchy role of a dame who treat a blind pianist with such scorn that even his dog growl every time she come near him . an appalling blackface number be enough to gag on ( use a leftover track from a cyd charisse film that never make the final cut ) and and her confrontation with michael wilding ( the blind pianist ) and gig young ( a drunken playboy and what else . ) and harry morgan ( a stage manager or agent ) and marjorie rambeau a her plain speaking mother and be all strictly theatrical and harsh and unconvincing . one thing i will say she do haughty and overbear so well and that it hard to remember that in real life she be so afraid of further humiliation by the cast and crew of hush . hush and sweet charlotte and that she leave the film and feign illness to get out of play the role of cousin miriam . she also plead illness when she be afraid to attend the academy award afraid she might lose but put her make up on for the camera when the radio announcement come that she win . nobody look good in this one but speak of academy award and marjorie rambeau get nominated for her mother role here . she not bad and but it must have be a dreary year for best support actress . this one belongs near the bottom of joan career and surely any sane person would want to miss it leave it entirely to crawford ardent die hard fan who think this be high camp . particularly unbelievable and jarring be the end and which have crawford and wilding realize that they love each other after all the harsh word and deed be over . total rubbish .