''Dance Hall Racket'' is a 1953 American film directed by

Phil Tucker Phil Tucker (May 22, 1927 – November 30, 1985) was an American film director, producer, writer, and editor. While Tucker directed his first six feature films in the span of two years (while still in his mid-20s), he is best known for his first ...

starring

Lenny Bruce Leonard Alfred Schneider (October 13, 1925 – August 3, 1966), known professionally as Lenny Bruce, was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, and satirist. He was renowned for his open, free-wheeling, and critical style of comedy which ...

(who also wrote the script) and his wife

Honey Harlow Honey Bruce Friedman (born Harriett Jolliff; August 15, 1927 – September 12, 2005), also known by her professional name Honey Harlow, was an American stripper and showgirl who was married to stand-up comedian Lenny Bruce. In 1976 she rel ...

Plot

gangster A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from ''mob'' and the suffix ''-ster''. Gangs provide a level of organization and ...

who operates a sleazy dance hall uses a sadistic bodyguard to keep his girls afraid and his customers in line. A merchant marine seaman is found murdered and suspicion falls upon the operator of a dime-a-dance honky tonk joint. A federal undercover agent is planted in the place to gather evidence, and he soon learns that the dive is only a cover-up for diamond-smuggling activities, and that one of the operation's henchmen, who is handy with a switch-blade knife, is the killer. Before they can be arrested, the henchman kills his boss and is shot while trying to escape.

Cast

* Timothy Farrell as Umberto Scalli *

as Vincent *Bernie Jones as Punky, the Swedish Sailor * Honey Bruce Friedman Rose (as Honey Harlow) *Sally Marr as Hostess *Bunny Parker as Dancehall Girl *Joie Abrams as Dancehall Girl *Ronald Lee *Bill King *Mary Holiday as Dancehall Girl *Harry Keaton *Joe Piro as Henchman

Soundtrack

Music Department Sanford H. Dickinson ... music consultant (as Sandford H. Dickinson) Charles Ruddy ... musical director (uncredited)

References

External links

* *
''Dance Hall Racket''
at the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

1953 films American crime thriller films American action films American adventure films Films directed by Phil Tucker 1950s crime thriller films 1953 adventure films Lenny Bruce American black-and-white films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films {{crime-thriller-film-stub