Walk on the Wild Side

In the midst of the Great Depression, Dove Linkhorn and Kitty Tristram meet on a Texas road and decide to travel together toward New Orleans. They hitchhike and hop freight trains, driven by Dove's search for his lost love Hallie Gerard. Dove remains distant when Kitty makes a pass at him, setting up a tense, uneasy partnership.

They continue their journey toward New Orleans, relying on luck and shared needs. Dove stays focused on Hallie, while Kitty's advances persist but are rebuffed. This road-bound partnership drives the film's early dynamics as they press on together.

At a meal stop near New Orleans, Kitty steals from a local café. Dove leaves her behind and seeks to reconcile with the café owner, Teresina Vidaverri. This incident marks a shift from wandering travelers to ties formed in the city.

Teresina hires Dove to work at the café and offers him a place to stay while he searches for Hallie. Her hospitality provides a safe base of operations amid the search. Dove begins to settle into a more stable life in New Orleans, at least temporarily.

Dove locates Hallie working at the Doll House, an upscale French Quarter bordello. Jo Courtney runs the establishment as madam and becomes central to the film’s conflicts. Hallie remains entangled in the life there, complicating Dove’s quest to reach her.

Jo's husband lost his legs in an accident, and Jo's interest in him wanes. A suggested lesbian relationship between Jo and Hallie is depicted, with Jo supporting Hallie's sculpting ambitions. Yet Hallie continues to work as a prostitute at the bordello, illustrating the compromises she faces.

Despite Dove's proposal, Hallie is unhappy with life at Jo's and does not want to surrender the comforts for marriage. Her decision is complicated by the risks and costs of leaving the bordello. The tension between romance, security, and independence weighs heavily on her.

Jo bails Kitty out of jail for vagrancy, and Kitty begins working at the bordello. Jo questions Kitty about her past and learns she traveled with Dove from Texas to Louisiana. This knowledge tightens Jo’s control and foreshadows trouble for Dove and Hallie.

Jo threatens Dove with arrest for transporting the underage Kitty across state lines for immoral purposes and potential statutory rape unless he leaves New Orleans without Hallie. The confrontation shows Jo’s willingness to weaponize law and leverage against him. Dove leaves the bordello under intense pressure.

As Dove exits, the bouncer, bartender, and Jo's husband beat him viciously while Kitty watches from upstairs. The attack underscores the peril surrounding anyone who challenges Jo’s operation. Dove’s resolve to find Hallie is driven into sharper relief by the violence.

Kitty helps Dove back to the café, where Teresina takes care of him. The café becomes a refuge and a new base for continuing the search for Hallie. Teresina’s kindness contrasts with the bordello’s coercive power.

Kitty returns to the bordello to fetch Hallie and helps her reach the café. Their movement highlights the precariousness of Hallie’s position and the effort to keep her connected to Dove. The plan to reunite the lovers becomes more fragile as tensions rise.

When Hallie cannot be found at the bordello, Kitty is suspected and pressured. She brings Jo and her three henchmen to the café, escalating the struggle. The search for Hallie intensifies as the situation spirals toward violence.

During the chaotic confrontation at the café, Hallie is shot and killed by a stray bullet. Kitty testifies, leading to the conviction of Jo and several others. The tragedy and courtroom outcomes mark a grim culmination of the film’s conflicts.