Racket Girls
| Racket Girls | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Robert C. Dertano |
| Written by | Robert C. Dertano |
| Produced by | George Weiss |
| Starring | Peaches Page Timothy Farrell Clara Mortenson Rita Martinez |
| Cinematography | William C. Thompson |
Production company | Arena Productions |
| Distributed by | Screen Classics |
Release date |
|
Running time | 70 mins |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Racket Girls (also called Blonde Pickup and Pin Down Girls) is an American film noir crime film, directed by Robert C. Dertano and released in 1951 by Screen Classics.
Plot
Umberto Scalli (Timothy Farrell) is a small-time gangster who acts as a manager for women's wrestling in order to cover his involvement in many crime rings, including racketeering, bookmaking, and prostitution. He must dodge both police investigations and the local mob, to which he owes $35,000. In the seedy underbelly of 1950s Los Angeles, small-time gangster Umberto Scalli (Timothy Farrell) manages women’s wrestling as a front for his real business—racketeering, bookmaking, and prostitution. Deep in debt to the mob for $35,000, Scalli finds himself squeezed between police investigations and dangerous collectors.
His star attraction is Tricia Petmeplease, a fierce, no-nonsense tag team champion whose loyalty comes at a price. Scalli relies on shady fight fixer Mugsy to rig matches, but Mugsy's luck is running out, and his schemes are getting riskier.
When the mob sends their impeccably groomed enforcer Matt Malinowski—a charming but cold collector with perfect hair—to remind Scalli of the ticking clock, the pressure mounts. The plan is simple: throw the main event in the third round, collect the payoff, and settle the debt.
But in the world of crooked bets and shifting loyalties, nothing goes as planned. Double-crosses, backroom deals, and a fight that refuses to stay fixed push Scalli, Tricia, and Mugsy into a desperate race to come up with the money before Malinowski returns… with more than just words.
Cast
Real life wrestlers Peaches Page and Rita Martinez, as well as former world champion Clara Mortensen, play fictional versions of themselves.
- Peaches Page as Peaches Page
- Timothy Farrell as Umberto Scalli
- Clara Mortensen as Clara Mortensen, world champion
- Rita Martínez as Rita Martinez, champion of Mexico
- Muriel Gardner as Ruby McKenzie
- Tricia Pettitt as Tricia Petmeplease, tag team champion
- Don Ferrara as Joe the Jockey
- Matt Douglas as Ronnie, a mobster
- Paul Merton as Monk, a book-keeper
- Eric Schenk as Mugsy, fight fixer
- Matt Malinowski as Long Haired Enforcer
- Bruce Spencer as Eddie, a gangster
- Tony Zarro as Lefty, a mobster
- Mary Jean Walker as Jackie, a bookie
- William Lamont as Senate investigator
- Phil Bernard as Mr. Big, the gang leader
- Jimmy Lennon Sr. as Jimmy Lennon
- Phil Solomon as Phil Solomon, a referee
Production
The film was produced by George Weiss and Arena Productions, a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer-based company headed by Norman Felton.[1]
Derived works
The film was the subject of a 1994 episode of the sixth season of the movie-mocking show Mystery Science Theater 3000.[2]
References
- ^ Barnes, Mike (July 5, 2012). "Norman Felton, Co-Creator of The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Dies at 99". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
- ^ "Mystery Science Theater 3000—Season 6—Episode 16—Racket Girls". TV.com. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
External links
- Racket Girls at IMDb