The Stripper (film)

The Stripper is a 1963 drama film about a struggling, aging actress-turned-stripper, played by Joanne Woodward, and the people she knows. It is based on the play A Loss of Roses by William Inge.

This was the feature film debut of director Franklin J. Schaffner, and co-starred Carol Lynley, Robert Webber, and Richard Beymer. Also appearing as Madame Olga was real-life stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. It was the first Schaffner film to feature a score by prolific composer Jerry Goldsmith, who would later work with Schaffner on such films as Planet of the Apes, Patton, Papillon, and The Boys from Brazil.

William Travilla was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White.

The film was first designed to be a vehicle for two Fox contract stars, Marilyn Monroe and Pat Boone, with Monroe dying in 1962 and Boone turning down the film on moral grounds.

Plot
She dreamed of a career in the movies, but Lila Green has found little success. She joins a group of traveling entertainers and is abandoned near her Kansas hometown by manager and boyfriend Ricky Powers.

Old friend Helen Baird takes her into her home, where Helen's young son Kenny becomes infatuated with Lila. Somewhat delusional, she at first sees a future for their relationship, until coming to her senses.

Ricky returns and offers Lila a job doing a striptease. In need of money, she accepts. Kenny witnesses her show and finally realizes she is not the dream girl he loved.

Cast

 * Joanne Woodward as Lila Green
 * Richard Beymer as Kenny Baird
 * Claire Trevor as Helen Baird
 * Carol Lynley as Miriam Caswell
 * Robert Webber as Ricky Powers
 * Louis Nye as Ronnie Cavendish
 * Gypsy Rose Lee as Madame Olga

Production
20th Century Fox originally wanted to make the film with Marilyn Monroe and Pat Boone, though Monroe would die before the film was made and Boone refused to do it as he felt the film's message was immoral.