In his youth, he showed a great interest in, and aptitude for. 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. He was born george ranft, and was the son of eva glockner and conrad ranft, a department store deliveryman. He was portrayed by ray danton in the biopic the george raft story 1961. The film was directed by william wyler, who would tap bogart late in his career for the lead role in the desperate hours. In essence, its a far better title than the george raft story, particularly if you have zero clue who raft is. He had an acting career that spanned from the 1920s to 1980, and gained a reputation as one of hollywoods best dressed actors. Raft was certainly keen to play the role, especially after having seen how his rejection of the lead parts in both high sierra and the maltese falcon had raised. 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 signed with warner brothers in 1939 as part of their murders row. George raft september 26, 1895 november 24, 1980 was an american film actor and dancer who famously portrayed gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. Stone wallace on george raft part 1 in 1999 when the afi released their 100 years100 stars list of the top 50 greatest screen legends, most mainstream leading ladies and men were accounted for.
Overview of the george raft story, 1961, directed by joseph m. Kenny manages to clean up his act and win mary back, only to be framed for murder by her jealous suitor. George raft 26 september 18951 24 november 1980 was an american film actor most closely identified with his portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. Oct 04, 2012 promotional still of george raft and ava gardner in whistle stop 1946 directed by leonide moguy whistle stop. Ray danton played raft in the george raft story 1961, which costarred jayne mansfield. Jan 10, 2012 george and carole lombard one of many actresses he was intimate with. It is enormously readable and comes highly recommended. His suits, always immaculately knifeedge creased, had trousers with the highest waistlines in town. His career slides downhill until he is offered a part in some like it hot and becomes famous again. George raft was an american film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. 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. The cast also includes jayne mansfield, barrie chase, julie london, neville brand and frank gorshin. The george raft story 1961 journeys in classic film. With ray danton, jayne mansfield, julie london, barrie chase.
Raft was born george ranft 1902 according to census, in washington heights 163rd st. Ray danton plays the title role in director joseph m. The actor was best known as the original scarface of the 1930s, and was typecast in gangster roles. The george raft story is a 1961 american biographical film of hollywood film star george raft. 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. A story of love and intrigue in a small railroad town. Released 1961, the george raft story stars raydanton, jaynemansfield, julielondon, barriechase the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 46 min.
Kenny manages to clean up his act and win mary back, only to. 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. Then he goes to hollywood where he eventually finds fame in the film scarface and gets typecast as a gangster. George raft september 26, 1895 november 24, 1980 was an american film actor most closely identified with his portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s born george ranft in hells kitchen, new york city, he quickly adopted the tough guy persona that he would later use in his films. Bolero a big hit for paramount in early 1934, including a scene where carole dances in lingerie and stockings. Before acting, he started off as a prizefighting boxer, then moved on to dancing both on broadway theatre and in prohibitionera nightclubs.
The george raft story 1961 a broadway dancer ray danton goes to hollywood and begins his movie career as a gangster in scarface. Ray danton portrays raft and the film was directed by joseph m. 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. In 1939, raft and bogart made a forgettable film called invisible stripes. Famed for tossing a coin in the howard hawks classic scarface 1932, george raft also claimed to have met the real al capone. Raft s reallife association with new york gangsters gave his. 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 was born in hells kitchen, new york city, new york in september 1901 and passed. George and carole lombard one of many actresses he was intimate with. It will satisfy the ardent film buff as well as the general viewer who is curious to know more about rafts film career. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, today raft is. 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. George raft was an american film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s was born on september 26, 1901. Coming attractions for you 2020s most anticipated movies.
You can see raft dance in the 1932 cagney film taxi. 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. Tbt how george raft made humphrey bogart a star almost. George raft biography, movie highlights and photos. Newmans 1961 film biography of the nightclub dancerturnedmovie star. It was part of a deep rooted psyche of not wanting to be identified in the publics mind for his criminal associations. As soon as the creature takes laverne, randy makes a swim for shore and is quickly pursued. Film adaptation 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. George raft celebrity profile check out the latest george raft photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. The george raft story 1961 stream and watch online. George raft september 26, 1895 november 24, 1980 was an american film actor most closely identified with his portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. Dec, 2011 you can see raft dance in the 1932 cagney film taxi. 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. In the 1991 biographical movie bugsy, the character of george raft was played by joe mantegna.
Newman, with ray danton, jayne mansfield, julie london, at turner classic movies. May 26, 20 in essence, its a far better title than the george raft story, particularly if you have zero clue who raft is. George raft was instrumental in the development of the character of the hardboiled gangster, a character that became a standard. Lombard reportedly told close friends that raft was, in the bedroom sense, the best lover she ever had made two dance films together. Born george ranft in hells kitchen, new york city, he quickly adopted the tough guy persona that he would later use in his films. Most of his film appearances after 1960 were cameos. 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. In the mid 60s he was denied entry into england where he managed a highclass gambling club due to his underworld associations. Initially interested in dancing, as a young man he showed great. Aug 31, 20 not many actors in hollywoods history have lived as notorious a life as george raft the subject of scarface. Raft spent his childhood in the tough hells kitchen area of new york, then left home at. Marin, george raft, june havoc, helena carter, adventure, crime, drama, filmnoir september 25, 2017 adventure, crime, drama, filmnoir dishonorably discharged from the army air corps, brad dunham george raft disconsolately decides to try his luck with shanghais postwar black market.
The article that disclosed secret affairs reel hollywood. Another sanibel sunset detective the latest tree callister adventure is now available on kindle. Before george and virginia teamed up as a tight little twosome, george gloried in flashy, extremelycut clothes. The strange ron bases acclaimed fantasy adventure is available for download at a troubled boy. Dancer george raft ray danton finds himself involved with the criminal underworld. Tbt how george raft made humphrey bogart a star almost holmes. George raft was born and grew up in a poor family in hells kitchen, at the time one of the. George raft was a film actor identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. The george raft story letterboxd social film discovery.
There is a legendary story still extant today that george raft turned down the role of rick blaine in the most enduringly popular movie in cinema history casablanca 1942. Raft was certainly keen to play the role, especially after having seen how his rejection of the lead parts in. Brian vallees life with billy finally, brian vallees bestselling classic of a womans fight to save her life is. He eventually made it to broadway, then went to hollywood in the late 20s. He went on to be a prizefighter, ballroom dancer, and taxidriver, meanwhile maintaining close contacts with new yorks gangster underworld.
Mar 29, 2016 george raft was an american film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s was born on september 26, 1901. The george raft story 1961 the movie database tmdb. The careers of bogart and raft would be inextricably linked for the next three years and by 1943, bogart was the biggest star in hollywood and raft was reduced to making a movie that attempted to copy the success of a bogart film. 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 figures. 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. This actionfilled drama tells the story of this incredible man from his humble. Nov 05, 2014 the film was directed by william wyler, who would tap bogart late in his career for the lead role in the desperate hours. At first considered a valentinolike romantic lead, raft. This wellresearched and informative reference book spares no efforts in describing and evaluating all of rafts surviving films from 1929 to 1980. Not many actors in hollywoods history have lived as notorious a life as george raft the subject of scarface. The george raft story 1961 approved 1h 46min biography, drama 22 november 1961 usa dancer george raft ray danton finds himself involved with the criminal underworld. He was one of the three most popular gangster actors, along with james cagney and edward g. This actionfilled drama tells the story of this incredible man from his humble beginnings as an exhibition dancer to his meeting. So, raft rejects a role and humphrey bogart takes it.
Raft himself, however, excoriated the film upon its release due to inaccuracies. George raft was instrumental in the development of the character of the hardboiled gangster, a character that became a standard of the american cinema for decades. In fact, he fit the type so well that his rather shady background became the object of endless speculation, and both the public and the studio refused to accept him in any but the. 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. 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. 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 trailer not too many people have had their life stories filmed while they were still alive, but george raft s life reads like a series of showbusiness plots. Jun 16, 2018 there is a legendary story still extant today that george raft turned down the role of rick blaine in the most enduringly popular movie in cinema history casablanca 1942. This actionfilled drama tells the story of this incredible man from his humble beginnings as an exhibition dancer to his meeting with al capone.
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