Torch Song (1993 TV Movie) User Reviews

Glamorous Raquel makes it worth checking out.

[Gideon24 · 6/10 · 9 April 2015]

Torch Song was an expensive-looking yet rather superficial TV movie (which BTW, has nothing to do with the Joan Crawford movie of the same title), that seems to be based on Elizabeth Taylor's real-life romance with Larry Fortensky.

Raquel Welch (who looks absolutely AMAZING)plays a glamorous Hollywood star who falls in love with a fireman (Jack Scalia) who she met while in rehab, but encounters many problems continuing the romance outside of rehab,including the obligatory teenage daughter (Alicia Silverstone) unwilling to share her Mom with a new man and a privately resentful personal assistant (Laura Innes), who is suspicious of the man's motives for being with her boss. The cliché-ridden screenplay is a problem,but the chemistry between Welch and Scalia is pretty steamy and makes the film worth watching...and is there anyone in Hollywood aging as glamorously as Raquel Welch?

The dangers of alcoholic excess

[world_of_weird · 16 September 2004]

This obscurity turned up late one night on television when I was being kept awake by a nasty toothache, so I switched it on to take my mind off the dental pain. Unfortunately, 'Torch Song' inflicts more than enough pain of its own on the viewer. Raquel Welch plays a has-been film star (that must've been a stretch!) whose career is being further scuppered by her over-reliance on alcohol. When some embarrassing pictures of her zonked out at the bottom of a (sadly empty) swimming pool are published in a scandal sheet, she makes an effort to clean up her act and gets all rehab. Naturally, the rehab unit isn't one bit realistic (no skid row drunks in vomit-stained clothes here!) so there's a hunky, kind-hearted rough diamond type...you can guess the rest, can't you? If you can't, give the deer-stalker and magnifying glass back to the fancy dress shop in the morning. Despite the uniformly dismal performances and hackneyed script, it's interesting to see Julian Holloway (most recognizable to British viewers from the Carry On films) and exploitation veteran Bob Minor in supporting roles, and a young Alicia Silverstone using the experience to perfect her annoying kooky brat persona. I must admit the scene where Raquel lies on the bed to phone her blue-collar beau is unexpectedly sexy, though. Now where did I put the Novocaine?

Drinking to excess can ruin rep

[sparklesap · 7/10 · 17 May 2006]

Light hearted drama about a lush/alcoholic actress played by Raquel Welsh & her trials & tribulations with her daughter played by a young Alicia Silverstone and her assistant played by a self serving Laura Innes. Jack Scalia plays the hero, an alcoholic fireman, who meets Raquel's character at a rehab clinic. Romance ensues naturally & his attitude due to not being from tinsel town brings Raquel's character down to earth & helps motivate her to stay sobered up & look at her relationships around her.Pleasantly entertaining. Not as long as Judith Krantz's others but if you like this you'll like them & visa versa...hopefully will come out on DVD soon as my bought copy VHS is wearing out.

A Glossy Melodrama Showcasing the Beautifully Aging Raquel....

[Isaac5855 · 7/10 · 6 March 2008]

TORCH SONG was an expensive-looking yet rather superficial TV movie (which BTW, has nothing to do with the Joan Crawford movie of the same title), that seems to be based on Elizabeth Taylor's real-life romance with Larry Fortensky. Raquel Welch (who looks absolutely AMAZING)plays a glamorous Hollywood star who falls in love with a fireman (Jack Scalia) who she met while in rehab, but encounters many problems continuing the romance outside of rehab,including the obligatory teenage daughter unwilling to share her Mom with a new man and a privately resentful personal assistant (Laura Innes), who is suspicious of the man's motives for being with her boss. The cliché-ridden screenplay is a problem,but the chemistry between Welch and Scalia is pretty steamy and makes the film worth watching...and is there anyone in Hollywood aging as glamorously as Raquel Welch?

Strong, sincere TV-movie with Rocky Welch at her sexy best

[moonspinner55 · 8/10 · 28 April 2002]

Obviously based somewhat on Elizabeth Taylor's real-life experience checking into rehab and falling in love with another patient, this is nevertheless a colorful idea for a TV-movie and one of the best based on a Judith Krantz novel (who was churning out look-alike books for sometime during this period). Raquel Welch is in top form playing a boozy actress whose worried daughter (Alicia Silverstone!) convinces her to get medical help; once in rehab, Welch falls for a hunky firefighter trying to get sober (that is, when she's not doing her daily chores, like vacuuming). Could be camp, but it doesn't come off cartoony. Jack Scalia is a handsome rogue who looks good with Raquel, and the sparks in their relationship make the second-half of the film quite entertaining and even romantic. *** from ****