The Strip | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by | László Kardos |
Produced by | Joe Pasternak |
Screenplay by | Allen Rivkin |
Starring |
Mickey Rooney Sally Forrest William Demarest James Craig |
Music by |
Pete Rugolo George Stoll |
Cinematography | Robert L. Surtees |
Edited by | Albert Akst |
Production
company |
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Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date
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Running time
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85 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $885,000 |
Box office | $982,000 |
The Strip is a 1951 film directed by László Kardos and starring Mickey Rooney, Sally Forrest and William Demarest. 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.
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, with Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines and Jack Teagarden appearing as themselves 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.
According to MGM records, the film made $656,000 in the US and Canada and $326,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $284,000.
Film critic Dennis Schwartz discussed the production in his review and praised the work of Mickey Rooney, "A minor mystery story that's given some high gloss in its production by the MGM studio system, as Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong and his distinguished band made up of Jack Teagarden, Earl "Fatha" Hines, and Barney Bigard serenade us with a few numbers and there are various other jazz pieces included from singers Monica Lewis and Vic Damone. It's set on the intriguing Sunset Strip where Mickey Rooney plays the sincere little guy, Stanley Maxton, a jazz drummer who is accused of murder ... The breezy story line, the snappy jazz interludes, and some engaging scenes made it very appealing ... Rooney is super as the perennial victim who only finds his soul when he's lost in his music. The film effectively captured the existential mood and the glee derived from the club scene on the Strip. It's an above-average mystery story that could be categorized as film noir because of Rooney's pained expression as a victim of love."