Muscle Beach (1948)

Muscle Beach (1948) poster

Muscle Beach was shown in competition at Cannes in 1949 and won a prize at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 1951. The short became a cult favorite, screening at film clubs around the world. Strick used an army surplus movie camera to shoot the film during weekends in the fall of 1948. The songs in “Muscle Beach,” composed and sung by political folk singer Earl Robinson, with lyrics by screenwriter and poet Edwin Rolfe, accent the film’s three-movement structure as it transitions between soaring gymnastics shows, flirty beachgoers and children playing near the now-demolished pier at Ocean Park. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2009.

Director: Irving Lerner, Joseph Strick
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 9 min
Release Date:

Screenplay

Music: Earl Robinson
Production: Strick Film Company
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Original Language: en
More Films by Director: Irving Lerner, Joseph Strick
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Muscle Beach about?
Muscle Beach was shown in competition at Cannes in 1949 and won a prize at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 1951. The short became a cult favorite, screening at film clubs around the world. Strick used an army surplus movie camera to shoot the film during weekends in the fall of 1948. The songs in “Muscle Beach,” composed and sung by political folk singer Earl Robinson, with lyrics by screenwriter and poet Edwin Rolfe, accent the film’s three-movement structure as it transitions between soaring gymnastics shows, flirty beachgoers and children playing near the now-demolished pier at Ocean Park. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2009.
Who directed Muscle Beach?
Muscle Beach was directed by Irving Lerner, Joseph Strick.
How long is Muscle Beach?
Muscle Beach has a runtime of 9m (9 minutes).
What genre is Muscle Beach?
Muscle Beach is a Documentary film.
Where was Muscle Beach produced?
Muscle Beach was produced in United States of America.