Walk on the Wild Side (1962)

The lives of a group of women in a New Orleans bordello.

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writers:

Nelson Algren (novel), John Fante (screenplay)

Stars:

Laurence Harvey, Capucine, Jane Fonda

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

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

Storyline

At the Doll House, a 1930's New Orleans bordello, Hallie is the main attraction both for clients and for Jo, the madame. Her comfortable if tedious life is disrupted by the arrival in town of Dove Linkhorn, her true love of three years before who is now searching for her. When Linkhorn learns the truth of her profession he triggers a chain of events involving a number of people, including the young Kitty with whom he travelled from Texas and who is now the Doll House newest recruit.

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Plot Keywords:

1930s | great depression | prostitution | based on novel | texas | 

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Taglines:

a side of life you never expected to see on the screen!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1962 (UK)

Also Known As:

Auf glühendem Pflaster

Filming Locations:

Jackson Square, French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Famous Artists Productions, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Famartists Productions S.A.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first Hollywood film to openly feature lesbianism. By appearing in the movie, Barbara Stanwyck became the first American actress to portray a lesbian character in a feature film.

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Goofs

Dove arranges to meet Hallie "the day after tomorrow", but when they meet, he says, "You look different, even since yesterday."

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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 ...

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: Texas, The Early Thirties

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Connections

Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Jane Fonda (2014)

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Soundtracks

Somewhere in the Used to Be
(uncredited)
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Lyrics by Mack David
Sung by Brook Benton

User Reviews

What's Not to Like?

An itinerant Texas dirt farmer searches for his lost love discovered now working in a New Orleans brothel where she is the "favorite" of the madam of the house. Much has been written about the superb opening and closing credits and the jazzy music and stunning b/w photography but this film also expertly captures a time (Depression)and place and mood and has a totally engaging story (pared down from Nelson Algren's large novel)and a wonderful cast with Laurence Harvey, Barbara Stanwyck, Anne Baxter, a young Jane Fonda and the goddess-like Capucine as the center of attention. Various biogs of these stars say it was not a happy production but the finished product is highly polished.