| George Raft | |
|---|---|
 from Invisible Stripes (1939) |
|
| Born | George Ranft September 26, 1895 New York City, New York |
| Died | November 24, 1980 (aged 85) Los Angeles, California |
| Years active | 1929 - 1980 |
George Raft (26 September 1895[1] – 24 November 1980) was an American film actor most closely identified with his portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. Invisible Stripes is a 1939 film about a gangster unable to go straight after returning home from prison Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Year 1895 ( MDCCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The City of New York Events 380 - Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Events The days of the Silent film were numbered A mad scramble to provide synchronized sound was on The year 1980 in film involved some significant events Events April 30 - The Roger Daltrey film McVicar, opens Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Year 1895 ( MDCCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 380 - Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works For other uses see Gangsta. A gangster is a criminal who is or at some point almost invariably becomes a member of a persistent violent In the sociological field, crime is the breach of a rule or Law for which some governing authority or force may ultimately prescribe a Punishment Melodrama refers to theatre in which music is used to increase the spectator's emotional response or to suggest character types The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression. The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949 Events and trends The 1940s was a period between the radical 1930s and the conservative 1950s which also leads the period to be
Contents |
Biography
Early life
Raft was born George Ranft (according to the 1910 census) in Washington Heights, New York City to German immigrant Conrad Ranft and his wife Eva Glockner. Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. The City of New York The German people (Deutsche are an Ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, descent and speaking the German language as Raft quickly adopted the "tough guy" persona that he would later use in his films. [2]
Career
Initially interested in dancing, as a young man he showed great aptitude, and this, combined with his elegant fashion sense, allowed him to work as a dancer in some of New York City's most fashionable nightclubs. He became part of the stage act of Texas Guinan and his success led him to Broadway where he again worked as a dancer. Mary Louise Cecilia "Texas" Guinan ( January 12, 1884 &ndash November 5, 1933) was a saloon keeper actress and Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located He worked in London as a chorus boy at some time in the early 20s. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.
Vi Kearney, later to be a star dancer in shows for Charles Cochran and Andre Charlot, was quoted as saying:
"Oh yes, I knew him (George Raft). We were in a big show together. Sometimes, to eke out our miserable pay, we'd do a dance act after the show at a club and we'd have to walk back home because all the buses had stopped for the night by that time. He'd tell me how he was going to be a big star one day and once he said that when he'd made it how he'd make sure to arrange a Hollywood contract for me. I just laughed and said: 'Come on, Georgie, stop dreaming. We're both in the chorus and you know it. ' [Did he arrange the contract?] Yes. But by that time I'd decided to marry. . . [Was he (Raft) ever your boyfriend?] How many times do I have to tell you . . . chorus girls don't go out with chorus boys. "
In the early 1930s Tallulah Bankhead nearly died following a 5-hour hysterectomy for an advanced case of gonorrhea she claimed she got from Raft. Tallulah Brockman Bankhead ( January 31, 1902 – December 12, 1968) was an American Actress, talk-show host and A hysterectomy (from Greek hystera "womb" is the surgical removal of the Uterus, usually performed by a gynecologist. Gonorrhea (also gonorrhoea) caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is a common Sexually transmitted disease. Only 70 pounds when she was able to leave the hospital, she stoically said to her doctor, "Don't think this has taught me a lesson!"
In 1929 Raft moved to Hollywood and took small roles. His success came in Scarface (1932), and Raft's convincing portrayal led to speculation that Raft himself was a gangster. This article is about the 1932 film For the 1983 remake see Scarface. He was a close friend of several top organized crime figures, including Bugsy Siegel, Owney Madden and Siegel's suspected killer, Meyer Lansky. Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel Owney "The Killer" Madden ( December 18, 1891 - April 24, 1965) was a leading underworld figure in Manhattan, most notable Meyer Lansky (born Majer Suchowliński, July 4, 1902 &ndash January 15, 1983) was a gangster who with Charles Raft was considered one of Hollywood's most dapper and stylish dressers and he achieved a level of celebrity not entirely commensurate with the quality or popularity of his films; Raft became a pop culture icon in the 1930s matched by few other film stars.
He was definitely one of the three most popular gangster actors of the 1930s, along with James Cagney and Edward G. Robinson (Humphrey Bogart never matched Raft's stardom during that decade). James Francis Cagney Jr ( July 17, 1899 &ndash March 30, 1986) was an Academy Award -winning American Film Edward Goldenberg Robinson Sr (born Emanuel Goldenberg; Yiddish: עמנואל גאלדנבערג December 12 1893 &ndash January Raft and Cagney worked together in Each Dawn I Die (1939) as fellow convicts in prison. Each Dawn I Die is a 1939 gangster film featuring James Cagney and George Raft in their only movie together as leads although Raft His 1932 film Night After Night launched the movie career of Mae West with a supporting part as well as providing Raft's first leading role (Raft and West would die within two days of each other 48 years later and their corpses would wind up in the same morgue at the same time. Night After Night is a 1932 Paramount Pictures drama motion picture starring George Raft, Constance Cummings Mae West (August 17 1893 &ndash November 22 1980 was an American actress, Playwright, Screenwriter, and Sex symbol. ) Raft appeared the following year in Raoul Walsh's turn of the century period piece The Bowery as Steve Brodie, the first man to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge and survive, with Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, Fay Wray, and Pert Kelton. Raoul Walsh (born March 11, 1887 in New York City, died December 31, 1980 in Simi Valley CA) was an American The Bowery is a 1933 Historical film about the Lower East Side of Manhattan at the turn of the century Steve Brodie (1863–1901 was an American Bookmaker from Brooklyn who claimed to have jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge and survived on July 23 Wallace Beery ( April 1, 1885 – April 15, 1949) was an American Academy Award -winning actor arguably best known Jackie Cooper (born September 15 1922 is an American Academy Award -nominated Actor, Emmy Award -winning TV director, and TV Vina Fay Wray ( September 15, 1907 &ndash August 8, 2004) was a Canadian &ndash American actress and the first Pert Kelton ( October 14 1907 &ndash October 30 1968) was an American vaudeville movie radio and television actress who portrayed the
Some of his other popular films include If I Had A Million (1932), in which he played a forger hiding from police, suddenly given a million dollars with no place to cash the check, Bolero (1934; a rare role as a dancer rather than a gangster), Dashiell Hammett's The Glass Key (1935) (remade in 1942 with Alan Ladd in Raft's role), Souls at Sea (1937) with Gary Cooper, two with Humphrey Bogart: Invisible Stripes (1939) and They Drive by Night (1940), each with Bogart in supporting roles, and Manpower (1941) with Edward G. Robinson and Marlene Dietrich (the memorable posters said, "Robinson - He's mad about Dietrich. If I Had a Million is an American film released by Paramount Studios in 1932 starring Gary Cooper, Charles Laughton, Bolero is a 1934 film starring George Raft and Carole Lombard. Samuel Dashiell Hammett ( May 27, 1894 — January 10, 1961) was an American Author of Hardboiled detective The Glass Key is the first of two Film adaptations of the classic suspense novel The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett. Alan Walbridge Ladd ( September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American film Actor. Souls at Sea is a 1937 seafaring film starring Gary Cooper and George Raft. Frank James “Gary” Cooper (May 7 &ndashMay 13) was an American film actor and iconic star Invisible Stripes is a 1939 film about a gangster unable to go straight after returning home from prison For the 1938 film see They Drive by Night (1938 film They Drive by Night is a 1940 film starring George Raft Manpower is a 1941 film about power company linemen starring Edward G Edward Goldenberg Robinson Sr (born Emanuel Goldenberg; Yiddish: עמנואל גאלדנבערג December 12 1893 &ndash January Marlene Dietrich maɐˈleːnə ˈdiːtrɪç (December 27 &ndashMay 6) was a German -born American Actress, Singer and Entertainer Dietrich - She's mad about Raft. Raft - He's mad about the whole thing"). Although Raft received third billing in Manpower, he actually played the film's lead.
1940-41 proved to be Raft's career height. He went into a period of decline over the next decade and achieved an unenviable place in Hollywood folklore as the actor who turned down some of the best roles in screen history, most notably High Sierra (he supposedly didn't want to die at the end) and The Maltese Falcon (he didn't want to remake the superb 1931 pre-code version of The Maltese Falcon with a rookie director); both roles transformed Humphrey Bogart from a supporting player into a major force in Hollywood in 1941. High Sierra ( 1941) is an early Heist film and Film noir written by John Huston and W The Maltese Falcon is a 1930 Detective novel by Dashiell Hammett, originally serialized in the magazine " Black Mask " The Maltese Falcon is a 1931 Warner Bros Crime film based on the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett. Raft was also reported to have turned down Bogart's role in Casablanca (1942), although this story is probably apocryphal. Casablanca ( is an American Romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and
Approached by director Billy Wilder, he refused the lead role in Double Indemnity (1944), which led to the casting of Fred MacMurray in a towering classic that would have undoubtedly revived Raft's career. Billy Wilder ( June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an Austrian born Jewish - American Journalist Double Indemnity ( 1944) is an Academy Award nominated Film noir starring Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward Frederick Martin MacMurray ( August 30, 1908 &ndash November 5, 1991) was an American Actor who appeared in over one His lack of judgment (probably grounded in the fact that he was more or less illiterate, which made judging scripts even more problematic than usual), combined with the public's growing distaste for his apparent gangster lifestyle, effectively ended his career as a leading man in mainstream movies.
(photograph by Alan Light)
He satirized his gangster image with a well-received performance in Some Like it Hot (1959), but this did not lead to a comeback (probably due to his age by that point) despite being billed fourth under Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon in a comedy classic, and he spent the remainder of the decade making films in Europe. Judy Canova ( November 20, 1913 &ndash August 5, 1983) was an American comedienne actress singer and radio personality Some Like It Hot is a 1959 Comedy film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson, June 1 1926 &ndash August 5 1962 baptized Norma Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz June 3, 1925) is an American film actor John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III (February 8 1925 &ndash June 27 2001 was an American Actor known principally for his comedic roles He played a small role as a casino owner in Ocean's Eleven (1960) opposite the Rat Pack. Ocean's Eleven (or Ocean's 11) is a 1960 Heist film directed by Lewis Milestone and starring five Rat Packers Frank The Rat Pack was a group of popular entertainers most active between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s His final film appearances were in Sextette (1978) with Mae West in an amusing cameo (West: "Why George Raft, I haven't seen you in 20 years. Sextette is a 1978 Crown International comedy / musical motion picture starring Mae West. Mae West (August 17 1893 &ndash November 22 1980 was an American actress, Playwright, Screenwriter, and Sex symbol. What have you been doing?" Raft: "Oh, about 20 years!") and The Man with Bogart's Face (1980).
Fred Astaire, in his autobiography Steps in Time (1959), mentions that Raft was a lightning-fast hoofer. Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 &ndash June 22, 1987) was an American Academy Award
Death
Raft died from leukemia, aged 85, in Los Angeles, California on November 24th, 1980 and was interred in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. Leukemia or leukaemia (Greek leukos λευκός, "white" aima αίμα, "blood" is a Cancer of the Blood Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery is part of the Forest Lawn chain of Southern California cemeteries Only two days before, his old co-star Mae West had died. Mae West (August 17 1893 &ndash November 22 1980 was an American actress, Playwright, Screenwriter, and Sex symbol. Their bodies were at the same mortuary at the same time for an eerie posthumous reunion.
Personal life
Ray Danton played Raft in The George Raft Story (1961). Ray Danton ( September 19, 1931, New York City New York – February 11, 1992, Los Angeles California) also known as
In the 1991 biographical movie Bugsy, the character of George Raft was played by Joe Mantegna. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Bugsy is a 1991 film which tells the story of mobster Bugsy Siegel. Joseph Anthony “Joe” Mantegna Jr (born November 13, 1947) is an American Tony Award -winning Actor, producer,
George Raft has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to Motion Pictures, at 6150 Hollywood Boulevard, and for Television at 1500 Vine St. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a Sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood Los Angeles California, USA, that
Selected filmography
Footnotes
- ^ Raft was born in 1895, according to the 1910 U. Queen of the Night Clubs ( 1929) was a sound (All-Talking musical-drama film produced and released by Warner Bros Events The days of the Silent film were numbered A mad scramble to provide synchronized sound was on Gold Diggers of Broadway ( 1929) is a Warner Bros comedy/musical film which is historically important as the second Talkie (a term used early Side Street is a 1929 Black-and-white talking movie featuring the only screen teaming of all three Moore brothers ( Tom Moore, Owen Moore Quick Millions is a 1931 movie thriller directed by Rowland Brown Events Top grossing films Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff Ingagi, starring Sir Hubert Goldie is a 1931 Black-and-white Comedy film about a woman named Goldie portrayed by Jean Harlow, pursued by two sailors played Hush Money is a 1931 film featuring Joan Bennett, Hardie Albright, Owen Moore, Myrna Loy, and George Raft Palmy Days is a 1931 written by Eddie Cantor, Morrie Ryskind and David Freedman, directed by A Taxi! is a 1932 film starring James Cagney and Loretta Young. Events Katharine Hepburn 's film career begins Shirley Temple 's film career begins Disney released Flowers Dancers in the Dark is a 1932 film about a Taxi dancer ( Miriam Hopkins) a Big band leader ( Jack Oakie) and a gangster This article is about the 1932 film For the 1983 remake see Scarface. Night World is an outrageous 1932 Pre-Code Drama film featuring Lew Ayres, Mae Clarke, and Boris Karloff. Love Is a Racket ( UK title Such Things Happen) is a romantic comedy drama 1932 film starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr Madame Racketeer is a 1932 film featuring Alison Skipworth, Richard Bennett, and George Raft. Night After Night is a 1932 Paramount Pictures drama motion picture starring George Raft, Constance Cummings If I Had a Million is an American film released by Paramount Studios in 1932 starring Gary Cooper, Charles Laughton, Under Cover Man is a 1932 crime film starring George Raft and Nancy Carroll. Pick-Up is a 1933 crime film starring Sylvia Sidney and George Raft. Events British Film Institute founded March 2 - King Kong premieres in New York City. The Midnight Club is a 1933 crime film about a gang of London jewel thieves infiltrated by an undercover agent ( George Raft) The Bowery is a 1933 Historical film about the Lower East Side of Manhattan at the turn of the century All of Me is a 1934 Drama film starring Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, and George Raft. Events January 26 - Samuel Goldwyn (formerly of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) purchases the film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Bolero is a 1934 film starring George Raft and Carole Lombard. The Trumpet Blows is a 1934 Film directed by Stephen Roberts featuring George Raft as a Mexican Matador, Adolphe Limehouse Blues (also known as East End Chant) is a 1934 crime film set in London 's Chinese district and starring Rumba is a 1935 film starring George Raft as a Cuban dancer and Carole Lombard as a Manhattan socialite Events Judy Garland signs a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM Stolen Harmony is a 1935 film about a saxophone-player/dancer ( George Raft) who joins a Big Band upon his release from jail The Glass Key is the first of two Film adaptations of the classic suspense novel The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett. Every Night at Eight is a 1935 comedy musical film starring George Raft and Alice Faye and made by Walter Wanger Productions Inc She Couldn't Take It is a 1935 comedy film made by Columbia Pictures directed by Tay Garnett, written by C It Had to Happen is a 1936 film starring George Raft and Rosalind Russell. The year 1936 in film involved some significant events Events Nov 6 - first Porky Pig animated cartoon Yours for the Asking is a 1936 film starring George Raft as a casino owner and Dolores Costello (the grandmother of Drew Barrymore Souls at Sea is a 1937 seafaring film starring Gary Cooper and George Raft. The year 1937 in film involved some significant events Events April 16 - Way Out West premieres in You and Me is a 1938 film by Fritz Lang. Sylvia Sidney and George Raft play a pair of criminals on parole and working in a department The year 1938 in film involved some significant events Events January &mdash MGM announces that Judy Garland Spawn of the North is a 1938 film about rival fishermen in Alaska starring George Raft, Henry Fonda, and John Barrymore. The Lady's from Kentucky is a 1939 film starring George Raft and Ellen Drew. The year 1939 in film involved some significant events Events Movie historians and film buffs often look back on the year 1939 as "the Each Dawn I Die is a 1939 gangster film featuring James Cagney and George Raft in their only movie together as leads although Raft I Stole a Million ( 1939) is a crime drama film starring George Raft as a cab driver and small-time crook who makes a big score and lives to regret it Invisible Stripes is a 1939 film about a gangster unable to go straight after returning home from prison The House Across the Bay is a film directed by Archie Mayo, produced by Walter Wanger, written by Myles Connolly and Kathryn Scola and released by The year 1940 in film involved some significant events Events February 7 - Walt Disney 's animated Film For the 1938 film see They Drive by Night (1938 film They Drive by Night is a 1940 film starring George Raft Manpower is a 1941 film about power company linemen starring Edward G The year 1941 in film involved some significant events in particular the release of a film consistently rated as one of the greatest films of all time Broadway is a 1942 film about Broadway theatre with George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Janet Blair, Broderick Crawford The year 1942 in film involved some significant events in particular the release of a film consistently rated as one of the greatest films of all time Stage Door Canteen ( 1943) is a Musical film produced by Sol Lesser Productions and distributed by United Artists. The year 1943 in film involved some significant events Events Top grossing films (U Background to Danger is a 1943 film starring George Raft, Brenda Marshall, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre. Follow the Boys ( 1944) also known as Three Cheers for the Boys, is a Musical film made by Universal Pictures as an all-star The year 1944 in film involved some significant events Events July 20 - Since You Went Away is released Nob Hill is a 1945 Technicolor film about a Barbary Coast saloon keeper starring George Raft and Joan Bennett. The year 1945 in film involved some significant events Events Paramount Studios releases theatrical short Cartoon Johnny Angel ( 1945) is a Film noir directed by Edwin L Marin, written by Frank Gruber and Steve Fisher from the novel Mr Whistle Stop is a 1946 movie starring George Raft and Ava Gardner. The year 1946 in film involved some significant events Events Top grossing films (U Mr Ace is a 1946 film about a society woman ( Sylvia Sidney) who taps a gangster ( George Raft) for his political support Nocturne ( 1946) is a Black-and-white Film noir starring George Raft and Lynn Bari. Red Light is a 1949 crime film considered Film noir, shot on location in California A Dangerous Profession ( 1949) is a American Crime Film noir directed by Ted Tetzlaff and written by Warren The year 1949 in film involved some significant events Events Top grossing films (U What's My Line? is a weekly panel Game show which was produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS Rogue Cop ( 1954) is a Film noir directed by Roy Rowland and based on the novel by William P The year 1954 in film involved some significant events Events May 12 - The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx The year 1956 in film involved some significant events Events August 4 - The last film serial Blazing the Overland Some Like It Hot is a 1959 Comedy film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack The year 1959 in film involved some significant events Events The Three Stooges make their 180th and last short film Ocean's Eleven (or Ocean's 11) is a 1960 Heist film directed by Lewis Milestone and starring five Rat Packers Frank The year 1960 in film involved some significant events Events April 20 - for the first time since coming home from military The Ladies Man is a Comedy film directed by and starring Jerry Lewis. The year 1961 in film involved some significant events Events Last Year at Marienbad ( L'année dernière The Patsy is a 1964 film directed by and starring Jerry Lewis. The year 1964 in film involved some significant events Events January 29 - The film Dr Casino Royale is a 1967 epic surrealistic Satire originally produced by Columbia Pictures starring an Ensemble cast The year 1967 in film involved some significant events It is widely considered as one of the most ground-breaking years in film Skidoo is a 1968 Comedy film directed by Otto Preminger, written by Doran William Cannon and released by Paramount Pictures The year 1968 in film involved some significant events Events October 30 - The film The Lion in Winter Sextette is a 1978 Crown International comedy / musical motion picture starring Mae West. The year 1978 in film involved some significant events Top grossing films (U S. Census. At Ancestry. com
- ^ [1] "Raft was born George Ranft in Hell's Kitchen, New York City to Conrad Ranft (a German immigrant). He quickly adopted the "tough guy" persona that he would later use in his films. "
Further reading
- Beaver, Jim. James Norman Beaver Jr (born August 12, 1950) is an American stage film and television actor a playwright screenwriter and film historian who uses George Raft. Films in Review, April, 1978.
- Lewis, Brad. Hollywood's Celebrity Gangster. The Incredible Life and Times of Mickey Cohen. Enigma Books: New York, 2007. ISBN 978-1-929631-65-0
- Parish, James Robert. The George Raft File: The Unauthorized Biography. New York: Drake Publishers, 1973. ISBN 0877495203
- Yablonsky, Lewis. George Raft. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co. , 1974. ISBN 0070722358
External links
- George Raft at the Internet Movie Database
- George Raft at the TCM Movie Database
- George Raft at Find A Grave
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Raft, George |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ranft, George |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1895-9-26 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | New York City, New York |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1980-11-24 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Los Angeles, California |
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