Dance Hall Racket

Dance Hall Racket
Lenny Bruce as Vincent in a still from the film
Directed by	Phil Tucker
Screenplay by	Lenny Bruce
Produced by	George Weiss
Starring	Timothy Farrell Lenny Bruce Honey Harlow
Cinematography	W. Merle Connell
Edited by	Adrian Weiss
Music by	Charles Ruddy
Production company	Film Classics
Distributed by	Screen Classics (United States, 1953, theatrical) Screen Classics (United States, 1956, re-release, theatrical) Something Weird Video (United States, 1994, David Friedman's Roadshow Rarities, Vol. 25, VHS)
Release date	1953 (1953)
Running time	63 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Dance Hall Racket is a 1953 American low-budget noir crime drama film directed by Phil Tucker and starring Timothy Farrell. It was written by Lenny Bruce, who also stars in the film with his wife Honey Harlow. ^[1]

Plot summary

A gangster 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 at the place and suspicion quickly 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 actual killer. Before they can be arrested, the henchman kills his boss and is shot while trying to escape.

Cast

Honey Harlow as Rose

• Timothy Farrell as Umberto Scalli
• Lenny Bruce 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

1. Fox, Margalit (Sep 20, 2005). "Honey Bruce Friedman, 78, Entertainer and 'Lenny's Shady Lady'". New York Times. p. A27.

External links

• Dance Hall Racket at IMDb
• Dance Hall Racket is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
• Dance Hall Racket at the British Film Institute ^{[ better source needed ]}