THE STRIP
US, 1951, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Mickey Rooney, Sally Forrest, William Demarest, James Craig, Kay Brown, Louis Armstrong.
Directed by Leslie Kardos.
The Strip is one of many supporting features made by MGM in the last '40s and early '50s, most effectively. Well-produced, they featured a number of stars and had good, tight scripts. This is a murder mystery with flashbacks. Mickey Rooney is quite effective as the ex-Korean war serviceman, Drummer, who eventually works with a mobster but for love of a cigarette girl and dancer in a club, becomes a drummer in this club. Sally Forrest is the heroine. The supporting cast includes William Demarest as the director of the club and James Craig as the mobster.
The background music is jazz and the film boasts the presence of Louis Armstrong and Jack Teagarden. There are also guest appearances by Vic Damone and Monica Lewis. Some of the songs featured include Louis Armstrong singing `Shadrack', Jack Teagarden with `Basin Street Blues' and the Oscar-nominated `A Kiss to Build a Dream On' (initially sung by William Demarest and joined by Mickey Rooney).
An effective small-budget thriller.
1. Entertaining thriller? Murder mystery? Hollywood story? Nightclubs and mobsters?
2. Black and white photography, the Los Angeles settings, the Strip, the clubs? The musical score, the jazz background, the players and singers? Guest stars? The `Kiss to Build a Dream On'?
3. The title and the focus on Los Angeles, the Hollywood strip and its life?
4. The initial deaths? Jane and her injuries, Sonny and his murder? The arrest of Stan, the flashback? His deciding to confess? The irony of Jane's statement and the explanation of what had happened?
5. The portrait of Stan: Korean War service, rehabilitation, the present of the drums? His return to Los Angeles, friendship with Sonny, working for him and his mobster organisation? His skill with the drums? His racing away from the raid, getting into Jane's car, going to the club, falling in love with her, the dates? His audition, Fluff wanting him to play? Persuading Jane to get him to play? His obsession with her? Quitting his job with Sonny? His skill at playing, enjoying the club? Getting an interview with Sonny for Jane and her film ambitions? Obsessively following them around? The clash with Sonny, the toughs persuading him to go to Phoenix? Telling Jane, her confrontation? His arrest?
6. Jane, the initial mystery? Stan getting into her car, her response to his attentions, her work as a cigarette girl, self-assured, her dancing? Wanting Fluff to get rid of Stan? Going out with him to persuade him to take the job? Meeting Sonny, going out with him? Her rejection of Stan - yet wanting to confront Sonny about forcing him out of town? Her confession, her anger and the gun, hurting herself, killing Sonny?
7. Sonny as the charming mobster, his thugs, deals? His patronage of Stan? His attraction towards Jane? Forcing Stan to go to Phoenix? His death?
8. Fluff and the management of the nightclub? Genial, his story about his lawyer girlfriend? Support of his staff? Wanting Stan back?
9. The police and their investigations?
10. The jazz background, the selection of music? Louis Armstrong and the other featured guests? A satisfying small-budget entertainment?
