Identikit and personal data name george last name raft pseudonym george raft born september 26, 1901 died november 24, 1980 gender. Delightful biopic is full of zippy dance numbers, with lively look at life of. Similar movies to the george raft story the artist hollywood, 1927. You and me 1938 film noir george raft and sylvia sydney directed by fritz lang. 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 and carole lombard one of many actresses he was intimate with. One writer, though, citing the 1910 census and the world war i draft board documents, says september 26.
You can see raft dance in the 1932 cagney film taxi. Outpost in morocco 1949 george raft video dailymotion. Most of his film appearances after 1960 were cameos. The story of temple drake may be a precode release, but dont forget that the film. This wellresearched and informative reference book spares no efforts in describing and evaluating all of rafts surviving films from 1929 to 1980. Newman, with ray danton, jayne mansfield, julie london, at turner classic movies.
The george raft story 1961 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Dancer george raft ray danton finds himself involved with the criminal underworld. In 19467 george had a lot of bad publicity because of his friendship with the gangster bugsy siegel and film historians chart the decline in rafts career as starting in the late forties with for example the 1949 outpost in morocco disappointing at the box office 54% rating from imdb and being the harbinger of a string of raft standalone. Jayne mansfield in the george raft story 1961 youtube. Join sign up keep track of your favorite shows and movies, across all your devices. Dancer george raft ray danton finds himself involved with the. If you do get a chance to see it youll see that she was very good.
With ray danton, jayne mansfield, julie london, barrie chase. Dancer george raft ray danton finds himself involved with the criminal. Yet the fact he had a hollywood life at all was, in rafts eyes, a tale of triumph over circumstance raft walking from vendome cafe in hollywood, 1933. In the early 1930s, george raft, an actor and dancer from new york citys hells kitchen, gained a name for himself playing stylish and charismatic gangsters in films like 1932s original scarface.
He eventually made it to broadway, then went to hollywood in the late 20s. 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. Red light is a 1949 american film noir crime film directed and produced by roy del ruth, starring george raft and virginia mayo, and based on the story this guy gideon by don red barry, featuring strong religious overtones. 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 full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. Robert florey glamorous film heroine marie windsor shines in this foreign legion extravaganza. This actionfilled drama tells the story of this incredible man from his humble beginnings as an exhibition dancer to his meeting with al capone. George raft biography, movie highlights and photos. George raft, ella raines, pat obrien, jim backus, and bill williams star in a dangerous profession, a 1949 film directed by ted tetzlaff. George ranft yes, thats ra n ft was born in new york city in 1895, 1896, 1898, 1900, 1901, or 1903 depending on whos telling the story george himself changed the date at times. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, family life, career, and achievements. Whether george raft or frank sinatra was more often linked with the mafia is a tough call. Ray danton plays the title role in director joseph m.
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. In the 1991 biographical movie bugsy, the character of george raft was played by joe mantegna. 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. It will satisfy the ardent film buff as well as the general viewer who is curious to know more about rafts film career. Nice guy, george raft, according to the george raft story. This actionfilled drama tells the story of this incredible man from his humble. He enjoyed greater success as a ballroom dancer, eventually working for legendary. After i say im sorry by walter donaldson, abe lyman, performed by julie london. Lombard reportedly told close friends that raft was, in the bedroom sense, the best lover she ever had made two. Not many actors in hollywoods history have lived as notorious a life as george raft.
Not many actors in hollywoods history have lived as notorious a life as george raft the subject of scarface. The george raft story 1961 journeys in classic film. After the first twenty minutes, the george raft story turns into everything but george rafts story. Coming attractions for you 2020s most anticipated movies. The george raft story dvd, 2009 for sale online ebay. The amounts of lengthy digressions become so tiresome that i lost interest in the movie entirely and never fully gained it back. The george raft story 1961 the movie database tmdb. 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. George raft, marie windsor, akim tamiroff director. A dangerous profession letterboxd your life in film. He had an acting career that spanned from the 1920s to 1980, and gained a reputation as one of hollywoods best dressed actors.
Newman with ray danton, jayne mansfield, julie london, barrie chase, year. As silent movie star george valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with peppy miller, a young dancer set for a big break. Raft himself, however, excoriated the film upon its release due to inaccuracies. Famed for tossing a coin in the howard hawks classic scarface 1932, george. Rafts own reallife connection to the new york mob added frightening authenticity to his portrayals, and his star quality coincided with the peak years of the hollywood factory to produce a. Terrific complete dance contest between james cagney, george raft taxi. The george raft story is a 1961 american biographical film of hollywood film star george raft. Born in the notorious hells kitchen section of new york among his best friends was benjamin bugsy siegel, he supported himself as a moving man, prizefighter, and driver for gangster boss owney madden. A dancer who found success during prohibition moves to hollywood where he rockets to fame as a silver screen gangster. He went on to be a prizefighter, ballroom dancer, and taxidriver, meanwhile maintaining close contacts with new yorks gangster underworld. Overview of the george raft story, 1961, directed by joseph m. Starring ray danton, jayne mansfield, julie london, and barrie chase. The complete twelfth season 12 dvd box set us seller fast shipping.
George ranft wiki biography george raft born george ranft. In the mid 60s he was denied entry into england where he managed a highclass gambling club due to his underworld associations. Ray danton played raft in the george raft story 1961, which costarred jayne mansfield. George raft was one of the few tough guy movie stars who could lay claim to being the genuine article. Ray danton portrays raft and the film was directed by joseph m. George raft was an american actor and dancer, best known for portraying gangsters in the films of the 1930s and the 1940s. George raft was born and grew up in a poor family in hells kitchen, at the time one of the. What does george raft have to do with the story of temple drake. George raft biography facts, childhood, family life. A smalltime hood turned successful movie gangster, rafts first association with a bigtime hoodlum was with the charismatic bugsy siegel. George raft story, the 1961 trailer video dailymotion. The theatrical trailer for the george raft story 1961, starring ray danton as movie tough guy george raft 18951980.
He lives with actress lisa lang jayne mansfield in a. The george raft story 1961 hollywood enjoyed a revival of factbased gangster biographies in the late 1950s, highlighted by the tv series the untouchables 19591963 starring robert stack. The george raft story is a film directed by joseph m. The george raft story 1961 kaleidescape movie store.
Without getting into any indepth plumbing of the actors life, the story. Raft spent his childhood in the tough hells kitchen area of new york, then left home at. New york times subscribers enjoy full access to timesmachineview over 150 years of new. Without getting into any indepth plumbing of the actors life, the story begins with the young raft making his way in new. He was portrayed by ray danton in the biopic the george raft story 1961. George raft was better known for making other actors careers a success. Vince kane raft is an excop who now works as a bail bondsman with his friend joe farley obrien. At first considered a valentinolike romantic lead, raft. 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. Youve got to see mamma evry night by con conrad, billy rose. 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. Before acting, he started off as a prizefighting boxer, then moved on to dancing both on broadway theatre and in prohibitionera.
The george raft story letterboxd your life in film. For starters, george gets involved with the mob and goes to meet a throwaway ladylove played by julie london. The george raft story 1961 a broadway dancer ray danton goes to hollywood and begins his movie career as a gangster in scarface. 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.