The Stripper is a 1963 American drama film about a struggling, aging actress-turned-stripper, played by Joanne Woodward, and the people she knows. It is based on the play A Loss of Roses by William Inge.
| The Stripper | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Franklin J. Schaffner |
| Screenplay by | Meade Roberts |
| Based on | A Loss of Roses (1959 play) by William Inge |
| Produced by | Jerry Wald |
| Starring | Joanne Woodward Richard Beymer Claire Trevor Carol Lynley |
| Cinematography | Ellsworth Fredericks |
| Edited by | Robert L. Simpson |
| Music by | Jerry Goldsmith |
| Distributed by | 20th Century-Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2,175,000[1] or $2.5 million[2] |
| Box office | $1,500,000 (US/ Canada)[3] |
This was the feature film debut of director Franklin J. Schaffner, and co-starred Carol Lynley, Robert Webber, and Richard Beymer. Also appearing as Madame Olga was real-life stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. It was the first Schaffner film to feature a score by prolific composer Jerry Goldsmith, who later worked with Schaffner on Planet of the Apes, Patton, Papillon, and The Boys from Brazil.[4]
William Travilla was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White.
The film was intended to be a vehicle for Marilyn Monroe and Pat Boone, two Fox contract stars, but Monroe died in 1962, and Boone refused the role on moral grounds.[5]
Plot
editLila Green dreamed of a career in the movies, but has found little success. She joins a group of traveling entertainers and is abandoned near her Kansas hometown by manager and boyfriend Ricky Powers. Old friend Helen Baird takes her into her home, where Helen's young son Kenny becomes infatuated with Lila. Somewhat delusional, she at first sees a future for their relationship, until coming to her senses. Ricky returns and offers Lila a job doing a striptease. In need of money, she accepts. Kenny witnesses her show, and he realizes she is not the dream girl he loved.
Cast
edit- Joanne Woodward as Lila Green
- Richard Beymer as Kenny Baird
- Claire Trevor as Helen Baird
- Carol Lynley as Miriam Caswell
- Robert Webber as Ricky Powers
- Louis Nye as Ronnie Cavendish
- Gypsy Rose Lee as Madame Olga
- Michael J. Pollard as Jelly
- Sondra Kerr as Edwina
- Susan Brown as Mrs. Mulvaney
- Marlene De Lamater as Sandra Mulvaney
- Ralph Lee as Sonny
- Gary Pagett as Dizzy
- Bing Russell as Mr. Mulvaney
References
edit- ^ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p253
- ^ "Wald, Ritt, Hotcher off to Italy". Variety. 21 June 1961. p. 3.
- ^ "Top Rental Features of 1963", Variety, 8 January 1964 p 71. Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.
- ^ Clemmensen, Christian. Jerry Goldsmith (1929-2004) tribute at Filmtracks.com. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
- ^ Verswijver, Leo Pat Boone Interview in Movies were Always Magical: Interviews with 19 Actors, Directors, and Producers from the Hollywood of the 1930s through the 1950, McFarland, 2003, p. 8
External links
edit- The Stripper at IMDb
- The Stripper at the TCM Movie Database
- The Stripper at AllMovie
 | This 1960s drama film–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article related to an American film of the 1960s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |