NOB HILL was released on June 13, 1945 and became one of the top-grossing films of the year. It starred George Raft, Joan Bennett and Vivian Blaine. Set in turn-of-the-century San Francisco, this musical drama benefited from a good script, beautiful photography, and the fine directing of Henry Hathaway.
The rough and tumble Barbary Coast versus the elegance and snobbery of Nob Hill provide the setting. George as a successful saloon owner navigates between the two realms and between the two women who want to claim him.
Joan Bennett appeared in four films with George including Nob Hill. She was very fond of him and that added to their scenes. This was the third film in which Henry Hathaway directed George and by this time, he had learned how to elicit his best performance.
Perhaps the film’s only failing is that it was a musical in which George did not dance, certainly a disappointment to his fans. However, he did have a good role as a romantic lead with rough edges and a manly turn at fisticuffs that benefited from his early career as a prize fighter. He wasn’t the studio’s first choice for the film, but he was the right choice as the box-office take proved.
NOB HILL is available at the movies section of GeorgeRaft.com.