Walk on the Wild Side (1962)

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writers:

Nelson Algren (novel)
John Fante (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

21 February 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

a new kind of love story starring ...

Plot:

At the Doll House, a 1930's New Orleans bordello, Hallie is the main attraction both for clients and for Jo...

Plot Keywords:

French American | Odyssey | Amputee | Shot In The Chest | Service Station

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Laurence Harvey	...	Dove Linkhorn
Capucine	...	Hallie Gerard
Jane Fonda	...	Kitty Twist
Anne Baxter	...	Teresina Vidaverri
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Jo Courtney
Joanna Cook Moore	...	Miss Precious (as Joanna Moore)
Richard Rust	...	Oliver
Karl Swenson	...	Schmidt
Don 'Red' Barry	...	Dockery
Juanita Moore	...	Mama
John Anderson	...	Preacher
Ken Lynch	...	Frank Bonito
Todd Armstrong	...	Lt. Omar Stroud
Sherry O'Neil	...	Reba
John Bryant	...	Spence

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

West Germany:18 (nf) | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

During the filming, Capucine objected to filming kissing scenes with Laurence Harvey, feeling that he was not manly enough for her. Harvey reportedly replied, "Perhaps if you were more of a woman, I would be more of a man. Honey, kissing you is like kissing the side of a beer bottle."

Quotes:

Preacher: Jezebel! That's right, I mean you! Now both of you sinners are hurrying past.
Dove Linkhorn: You got no business with us mister.
Preacher: Oh, sinners is my business. You and that hip-slinging daughter of Satan. You know there's the smell of sulfur and brimstone about you. The smell of hellfire.
Dove Linkhorn: Who ordained preacher?
Preacher: I am self-ordained son; I had the call.
Dove Linkhorn: You were called by the wrong voice mister.
Preacher: Lord strike this sinner down. Send a bolt down to smite and consume the blasphemer now!
Dove Linkhorn: He won't hear you. Cause you no friend of God or man - standing there hollering hate to the world. God is love. God is mercy and forgiveness. Try preaching that sometime Mr. Preacher. Teach people to forgive, not to crawl in fear. Teach people to love, not hate. preach the good book - preach the truth.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Bass on Titles (1977)

Soundtrack:

Walk on the Wild Side

Once seen never forgotten

I found the story in this movie to be a little Ho-hum, but it's filming in black & white gave it a dimension that that stood it apart from films of the same era. The credits and sound track were awesome. Even if you had missed the rest of the film they would have remained with forever. A notable exemption from the credits is Lee Marvin, who played a small but amusing part as a scruffy cook in a roadside diner. He was offended when Lawrence Harvey called him Slob.