George Raft was born on September 26, 1895, in New York City. He rose from a childhood on the streets to success as a Broadway dancer and later reached the heights of fame and fortune in the burgeoning film industry of the 1930s known as the Golden Age of Hollywood. Though most often associated with portrayals of tough guys and gangsters, he made more movies in the film noir genre than any other.
There have been several books written about George along with countless magazine articles many of which contain tales about his life that were fabricated or fancifully embellished by studio publicity departments and unscrupulous writers. Read them with a healthy dose of skepticism. Or just watch his movies.
Some of George’s films are not readily available, but forty of them can be accessed from the Movie Playlist on the homepage of his website. Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe, They Drive by Night with Ann Sheridan, Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino as well as the original Scarface (1932) are his best remembered films. His favorite was Bolero, a dance movie co-starring Carole Lombard, his favorite leading lady. Night After Night was his first headlining role and Mae West’s debut film. Each Dawn I Die with James Cagney, Souls at Sea with Gary Cooper, Spawn of the North with Henry Fonda and The Glass Key (1935) are often mentioned when his movies are discussed. Most of his films were box office hits making him a bankable star through the 1940s.
George dominated his scenes and audiences rooted for him, a winning combination for a successful career. A rare two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame coupled with his handprint at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard are testaments to his popularity with the public as well as his peers.
Dancing brought him joy but acting brought him fame and fortune. Happy birthday, Georgie!
