Hawks told me, the roll of the coin and then its falling still told the story of. George raft was instrumental in the development of the character of the hardboiled gangster, a character that became a standard of the american. Irving cummings finished directing the film and earned an oscar nomination for it. Lombard reportedly told close friends that raft was, in the bedroom sense, the best lover she ever had made two dance films together, bolero a big hit for paramount in early 1934, including a scene where carole dances in lingerie and stockings. This actionfilled drama tells the story of this incredible man from his humble beginnings as an exhibition dancer to his meeting with. The george raft story trailer not too many people have had their life stories filmed while they were still alive, but george rafts life reads like a series of showbusiness plots.
George raft biography, movie highlights and photos. He went on to be a prizefighter, ballroom dancer, and taxidriver, meanwhile maintaining close contacts with new yorks gangster underworld. George raft was born and grew up in a poor family in hells kitchen, at the time one of the roughest, meanest areas of new york city. This is an interesting biography of the actor known for his gangster roles in films, and though ray danton plays the part of george raft without. Married grayce mulrooney, 1923 separated 1923, died 1970. He eventually made it to broadway, then went to hollywood in the late 20s.
The raft was adapted to film as a segment of the 1987 horror anthology movie creepshow 2, directed by michael gornick from a screenplay by george a. In essence, its a far better title than the george raft story, particularly if you have zero clue who raft is. Douglas plots a return to national prominence by milking the story of a man. He was portrayed by ray danton in the biopic the george raft story 1961. The late entry the george raft story 1961 turns the formula inside out with the biopic of an actordancer who played gangsters in the movies and mixed with them in real life as well. The george raft story 1961 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. This is an interesting biography of the actor known for his gangster roles in films, and though ray danton plays the part of george raft without looking like him in the least, he is still convincing in his mannerisms. Brief descriptions and expanded essays of national film registry. A broadway dancer goes to hollywood and begins his movie career as a gangster in scarface. George raft is often held up to ridicule as an actor who single handedly put humphrey bogart on the road to stardom raft turned down roles in casablanca, high sierra and the maltese falcon for various reasons. As soon as the creature takes laverne, randy makes a swim for shore and is quickly pursued. This wellresearched and informative reference book spares no efforts in describing and evaluating all of rafts surviving films from 1929 to 1980. George and carole lombard one of many actresses he was intimate with.
It has many dance numbers, and can also be considered a musical. Another story, though, is that once george completed his business, he was. Brian vallees life with billy finally, brian vallees bestselling classic of a womans fight to save her life is available as an ebook. The bulk of the story is faithful to the short story, but the ending was changed for the film. Who can forget 1961 s allied artists production of the george raft story, costarring ray danton as raft and one jayne mansfield as his lover of the time, lisa lang. One of a large family brought up in the hells kitchen area of new york, george raft worked his way up from a hoofer in local dancehalls to broadway. September 26th, 1895 november 24th, 1980 george raft quick facts george raft pictures george raft quotations george raft trivia george raft videos george raft awards. The george raft story was made in 1961 and a character in francis ford coppolas cotton club was based on raft richard gere played that part.
The george raft story 1961 a broadway dancer ray danton goes to hollywood and begins his movie career as a gangster in scarface. Raft spent his childhood in the tough hells kitchen area of new york, then left home at. Other films released in 1934 were the pursuit of happiness, a period piece starring joan bennett, and the melodrama limehouse blues, with raft. Marin, george raft, june havoc, helena carter, adventure, crime, drama, film noir september 25, 2017 adventure, crime, drama, film noir dishonorably discharged from the army air corps, brad dunham george raft disconsolately decides to try his luck with shanghais postwar black market. This section contains any movie which is completely in black and white from old classics to newer ones such as schindlers list. The george raft story 1961 stream and watch online. Tbt how george raft made humphrey bogart a star almost holmes. Paul muni, ann dvorak, george raft the subtitle shame of the nation and a tagged on morality ending is evidence that, on its release, hawks fictionalisation of the al capone story hit a chord with the campaigners who thought the burst of gangster movies coming out of hollywood were too violent for their own good.
The george raft story, ray danton actor, allied artists, 1961, internet movie data base. Famed for tossing a coin in the howard hawks classic scarface 1932, george. Actor, gambler, fighter, dancer, lover and profligate raft had made the journey from childhood poverty to film opulence and back to near destruction with style and bravado. This is a contribution to the early hawks blogathon being hosted at ed howards only the cinema blog there are famous shootouts and violent episodes in the public enemy and little caesar. The cast also includes jayne mansfield, barrie chase, julie london, neville brand and frank gorshin. Tbt how george raft made humphrey bogart a star almost. For starters, george gets involved with the mob and goes to meet a throwaway ladylove played by julie london. The george raft story is a film directed by joseph m. Cast also includes jayne mansfield in a role loosely based on betty grable. He was one of the three most popular gangster actors, along with james cagney and edward g. George raft biography, movie highlights and photos allmovie. Ray danton plays the title role in director joseph m.
Released 1961, the george raft story stars raydanton, jaynemansfield, julielondon, barriechase the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 46 min, and received a score of out of 100 on metacritic. Filmography show list info george raft 1901 1980 was an american film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. September 26, 1901 november 24, 1980 was an american film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. George raft gave up being a gangster in real life for being a movie gangster. This is an interesting biography of the actor known for his gangster roles in films, and though ray danton plays the part of george raft without looking like him in the least, he is still. He lives with actress lisa lang jayne mansfield in a. George raft was an american film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. George raft was a film actor identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. The actor was best known as the original scarface of the 1930s, and was typecast in gangster roles. Newman, with ray danton, jayne mansfield, julie london, at turner classic movies. That conclusion is a philosophically complex film that has remained fresh and relevant. The george raft story 1961 the movie database tmdb.
This page will rank 61 george raft movies from best to worst in six different. At first considered a valentinolike romantic lead, raft. Dancer george raft ray danton finds himself involved with the criminal underworld. The george raft story 1961 changes the movie database. The picture was retitled spin of a coin for release in the united kingdom, a reference to rafts characters nickelflipping trick in scarface 1932, the film that launched rafts career as an actor known for portraying gangsters. George raft celebrity profile check out the latest george raft photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. He was born george ranft, and was the son of eva glockner and conrad ranft, a department store deliveryman. George raft, an entertainer and movie actor, was born on september 27, 1895, in new york. Buy or rent the george raft story movie now family video. The theatrical trailer for the george raft story 1961, starring ray danton as movie tough guy george raft 18951980. In his earlier days in new york, he was a dancer and speakeasy entertainer.
The sleek, goodlooking raft then appeared as spencer tracys henchman in quick millions and a succession of similar gangster roles followed including his famous portrayals of a. Marin, george raft, june havoc, helena carter, adventure, crime, drama, film noir september 25, 2017 adventure, crime, drama, film noir dishonorably discharged from the army air corps, brad dunham george raft disconsolately decides to. Newman with ray danton, jayne mansfield, julie london, barrie chase, year. This actionfilled drama tells the story of this incredible man from his humble beginnings as an exhibition dancer to his meeting with al capone. Trivia point raft is one of the few hollywood actors to have a movie based on his life filmed while he was still alive. It was part of a deep rooted psyche of not wanting to be identified in the publics mind for his criminal associations. Most of his film appearances after 1960 were cameos.
Still at paramount, he helmed one of shirley temples best showcases, little miss marker 1934. While no masterpiece, the george raft story is a lot of fun. Without getting into any indepth plumbing of the actors life, the story begins with the young raft making his way in new york as a dancer and rubbing shoulders with underworld. The george raft story 1961 journeys in classic film. Written and directed by george stoney, this landmark educational film was used to educate midwives throughout the south. The movie was released in the uk under the title spin of a coin, and thats what the imdb page lists it as. In the 1991 biographical movie bugsy, the character of george raft was played by joe mantegna. More people, though, may remember the song from the movie 10 where bo derek. It is enormously readable and comes highly recommended. The amounts of lengthy digressions become so tiresome that i lost interest in the movie entirely and never fully gained it back.
May 26, 20 after the first twenty minutes, the george raft story turns into everything but george rafts story. Dec, 2011 you can see raft dance in the 1932 cagney film taxi. Overview of the george raft story, 1961, directed by joseph m. Gangster film elements are also woven into the story, although the george raft story is not primarily a gangster film. The george raft story 1961 is a biopic about real life actordancer george raft. With ray danton, jayne mansfield, julie london, barrie chase. Not many actors in hollywoods history have lived as notorious a life as george raft the subject of scarface. In the mid 60s he was denied entry into england where he managed a highclass gambling club due to his underworld associations. It will satisfy the ardent film buff as well as the general viewer who is curious to know more about rafts film career. A ctor george raft established himself as a top movie gangster by casually flipping a halfdollar as paul muni shot him to death with a. A scene with the comedy team of pepper davis and tony reese from the 1961 film the george raft story. May 23, 2008 the theatrical trailer for the george raft story 1961, starring ray danton as movie tough guy george raft 18951980.
Today george raft is mostly known for his role in billy wilders 1959 comedy some like it hot and also scarface 1932, bolero 1934, and they drive by night 1940. Famed for tossing a coin in the howard hawks classic scarface 1932, george raft also claimed to have met the real al capone. Ray danton in the george raft story 1961 ray danton and jayne. The strange ron bases acclaimed fantasy adventure is available for download at a troubled boy. Oct 20, 2010 george raft was a film actor identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s.
George raft september 26, 1901 november 24, 1980 was an american film actor identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas mob films of the 1930s and 1940s. Xvid the switch to colour was a gradual process mostly taking place from the 1930s to the 1950s. After the first twenty minutes, the george raft story turns into everything but george rafts story. Another sanibel sunset detective the latest tree callister adventure is now available on kindle. Ray danton played raft in the george raft story 1961, which costarred jayne mansfield. Ray danton portrays raft and the film was directed by joseph m. I am glad i was finally able to get a george raft page completed per your request. Raft himself, however, excoriated the film upon its release due to inaccuracies. Another story, though, is that once george completed his business, he was playing bridge. Raft was born in new york city of immigrant german stock his surname at birth was ranft in either 1895, 1901 or 1903 take your pick since the record books are unclear on this. The picture was retitled spin of a coin for release in the united kingdom, a reference to raft s characters nickelflipping trick in scarface 1932, the film that launched raft s career as an actor known for portraying gangsters. In 1929 he made his film debut in queen of the nightclubs. Raft had a nice part in marilyn monroes some like it hot, with a stellar cast including marilyn monroe, jack lemmon and tony curtis. But id have to say they dont come anywhere near the relentless violence of howard hawks powerful gangster movie scarface.