Walk on the Wild Side (film)
Encyclopedia
Walk on the Wild Side is a 1962 film directed by Edward Dmytryk
, adapted from the 1956 novel A Walk on the Wild Side by Nelson Algren. The film had a star-studded cast, including Laurence Harvey
, Capucine
, Jane Fonda
(in one of her first roles, age 24), Anne Baxter
, and Barbara Stanwyck
, and was scripted by John Fante
. Nonetheless, it was not well-received at the time. When it premiered, Bosley Crowther
of the New York Times called it a "lurid, tawdry, and sleazy melodrama
."
It is said neither Harvey nor Capucine found the other at all appealing. IMDB reports that "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.'"
Lawrence Harvey was backed by actress Joan Perry
, the widow of studio head Harry Cohn
, (they later married in 1968) while the film's producer, Charles Feldman, was trying to make a star out of Capucine. Harvey said Capucine couldn't act, who then sulked for a week. This and other incidents added to tensions on set, including Jane Fonda's insistence on changing dialogue. The director resigned and the film took longer to shoot than expected, which caused difficulties for co-star Anne Baxter, who was six months pregnant by the time production ended. These incidents were published in Baxter's autobiography, Intermission.
, it starts with Dove and Kitty leaving Texas for New Orleans. Dove is hoping to find his lost love Hallie. After Kitty steals from the café, Dove makes things right with the owner, who lets him stay while he searches for Hallie. He finds Hallie at the Doll House, a 1930's New Orleans bordello, where Jo is the madam. We learn later that Jo's husband had lost his legs in an accident, after which Jo lost interest in him. It is subtly implied that there is a lesbian relationship between Jo and Hallie, because Hallie enjoys the support of Jo to pursue her interest in sculpting, but it is clear that Hallie works for Jo as a prostitute like the others. The relationship is not loving, more possessive. Annoyed with Dove, and using the accusation that he brought underage Kitty across state lines and raped her, Jo tries to force him to leave without Hallie. In the end, in a struggle at the café, an accidental gunshot kills Hallie.
is perhaps the most famous part of the film, where a black tom cat, shown at shoulder length, prowls an urban landscape and picks a fight with another white cat. At the end of the film the same black tom cat walks over the headline of a newspaper, stating that the people who ran the bordello were arrested and sentenced to many years in prison.
Despite Walk on the Wild Side' s scandalous story, the film adaptation's title song has become something of a gospel
standard.
, who did the music, and Mack David, who was the lyricist.
Edward Dmytryk
Edward Dmytryk was an American film director who was amongst the Hollywood Ten, a group of blacklisted film industry professionals who served time in prison for being in contempt of Congress during the McCarthy-era 'red scare'.-Early life:Dmytryk was born in Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada,...
, adapted from the 1956 novel A Walk on the Wild Side by Nelson Algren. The film had a star-studded cast, including Laurence Harvey
Laurence Harvey
Laurence Harvey was a Lithuanian-born actor who achieved fame in British and American films.- Early life :Harvey maintained throughout his life that his birth name was Laruschka Mischa Skikne. However, his legal name was Zvi Mosheh Skikne. He was the youngest of three boys born to Ber "Boris" and...
, Capucine
Capucine
Capucine was a French actress and fashion model best known for her comedic roles in The Pink Panther and What's New Pussycat? . She appeared in 36 films and 17 television productions between 1948 and 1990...
, Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda is an American actress, writer, political activist, former fashion model, and fitness guru. She rose to fame in the 1960s with films such as Barbarella and Cat Ballou. She has won two Academy Awards and received several other movie awards and nominations during more than 50 years as an...
(in one of her first roles, age 24), Anne Baxter
Anne Baxter
Anne Baxter was an American actress known for her performances in films such as The Magnificent Ambersons , The Razor's Edge , All About Eve and The Ten Commandments .-Early life:...
, and Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck was an American actress. She was a film and television star, known during her 60-year career as a consummate and versatile professional with a strong screen presence, and a favorite of directors including Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang and Frank Capra...
, and was scripted by John Fante
John Fante
John Fante was an American novelist, short story writer and screenwriter of Italian descent. He is perhaps best known for his work, Ask the Dust, a semi-autobiograpical novel about life in and around Los Angeles, California, which was the third in a series of four novels, published between 1938...
. Nonetheless, it was not well-received at the time. When it premiered, Bosley Crowther
Bosley Crowther
Bosley Crowther was a journalist and author who was film critic for The New York Times for 27 years. His reviews and articles helped shape the careers of actors, directors and screenwriters, though his reviews, at times, were unnecessarily mean...
of the New York Times called it a "lurid, tawdry, and sleazy melodrama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
."
It is said neither Harvey nor Capucine found the other at all appealing. IMDB reports that "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.'"
Lawrence Harvey was backed by actress Joan Perry
Joan Perry
Joan Perry , born Elizabeth Rosiland Miller, was an American film actress, model, and singer.In the early 1930s, Perry worked as a model in New York City. In 1935 she went to Hollywood and was signed under contract to Columbia Pictures and during her time there she co-starred opposite such actors...
, the widow of studio head Harry Cohn
Harry Cohn
Harry Cohn was the American president and production director of Columbia Pictures.-Career:Cohn was born to a working-class German-Jewish family in New York City. In later years, he appears to have disparaged his heritage...
, (they later married in 1968) while the film's producer, Charles Feldman, was trying to make a star out of Capucine. Harvey said Capucine couldn't act, who then sulked for a week. This and other incidents added to tensions on set, including Jane Fonda's insistence on changing dialogue. The director resigned and the film took longer to shoot than expected, which caused difficulties for co-star Anne Baxter, who was six months pregnant by the time production ended. These incidents were published in Baxter's autobiography, Intermission.
Plot
The film's plot is quite different from the book. Set during the DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, it starts with Dove and Kitty leaving Texas for New Orleans. Dove is hoping to find his lost love Hallie. After Kitty steals from the café, Dove makes things right with the owner, who lets him stay while he searches for Hallie. He finds Hallie at the Doll House, a 1930's New Orleans bordello, where Jo is the madam. We learn later that Jo's husband had lost his legs in an accident, after which Jo lost interest in him. It is subtly implied that there is a lesbian relationship between Jo and Hallie, because Hallie enjoys the support of Jo to pursue her interest in sculpting, but it is clear that Hallie works for Jo as a prostitute like the others. The relationship is not loving, more possessive. Annoyed with Dove, and using the accusation that he brought underage Kitty across state lines and raped her, Jo tries to force him to leave without Hallie. In the end, in a struggle at the café, an accidental gunshot kills Hallie.
Tom cat title sequences
The opening credit sequence directed by Saul BassSaul Bass
Saul Bass was a Jewish-American graphic designer and filmmaker, best known for his design of motion picture title sequences....
is perhaps the most famous part of the film, where a black tom cat, shown at shoulder length, prowls an urban landscape and picks a fight with another white cat. At the end of the film the same black tom cat walks over the headline of a newspaper, stating that the people who ran the bordello were arrested and sentenced to many years in prison.
Despite Walk on the Wild Side
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
standard.
Cast
- Laurence HarveyLaurence HarveyLaurence Harvey was a Lithuanian-born actor who achieved fame in British and American films.- Early life :Harvey maintained throughout his life that his birth name was Laruschka Mischa Skikne. However, his legal name was Zvi Mosheh Skikne. He was the youngest of three boys born to Ber "Boris" and...
as Dove Linkhorn - CapucineCapucineCapucine was a French actress and fashion model best known for her comedic roles in The Pink Panther and What's New Pussycat? . She appeared in 36 films and 17 television productions between 1948 and 1990...
as Hallie Gerard - Jane FondaJane FondaJane Fonda is an American actress, writer, political activist, former fashion model, and fitness guru. She rose to fame in the 1960s with films such as Barbarella and Cat Ballou. She has won two Academy Awards and received several other movie awards and nominations during more than 50 years as an...
as Kitty Twist - Anne BaxterAnne BaxterAnne Baxter was an American actress known for her performances in films such as The Magnificent Ambersons , The Razor's Edge , All About Eve and The Ten Commandments .-Early life:...
as Teresina - Barbara StanwyckBarbara StanwyckBarbara Stanwyck was an American actress. She was a film and television star, known during her 60-year career as a consummate and versatile professional with a strong screen presence, and a favorite of directors including Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang and Frank Capra...
as Jo Courtney - Joanna Moore as Miss Precious
- John AndersonJohn Anderson (actor)-Biography:Born in Clayton, John Anderson grew up in Quincy and Adams County, Illinois.Prior to a prolific acting career, Anderson served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II where he met artist Orazio Fumagalli who became one of his best lifelong friends.He was known for several...
as Preacher
Awards
The title song "Walk on the Wild Side" was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Music, Original Song. The nomination went to Elmer BernsteinElmer Bernstein
Elmer Bernstein was an American composer and conductor best known for his many film scores. In a career which spanned fifty years, he composed music for hundreds of film and television productions...
, who did the music, and Mack David, who was the lyricist.