DVD: www.amazon.com thefilmarchived.blogspot.com The Beatniks is a 1960 American film directed by Paul Frees. It was also featured on the movie-mocking program Mystery Science Theater 3000. Eddy Crane is the leader of a gang that robs small businesses for petty cash. At one point his gang accosts the broken-down car of a music business executive, Harry Bayliss. Afterwards Bayliss wishes to call a tow truck, so he goes into the eatery where Eddy’s gang is celebrating. Bayliss overhears Eddy singing to the juke box and offers him a chance to audition for his variety program. Eddy accepts, passes his audition, and is given a spot on television. Eddy sings a two-minute song that is apparently stupendously successful, with Bayliss calling Eddy an ‘overnight sensation’ and prophesying an astounding rise to fame, complete with a hit record, ‘a guest spot on every top show,’ and eventually culminating with ‘The Eddy Crane Show.’ Atop Eddy’s newfound success, he also immediately begins making advances at Bayliss’s secretary, Helen Tracy, in preference over his long-suffering girlfriend, Iris. The specter of Eddy’s stardom raises dissension among his gang, who wish either to accompany him unquestionably on his ascent, or to hold him back in their ranks. Iris is also jealous of Helen, with whom Eddy has been carrying on an affair. Helen eventually professes her love for Eddy. But one of Eddy’s gang members, Moon, commits a murder, threatening to drag Eddy down by association. Moon …