Girl on the Run | |
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Directed by | Arthur J. Beckhard Joseph Lee |
Written by | Arthur J. Beckhard Cedric Worth |
Starring | Richard Coogan Rosemary Pettit Frank Albertson Steve McQueen |
Edited by | Sidney Katz Milton Shifman |
Production company | Rose Tree Productions |
Distributed by | Astor Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 64 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Girl on the Run is a 1953 ultra-low-budget independent production, the plot of which drops a standard crime melodrama into the noirish, tawdry world of a carnival burlesque show. According to filmographer Michael Pitts, "Released by Astor Pictures late in 1953, Girl on the Run was filmed as The Hidden Woman. A Rose Tree Production, it opens and closes with scenes of a hysterically laughing mechanical clown and all its action takes place during one night at a tatty carnival." [1]
The most notable cast member of Girl on the Run has one of the smallest roles: Steve McQueen, seen in the background of two scenes during his first known film role. The film also loosely inspired the hit 1971 Indian film Caravan , directed by Nasir Hussain and starring Asha Parekh. [2]
Newspaper reporter, Bill Martin, is assigned to investigate a crime ring working out of a carnival. Martin's boss is killed and Martin is framed for the murder, while the victim's girlfriend Janet goes undercover as a burlesque dancer for Lil's carny revue while running from the gangster behind the scheme.
Arthur J. Berkhard, co-writer and co-director of the film, had a background in theater, having staged 14 Broadway productions beginning with the hit play Another Language, written by Rose Franken, in 1932. [3] Girl on the Run would be his only film directorial credit.