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The George Raft Story

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29: 534:. Danton said that he decided against performing "an impersonation of Raft ... I watched a lot of his old films and noticed a sort of strong suppressed hostility." Danton only met Raft once, and Raft told him: "We have to make careful they don't make this guy into a heavy." Danton later said: "I thought it was a strange, obtuse thing to say." 601:'s screen play places more emphasis on its central figure's friendships for gangland figures than with his lengthy career as an entertainer. This tends to give observers a one-sided view of the star's life. What the man really feels inside never comes out—a seemingly never-ending fault of biographical film tales." 584:
wrote: "'Nice guy, George Raft, according to 'The George Raft Story.' Misunderstood, too, claims this blithely glossy little biographical drama ... The criminal associations of Mr. Raft, before his tough, patent-leather personality made him famous in films, are known facts. Not long ago, the actor
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George Raft works in New York as a dancer at the Dreamland Casino. He associates with gangsters and works at mob-controlled nightclubs. One night, he protects a cigarette girl from sexually harassment by a gangster, endangering his life.
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Raft and Gray had played themselves almost two decades earlier in a markedly different but equally fictionalized biographical film about Raft's early days as a dancer reluctantly involved with gangsters entitled
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and was entitled to 20% of Raft's profits from a film based on his story. In June 1961, Jennings claimed that he had not received anything and announced his intention to bring legal action.
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and his friend Benny "Bugsy" Siegel is killed. He is forced to sell his Hollywood mansion and move to a small apartment. He takes a job at a casino in Havana, but the casino closes when
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Schwalb announced that filming would begin on October 7, 1960, but production was delayed until July 1961. Ray Danton, Brad Dexter, Jayne Mansfield and
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himself, who may be as nice a guy as they come, candidly filled in a brass-tacks account to a national magazine. So much for the record—his own."
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asks to meet him, but Capone reveals that he likes the film. At a party, Raft punches a manager and they become friends.
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Back in Hollywood, Raft is offered to fix a fight by promoter Johnny Fuller but refuses. He accepts a role in
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Raft becomes a major star and broadens his image by appearing in a 1934 musical film with dancing titled
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were cast. The Las Vegas comedy team of Pepper Davis and Tony Reece was signed to play a support role.
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is a major character. The film does not mention Raft's estranged wife Grace or early mob benefactor
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for release in the United Kingdom, a reference to Raft's character's nickel-flipping trick in
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Danton, borrowed from Warner Bros., was cast on the strength of his performance in
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Allied Artists announced the film in 1959 as part of a slate of projects including
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The film is a largely fictionalized version of Raft's turbulent life and career.
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Scott, John L. (1962-01-25). "'The Raft Story' Odd Biographical Picture".
597:"a vigorous but curious film play" and wrote: "It is rather strange that 457: 407: 386: 348: 222: 859: 848: 490: 344: 218: 73: 993: 417: 299: 255: 245: 28: 655:
Scott, J. L. (Sep 8, 1959). "Wald rushes plans for 'hell raisers'".
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Thompson, Howard (1962-03-22). "Screen: 'George Raft Story' Opens".
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Alpert, D. (Jan 28, 1962). "The last of the big-time mobsters".
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Raft moves to Hollywood and begins his film career as an
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Vol. 29. 1962. p. 95. 738: 628: 322:forces communism upon the nation. 14: 1245: 1189:American biographical drama films 842: 624:. 1964-01-24. p. 9, Part IV. 531:The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond 1209:Cultural depictions of Al Capone 562:The film was known in the UK as 1194:Biographical films about actors 821: 798: 779: 764: 1199:American black-and-white films 1179:1960s biographical drama films 723: 708: 693: 678: 663: 648: 611: 1: 1204:Cultural depictions of actors 618:"'Raft Story' Film to Open". 604: 574:In a contemporary review for 447: 16:1961 film by Joseph M. Newman 1224:1960s English-language films 593:critic John L. Scott called 569: 7: 225:. The picture was retitled 10: 1250: 1090:The Gunfight at Dodge City 1026:The Outcasts of Poker Flat 557: 298:. Raft is frightened when 138:January 24, 1962 932: 544:The Saturday Evening Post 541:in five installments for 194: 186: 178: 168: 129: 119: 109: 99: 91: 69: 61: 51: 41: 26: 21: 153:March 21, 1962 834:. p. 10, Part III. 788:"The George Raft Story" 338: 279: 260:Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel 221:as Hollywood film star 1146:The George Raft Story 1002:I'll Get You for This 986:The Guy Who Came Back 888:The George Raft Story 882:The George Raft Story 872:The George Raft Story 861:The George Raft Story 850:The George Raft Story 807:Monthly Film Bulletin 792:Turner Classic Movies 595:The George Raft Story 539:The George Raft Story 515:I'll Get You for This 454:Streets of Montamarte 206:The George Raft Story 35:The George Raft Story 22:The George Raft Story 1229:1960s American films 1184:Allied Artists films 1074:Death in Small Doses 1018:Red Skies of Montana 537:Dean Jennings wrote 476:Teacher was a Sexpot 431:as Jerry Fitzpatrick 425:as Frankie Donatella 391:Benny 'Bugsy' Siegel 1106:Tarzan, the Ape Man 1066:Flight to Hong Kong 962:The Great Dan Patch 946:Diary of a Sergeant 700:"FILMLAND EVENTS". 670:"Of local origin". 244:appears briefly as 209:is a 1961 American 1114:A Thunder of Drums 1034:Dangerous Crossing 924:Films directed by 877:TCM Movie Database 805:"SPIN OF A COIN". 641:The New York Times 577:The New York Times 146: (Los Angeles) 1156: 1155: 1050:This Island Earth 938:Northwest Rangers 831:Los Angeles Times 786:Erickson, Glenn. 773:Los Angeles Times 750:Los Angeles Times 732:Los Angeles Times 717:Los Angeles Times 702:Los Angeles Times 687:Los Angeles Times 657:Los Angeles Times 621:Los Angeles Times 590:Los Angeles Times 402:Herschel Bernardi 211:biographical film 202: 201: 1241: 1219:1961 drama films 1138:The Big Bankroll 1042:The Human Jungle 926:Joseph M. Newman 918: 911: 904: 895: 894: 890:at Letterbox DVD 836: 835: 825: 819: 818: 802: 796: 795: 783: 777: 776: 768: 762: 761: 745: 736: 735: 727: 721: 720: 712: 706: 705: 697: 691: 690: 682: 676: 675: 667: 661: 660: 652: 646: 645: 635: 626: 625: 615: 510:Arnold Rothstein 505:The Big Bankroll 500:Joseph Petrosino 362:as Sheila Patton 332:Some Like It Hot 251:The Untouchables 215:Joseph M. Newman 160: 158: 145: 143: 46:Joseph M. Newman 31: 19: 18: 1249: 1248: 1244: 1243: 1242: 1240: 1239: 1238: 1159: 1158: 1157: 1152: 1130:The Lawbreakers 1122:Twenty Plus Two 978:711 Ocean Drive 928: 922: 845: 840: 839: 826: 822: 804: 803: 799: 784: 780: 769: 765: 746: 739: 734:. Jun 16, 1961. 729: 728: 724: 719:. Jun 29, 1961. 714: 713: 709: 699: 698: 694: 684: 683: 679: 669: 668: 664: 653: 649: 636: 629: 617: 616: 612: 607: 582:Howard Thompson 572: 560: 496:Ernest Borgnine 480:Mamie Van Doren 467:The Purple Gang 462:Suzanne Valadon 450: 378:Barbara Nichols 374:as Moxie Cusack 354:Jayne Mansfield 341: 282: 171: 164: 161: (New York) 156: 154: 149: 141: 139: 132: 95:Carl E. Guthrie 84: 80: 78:Jayne Mansfield 76: 37: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1247: 1237: 1236: 1231: 1226: 1221: 1216: 1211: 1206: 1201: 1196: 1191: 1186: 1181: 1176: 1171: 1154: 1153: 1151: 1150: 1142: 1134: 1126: 1118: 1110: 1102: 1098:The Big Circus 1094: 1086: 1078: 1070: 1062: 1054: 1046: 1038: 1030: 1022: 1014: 1006: 998: 990: 982: 974: 966: 958: 950: 942: 933: 930: 929: 921: 920: 913: 906: 898: 892: 891: 885: 879: 868: 857: 844: 843:External links 841: 838: 837: 820: 797: 778: 763: 737: 722: 707: 704:. Sep 9, 1960. 692: 689:. May 2, 1960. 677: 674:. Sep 8, 1959. 672:New York Times 662: 647: 627: 609: 608: 606: 603: 571: 568: 564:Spin of a Coin 559: 556: 472:Barry Sullivan 449: 446: 445: 444: 438: 435:Jack Albertson 432: 426: 420: 411: 405: 399: 396:Robert Strauss 393: 384: 375: 369: 363: 357: 351: 340: 337: 281: 278: 228:Spin of a Coin 200: 199: 196: 192: 191: 188: 184: 183: 180: 176: 175: 172: 169: 166: 165: 163: 162: 150: 148: 147: 135: 133: 130: 127: 126: 124:Allied Artists 121: 120:Distributed by 117: 116: 114:Jeff Alexander 111: 107: 106: 101: 97: 96: 93: 92:Cinematography 89: 88: 71: 67: 66: 63: 59: 58: 53: 49: 48: 43: 39: 38: 33:Ray Danton in 32: 24: 23: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1246: 1235: 1232: 1230: 1227: 1225: 1222: 1220: 1217: 1215: 1212: 1210: 1207: 1205: 1202: 1200: 1197: 1195: 1192: 1190: 1187: 1185: 1182: 1180: 1177: 1175: 1172: 1170: 1167: 1166: 1164: 1148: 1147: 1143: 1140: 1139: 1135: 1132: 1131: 1127: 1124: 1123: 1119: 1116: 1115: 1111: 1108: 1107: 1103: 1100: 1099: 1095: 1092: 1091: 1087: 1084: 1083: 1082:Fort Massacre 1079: 1076: 1075: 1071: 1068: 1067: 1063: 1060: 1059: 1055: 1052: 1051: 1047: 1044: 1043: 1039: 1036: 1035: 1031: 1028: 1027: 1023: 1020: 1019: 1015: 1012: 1011: 1007: 1004: 1003: 999: 996: 995: 991: 988: 987: 983: 980: 979: 975: 972: 971: 967: 964: 963: 959: 956: 955: 954:Jungle Patrol 951: 949:(1945, short) 948: 947: 943: 940: 939: 935: 934: 931: 927: 919: 914: 912: 907: 905: 900: 899: 896: 889: 886: 883: 880: 878: 874: 873: 869: 867: 863: 862: 858: 856: 852: 851: 847: 846: 833: 832: 824: 816: 812: 808: 801: 793: 789: 782: 774: 767: 759: 755: 751: 744: 742: 733: 726: 718: 711: 703: 696: 688: 681: 673: 666: 658: 651: 644:. p. 40. 643: 642: 634: 632: 623: 622: 614: 610: 602: 600: 596: 592: 591: 586: 583: 579: 578: 567: 565: 555: 553: 548: 546: 545: 540: 535: 533: 532: 526: 524: 523:Frank Gorshin 519: 517: 516: 511: 507: 506: 501: 497: 493: 492: 487: 486: 481: 477: 473: 469: 468: 463: 459: 455: 442: 439: 436: 433: 430: 427: 424: 423:Joe De Santis 421: 419: 415: 414:Neville Brand 412: 409: 406: 403: 400: 397: 394: 392: 388: 385: 383: 379: 376: 373: 372:Frank Gorshin 370: 368:as June Tyler 367: 364: 361: 358: 355: 352: 350: 346: 343: 342: 336: 334: 333: 329:'s 1959 film 328: 323: 321: 317: 312: 310: 309: 303: 301: 297: 296: 291: 286: 277: 275: 274: 267: 265: 261: 257: 253: 252: 247: 243: 242:Neville Brand 238: 236: 235: 230: 229: 224: 220: 216: 212: 208: 207: 198:$ 1.2 million 197: 193: 189: 185: 182:United States 181: 177: 173: 167: 152: 151: 137: 136: 134: 131:Release dates 128: 125: 122: 118: 115: 112: 108: 105: 102: 98: 94: 90: 87: 83: 79: 75: 72: 68: 64: 60: 57: 54: 52:Screenplay by 50: 47: 44: 40: 36: 30: 25: 20: 1145: 1144: 1136: 1128: 1120: 1112: 1104: 1096: 1088: 1080: 1072: 1064: 1058:Kiss of Fire 1056: 1048: 1040: 1032: 1024: 1016: 1010:Pony Soldier 1008: 1000: 992: 984: 976: 968: 960: 952: 944: 936: 871: 860: 849: 829: 823: 806: 800: 791: 781: 772: 766: 749: 731: 725: 716: 710: 701: 695: 686: 680: 671: 665: 656: 650: 639: 619: 613: 599:Crane Wilbur 594: 588: 587: 575: 573: 563: 561: 552:Betty Grable 549: 542: 538: 536: 529: 527: 520: 513: 503: 489: 483: 475: 465: 453: 451: 441:John Bleifer 429:Jack Lambert 382:Texas Guinan 366:Barrie Chase 360:Julie London 356:as Lisa Lang 330: 327:Billy Wilder 324: 320:Fidel Castro 313: 306: 304: 293: 287: 283: 271: 268: 264:Owney Madden 249: 239: 232: 227: 226: 213:directed by 205: 204: 203: 170:Running time 104:George White 86:Barrie Chase 82:Julie London 56:Crane Wilbur 34: 458:Lana Turner 443:as Mr. Raft 408:Margo Moore 398:as Frenchie 387:Brad Dexter 349:George Raft 223:George Raft 217:that stars 174:106 minutes 65:Ben Schwalb 62:Produced by 42:Directed by 1174:1961 films 1169:1962 films 1163:Categories 815:1305821558 605:References 491:Pay or Die 448:Production 345:Ray Danton 219:Ray Danton 157:1962-03-21 142:1962-01-24 74:Ray Danton 994:Love Nest 970:Abandoned 758:168033711 580:, critic 570:Reception 437:as Milton 418:Al Capone 300:Al Capone 256:Mack Gray 246:Al Capone 100:Edited by 866:AllMovie 811:ProQuest 754:ProQuest 518:(1951). 295:Scarface 276:(1942). 273:Broadway 234:Scarface 187:Language 110:Music by 70:Starring 875:at the 558:Release 410:as Ruth 190:English 179:Country 155: ( 140: ( 1149:(1962) 1141:(1961) 1133:(1961) 1125:(1960) 1117:(1960) 1109:(1959) 1101:(1959) 1093:(1959) 1085:(1958) 1077:(1957) 1069:(1956) 1061:(1955) 1053:(1955) 1045:(1954) 1037:(1953) 1029:(1952) 1021:(1952) 1013:(1952) 1005:(1951) 997:(1951) 989:(1951) 981:(1950) 973:(1949) 965:(1949) 957:(1948) 941:(1942) 884:at BFI 813:  756:  508:about 404:as Sam 308:Bolero 195:Budget 494:with 478:with 470:with 456:with 290:extra 855:IMDb 502:and 339:Cast 280:Plot 864:at 853:at 498:as 460:as 416:as 389:as 380:as 347:as 316:IRS 1165:: 790:. 752:. 740:^ 630:^ 566:. 554:. 488:, 482:, 474:, 464:, 335:. 266:. 258:. 917:e 910:t 903:v 817:. 794:. 775:. 760:. 659:. 159:) 144:)

Index


Joseph M. Newman
Crane Wilbur
Ray Danton
Jayne Mansfield
Julie London
Barrie Chase
George White
Jeff Alexander
Allied Artists
biographical film
Joseph M. Newman
Ray Danton
George Raft
Scarface
Neville Brand
Al Capone
The Untouchables
Mack Gray
Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel
Owney Madden
Broadway
extra
Scarface
Al Capone
Bolero
IRS
Fidel Castro
Billy Wilder
Some Like It Hot

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