Streetwalkin'

Streetwalkin' is a 1985 American thriller film starring Melissa Leo in her film debut. It was an early film from Concorde Pictures.^[1]

Streetwalkin'
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Joan Freeman
Written by	Robert Alden Joan Freeman
Produced by	Robert Alden executive Roger Corman
Starring	Melissa Leo Dale Midkiff Julie Newmar
Cinematography	Steven Fierberg
Edited by	John K. Adams Patrick Rand
Music by	Matthew Ender Doug Timm
Production company	Rodeo
Distributed by	Concorde Pictures
Release date	20 September 1985 (1985-09-20)
Country	United States
Language	English

A remake was made in 1991 called Uncaged starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan. This movie is a virtual scene for scene remake of "Streetwalkin' and it also includes some of the cast from the original one.

Plot

Cookie and her brother run away from their loveless mother and their abusive stepfather in Upstate New York and arrive in New York City. At the train station, Cookie meets a pimp named Duke. With his charm, he makes her fall in love with him and soon has her working as a prostitute. However, his brutality against her colleagues disgusts her.

Cast

• Melissa Leo as "Cookie"
• Dale Midkiff as "Duke"
• Leon Robinson as Jason
• Antonio Fargas as Finesse
• Julie Newmar as "Queen Bee"
• Randall Batinkoff as Tim
• Annie Golden as Phoebe
• Deborah Offner as Heather
• Khandi Alexander as "Star"
• Greg Germann as "Creepy"
• Kirk Taylor as "Spade"
• Samantha Fox as Topless Dancer
• Conrad Roberts as Seller
• Tom Wright as Henchman #1
• Daniel Jordano as Henchman #2
• Gary Howard Klar as Bouncer
• Kim Chan as Desk Clerk

Production

Freeman was a documentary filmmaker who wanted to move into dramatic features. She approached Roger Corman seeking finance for a film she wanted to make about vice. Corman was reluctant so she and her husband wrote a short film for Freeman to direct: Brainwash, about a girl kidnapped by a cult. Corman was impressed and agreed to make Streetwalkin.^[2]

Corman agreed to let Freeman shoot the film on location in New York - this was the first time he had done so. He called the movie "an honest look at prostitution. It's wrong, it's not glamorous. It's a dirty, dangerous business."^[2]

The film was shot over 24 nights in June 1984.^[3]

Reception

It was one of the first eight films distributed by Corman's new company, Concorde Pictures, along with The Devastator, Naked Vengeance, Wheels of Fire, Loose Screws (Screwballs II), School Spirit, Barbarian Queen, and Wizards of the Lost Kingdom.^[4] It was the first film released by Concorde in collaboration with Cinema Group.^[2]

Critical

The film screened out of competition at the Berlin Film Festival.^[2]

The Los Angeles Times said, "a feature debut could scarcely be more cynical."^[5]