{"id":53359,"date":"2020-11-15T20:58:07","date_gmt":"2020-11-16T03:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=53359"},"modified":"2022-05-18T23:31:53","modified_gmt":"2022-05-19T06:31:53","slug":"george-raft-story-the-1961","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=53359","title":{"rendered":"George Raft Story, The (1961)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;What&#8217;s in it for me?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Poster-211x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-53360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Poster-211x300.png 211w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Poster-720x1024.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Poster-90x128.png 90w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Poster-768x1092.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Poster-190x270.png 190w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Poster.png 787w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nLeaving a life of dancing and criminal involvement behind him, George Raft (Ray Danton) heads from New York to Hollywood, where he eventually makes a name for himself co-starring in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=43276\"><em>Scarface<\/em><\/a> but finds himself typecast far too often as a gangster.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Actors and Actresses<\/li>\n<li>Biopics<\/li>\n<li>Gangsters<\/li>\n<li>Jayne Mansfield Films<\/li>\n<li>Neville Brand Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis largely fictionalized biopic about George Raft is an odd Hollywood outing, given that Raft was still very much alive when it was made (and Danton looks little like him): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Danton.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Danton.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-53462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Danton.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Danton-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Danton-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Danton-491x270.png 491w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/review\/rw2631164\/?ref_=tt_urv\">one poster on IMDb<\/a>, &#8220;After losing everything he made in Hollywood and after getting [out] with barely a change of clothes from revolutionary Havana in 1959 this man needed a stake. So he sold the story of his life to B studio Allied Artists and the result was <em>The George Raft Story<\/em>.&#8221; Still, one wonders exactly what the point was, other than to highlight Raft&#8217;s many criminal connections, and give individuals like Al Capone (Neville Brand): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Brand.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Brand.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-53454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Brand.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Brand-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Brand-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Brand-491x270.png 491w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and Bugsy Siegal (Brad Dexter): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Benny.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Benny.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-53455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Benny.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Benny-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Benny-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Benny-491x270.png 491w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>opportunities for &#8220;cameo&#8221; appearances; other notable individuals in Raft&#8217;s life &#8212; including Betty Grable, for instance &#8212; had to be renamed (in this case, Jayne Mansfield played &#8220;Lisa Lang&#8221;). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Mansfield.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Mansfield.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-53456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Mansfield.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Mansfield-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Mansfield-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Mansfield-491x270.png 491w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The script gets off to a decidedly odd start, with an extended comedy act in a nightclub (who exactly are those fellows?) <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Comedians.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Comedians.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-53457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Comedians.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Comedians-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Comedians-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Comedians-491x270.png 491w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>before Raft&#8217;s then-girlfriend Sheila (Julie London) sings a ditty: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-London.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-London.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-53458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-London.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-London-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-London-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-London-491x270.png 491w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As the film closes, penniless Raft is given advice to accept roles like Spats Colombo in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=28643\"><em>Some Like it Hot<\/em><\/a> and learn to embrace typecasting because at least it provides a living. Okay.  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Typecasting.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Typecasting.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-53460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Typecasting.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Typecasting-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Typecasting-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Typecasting-491x270.png 491w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.filmink.com.au\/stars-stop-stars-george-raft\/\">this interesting article<\/a> for a blow-by-blow overview of all the films Raft either made or turned down, with an emphasis on the ramifications of the latter. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Effective cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Cinematography2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-53459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Cinematography2.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Cinematography2-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Cinematography2-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/George-Raft-Story-Cinematography2-491x270.png 491w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo; you can skip this one unless you&#8217;re a huge Raft fan and curious. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0054918\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/26604\/the-george-raft-story#articles-reviews?articleId=1082482\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiopicstory.com\/george-raft-review\">Biopic Story Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s in it for me?&#8221; Synopsis: Leaving a life of dancing and criminal involvement behind him, George Raft (Ray Danton) heads from New York to Hollywood, where he eventually makes a name for himself co-starring in Scarface but finds himself typecast far too often as a gangster. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Actors and Actresses Biopics Gangsters Jayne Mansfield Films Neville Brand Films Review: This largely fictionalized biopic about George Raft is an odd Hollywood outing, given that Raft was&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=53359\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53359","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=53359"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53359\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84237,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53359\/revisions\/84237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=53359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=53359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=53359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}