Handsome philosophy-spewing Ray Danton (as Stan Hess) says goodbye to his platinum blonde girlfriend and dons a suit to rape hula-hooping housewife Maggie Hayes (as Joyce Greenfield). After the assault, Mr. Danton hitches a ride with police detective Steve Cochran (as David "Dave" Culloran). Danton is called "The Aspirin Kid" due to his habit of asking his victims to fetch a glass of water so he can take the tablets for feigned headaches. The case is investigated by Mr. Cochran and his understanding partner Jackie Coogan (as Jake Baron)...
On the beach, Cochran finds his first suspect, jive-talking James "Jim" Mitchum (as Art Jester). The young son of Robert (Mitchum) turns out to be acquainted with Danton, who decides the policeman's wife would make a good rape victim. He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer...
Fay Spain (as Francee) is attacked after "Vampira" recites "beat poetry" while holding a white rat and cigarette. Thereafter, tightly-dressed Mamie van Doren (as Georgia Altera) figures prominently in the plot. "The Beat Generation" includes Cathy Lee Crosby, Charles Chaplin Jr. and other strange faces. Jazz legend Louis Armstrong performs and fatherly William Schallert preaches. The camera angles well and the conflict experienced by Cochran's misogynist detective is interesting, but the film is too lurid and unbalanced for its own good.
**** The Beat Generation (7/3/59) Charles Haas ~ Steve Cochran, Ray Danton, Mamie Van Doren, Fay Spain
On the beach, Cochran finds his first suspect, jive-talking James "Jim" Mitchum (as Art Jester). The young son of Robert (Mitchum) turns out to be acquainted with Danton, who decides the policeman's wife would make a good rape victim. He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer...
Fay Spain (as Francee) is attacked after "Vampira" recites "beat poetry" while holding a white rat and cigarette. Thereafter, tightly-dressed Mamie van Doren (as Georgia Altera) figures prominently in the plot. "The Beat Generation" includes Cathy Lee Crosby, Charles Chaplin Jr. and other strange faces. Jazz legend Louis Armstrong performs and fatherly William Schallert preaches. The camera angles well and the conflict experienced by Cochran's misogynist detective is interesting, but the film is too lurid and unbalanced for its own good.
**** The Beat Generation (7/3/59) Charles Haas ~ Steve Cochran, Ray Danton, Mamie Van Doren, Fay Spain