Torch Singer (1933)

An unwed mother (Claudette Colbert) gives up her baby when she is no longer able to take care of the child. She becomes hardened as she climbs the ladder to success in Manhattan's cafe society as a notorious nightclub singer who collects diamonds and men. But when she accidentally becomes the host of a children's radio show, she begins to yearn for the daughter she gave up. Based on the short story MIKE by Grace Perkins and directed by Alexander Hall and George Somnes. While this pre-code film has a solid central performance by Colbert, it fails to sustain the provocative story line and goes all sentimental on us during its final moments but until then, it's an engrossing entertainment. There are some minor quibbles. One, Colbert's singing voice (it sounds like she's doing her own singing) isn't very good so one wonders how she became such a popular singer. Two, the ending leaves a lot to speculation with its unanswered questions which prevent the finale from being truly satisfying. With Ricardo Cortez and David Manners (DRACULA) as the men in her life. Also with Ethel Griffies, Mildred Washington, Charley Grapewin, Lyda Roberti and Virginia Hammond.