Torch Song Trilogy
1988 · 120 min · Director: Paul Bogart
Show plot summary (may contain spoilers)
Tony Award-winning actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein re-creates his role as the unsinkable Arnold Beckoff in this film adaptation of the smash Broadway play TORCH SONG TRILOGY. A very personal story that is both funny and poignant, TORCH SONG TRILOGY chronicles a New Yorker's search for love, respect and tradition in a world that seems not especially made for him. From Arnold's hilarious steps toward domestic bliss with a reluctant school teacher, to his first truly promising love affair with a young fashion model, Arnold's greatest challenge remains his complicated relationship with his mother. But armed with a keenly developed sense of humor and oftentimes piercing wit, Arnold continues to test the commonly accepted terms of endearment--and endurance--in a universally affecting story that confirms that happiness is well worth carrying a torch for.
Emotional fingerprint
Torch Song Trilogy (1988) — Movie. Top emotional signals: Empathy 30%, Love 25%, Humor 20%. Source: AI estimate. Shares describe emotional signal, not percentages of people. Your experience may differ. How we measure
- Empathy30%
- Love25%
- Humor20%
- Sadness15%
- Inspiration10%
AI estimate · no viewer votes yet
How we measure
AI estimate
Share of emotional signal, not the percentage of people or a probability of enjoyment.
Each viewer contributes one response, split equally across their selected emotions. When available, an automated estimate supplies a prior that is blended with those responses. Counts include distinct viewers, not automated estimates or archived anonymous votes. Fewer than 3 viewers is an early estimate; more responses do not guarantee certainty.
Why it feels this way
The strongest emotional signals are Empathy, Love, Humor. Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance. AI estimate.
Is it worth watching?
Consider this title if you are looking for Empathy, Love and Humor. Its IMDb rating of 7.8/10 suggests a generally positive audience reception. For these leading emotions, its Feel Score is 73/100.
How did it make you feel?
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Pick up to three · 0/3
Emotional journey
- Humor
- Sadness
- Love
Not enough subtitle evidence
No dominant emotion
Dominant emotion: Humor
Dominant emotion: Love
Dominant emotion: Sadness
Dominant emotion: Hope
Dominant emotion
| % | Approximate minute | Dominant emotion | Overall intensity | Humor | Sadness | Love |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 % | ≈ 3′ | Humor | 65 % | 66 % | 20 % | 13 % |
| 7.5 % | ≈ 9′ | Humor | 63 % | 59 % | 20 % | 18 % |
| 12.5 % | ≈ 15′ | Humor | 59 % | 47 % | 15 % | 32 % |
| 17.5 % | ≈ 21′ | Love | 61 % | 45 % | 17 % | 45 % |
| 22.5 % | ≈ 27′ | Humor | 60 % | 44 % | 34 % | 36 % |
| 27.5 % | ≈ 33′ | Sadness | 57 % | 41 % | 42 % | 27 % |
| 32.5 % | ≈ 39′ | Humor | 59 % | 51 % | 30 % | 28 % |
| 37.5 % | ≈ 45′ | Humor | 62 % | 61 % | 20 % | 22 % |
| 42.5 % | ≈ 51′ | Humor | 61 % | 57 % | 31 % | 23 % |
| 47.5 % | ≈ 57′ | Sadness | 61 % | 52 % | 37 % | 28 % |
| 52.5 % | ≈ 63′ | Humor | 62 % | 53 % | 26 % | 34 % |
| 57.5 % | ≈ 69′ | Love | 66 % | 46 % | 20 % | 46 % |
| 62.5 % | ≈ 75′ | Hope | 68 % | 38 % | 19 % | 53 % |
| 67.5 % | ≈ 81′ | Love | 62 % | 42 % | 23 % | 48 % |
| 72.5 % | ≈ 87′ | Humor | 65 % | 43 % | 45 % | 42 % |
| 77.5 % | ≈ 93′ | Sadness | 80 % | 30 % | 71 % | 36 % |
| 82.5 % | ≈ 99′ | Sadness | 83 % | 22 % | 74 % | 33 % |
| 87.5 % | ≈ 105′ | Sadness | 75 % | 24 % | 62 % | 44 % |
| 92.5 % | ≈ 111′ | Love | 66 % | 21 % | 49 % | 53 % |
| 97.5 % | ≈ 117′ | Love | 56 % | 10 % | 33 % | 50 % |
Riches to rags
Rags to riches: The emotional tone rises from negative to positive.
Riches to rags: The emotional tone falls from positive to negative.
Man in a hole: The tone falls, then recovers.
Icarus: The tone rises, then falls.
Cinderella: The tone rises, falls, then rises again.
Oedipus: The tone falls, rises, then falls again.
AI reading of the film’s English subtitles (dialogue and sound cues) — not viewer votes. How we measure ↗
Kadri — your film companion
AIAsk anything about Torch Song Trilogy. From the film’s own dialogue and FeelDB data, at your spoiler level.
Afterward Reveal viewer responses · may contain spoilers
Viewer responses about feelings after the title ended, separate from feelings while watching. No AI estimates.
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Cast
David
Bertha Venation
Marina Del Rey
Young Arnold
Chorus Boy
Chorus Boy
Female Bar Patron
Female Bar Patron
Man with Lighter
Bar Patron
Bartender
Man in Back Room
Arnold's Father
Details
- Directed by
- Paul Bogart
- Written by
- Harvey Fierstein, Harvey Fierstein
- Type
- Movies
- Released
- 1988
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Country
- United States
- Ratings
- Feels mostly
- Empathy
- Data updated
Where to watch
Feels similar
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