It Had to Happen, released on Valentine’s Day, 1936, starred George Raft and Rosalind Russell in their only screen pairing. The original print ad tagline proclaimed, “The “Rendezvous” Girl Keeps A Daring Date With The Screen’s Irresistible Lover!” A well-wrought story with fine performances, this film was a box office hit.
Film noir crime drama Red Light starring George Raft is on Movies! this month. Among his eleven films in the genre, it is a lesser known but highly watchable 1949 release. Skilled director Roy Del Ruth brings out a subtly nuanced performance from George whose character conceals a deeply felt loss with a stoic demeanor …
George starred with Carole Lumbard in Rumba released on February 8, 1935. This was their second pairing in a musical and followed the hit film Bolero from the previous year. Their off-screen admiration and fondness for each other enhanced their on-screen romance in this film. Every motion in the final rumba is exquisitely performed, sensuous …
Whistle Stop was released on January 25, 1946. Classified as a crime film noir, George and Ava played the romantic leads well with Victor McLaglen turning in a pitch-perfect supporting performance. George Raft Films currently has this movie available free along with many others.
Jimmy knew that George was the best dancer for his opponent in the dance competition in the movie Taxi!, released on January 23, 1932, and recommended him for the uncredited role. George was a terrific ballroom dancer and had been a professional for many years before this film was made. Although Jimmy was a dancer, …
Carole Lombard and George Raft made two films together, Bolero (1934) and Rumba (1935). They were very fond of each other and that chemistry came through in both movies. Sadly, Carole died in a plane crash on 1/16/1942, eighty years ago today. What a shock it was to the Hollywood community. Her husband, Clark Gable, …
George passed away on November 24, 1980, from emphysema in a Los Angeles hospital. This image is from his last interview. He spent 62 years entertaining audiences, a very long career in any field. Stylish and charismatic to the end, he never lost his wit or charm. The full interview with Mike Douglas from February, …
Want some quality time with George? Early this morning, Each Dawn I Die (1939) with James Cagney aired on Movies! and will air again on November 19 and November 29. Tonight Background to Danger (1943) with Sidney Greenstreet and Manpower with Marlena Dietrich and Edward G. Robinson will air back to back on TCM. On …
Today, September 26th, is George’s birthday, but the year of his birth has been in question for a long time. Records like his Social Security registration state the year as 1901 and a New York census would seem to back that up. In a few places, the year is listed as 1903. But in his …
Today, September 26, is George’s birthday and the perfect time to welcome you to the initial launch of his tribute site. It is a work in progress that currently includes links to a YouTube playlist of 30 movies, a second one to 200 videos plus another link to hundreds of photos on Pinterest but there …