Invisible Stripes was released on December 30, 1939, with George Raft, William Holden and Humphrey Bogart in the lead roles. That cast was not lacking in any respect, but the script and the directing were mediocre resulting in an only modestly successful film.
The plot explores the challenges of being a parolee in a community that wants no part of men with invisible stripes. Reformed ex-cons suffer by following the rules while hardcore ones make good money returning to their risky if criminal ways. George’s character tries his damnedest, but circumstances in life force him into bad choices. No crystal ball needed to see where this story was headed.
From the New York Daily News, “George Raft makes his Cliff Taylor so sympathetic and real that you hate to think of what is obviously going to happen to him.” George was indeed sympathetic, likeable, and real, a combination that made him a favorite with audiences throughout the 1930s and 1940s regardless of whether or not he played a hero.
Legend has it that George was so convinced Bill was right for the role of the younger brother, that when the studio rejected him, George offered to pay Bill’s salary of what would be $500,000 today. Who could refuse an offer like that? Certainly not Warner Bros. and the 21-year-old Holden landed a major role in his second film.
Invisible Stripes is available in the movies section of this site. Even if the plot is a bit straightforward for you, watching the three main actors ably present their characters makes the film worth viewing.
