| The Strip | |
|---|---|
1951 Theatrical Poster |
|
| Directed by | László Kardos |
| Produced by | Joe Pasternak |
| Written by | Allen Rivkin |
| Starring | Mickey Rooney, Sally Forrest, William Demarest |
| Cinematography | Robert L. Surtees |
| Editing by | Albert Akst |
| Studio | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) |
| Release date(s) | August 1, 1951 |
| Running time | 85 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Strip is a 1951 film starring Mickey Rooney, Sally Forrest and William Demarest. It was directed by László Kardos.
Contents |
Stanley Maxton (Mickey Rooney) is a drummer in the rhythm section of a night club orchestra. He is in love with cigarette girl, Jane Tafford (Sally Forrest), but she is more interested in a mobster reputed to have influence in the movie industry.
The film is set against the backdrop of Hollywood's Sunset Strip and Louis Armstrong and Jack Teagarden appear in the film. Pete Rugolo, who is credited with Leo Arnaud with the film's orchestrations, was a well-known jazz arranger.
Much of the picture was shot on location in and around the Sunset Strip. Interiors were shot at popular nightclubs Mocambo and Ciro's and at restaurants Little Hungary and Stripps. A news item in the Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express noted that the "La Bota" number, featuring Marcia Lewis, was filmed inside Ciro's. A May 31, 1951 Hollywood Reporter "Rambling Reporter" column indicated that Sammy Gordon was planning to sue M-G-M, which used his nightclub for interiors of the film, but failed to show the exterior, as promised, even though "every other place on the Strip had their names prominently displayed."
In addition to the numbers performed in the released film, jazz instrumentals that were recorded by Louis Armstrong but cut from the production included "Ain't Misbehavin'" by Fats Waller and Harry Brooks, "One O'Clock Jump" by Count Basie and "I'm Coming, Virginia" by Donald Heywood. Those numbers, plus several songs from the film were included in the CD-anthology album "Now You Has Jazz: Louis Armstrong at M-G-M," released in 1997.
"A Kiss to Build a Dream On" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song, but "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening," from the Paramount film Here Comes the Groom won the award.
"Rooney turns in a surprisingly vivid performance, sensitive, disarming and always on the beat. Sally Forrest is impressive, too, in an unsympathetic role." [1]