In the early 1930s, George Raft, an actor and dancer from New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen, gained a name for himself playing stylish and charismatic gangsters in films like 1932’s original Scarface. Raft’s own real-life connection to the New York mob added frightening authenticity to his portrayals, and his star quality coincided with the peak years of the Hollywood factory to produce a remarkable track record of successful movies. Highly regarded during his lifetime as a performer, his reputation as an actor suffered a steep decline after his death. This definitive study of all of Raft’s films offers intimate insight into all of his productions, including casts, characters, technical credits, and story synopses, and dispels a number of myths surrounding his legendary career.

Everett Aaker has written reference books on television western actors and actresses of the fifties and early television crime fighters. He was a finalist in the BBC quiz shows Film Buff of the Year and Screen Test in which his subject was George Raft. He lives in England.

Everett Aaker

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 212
Bibliographic Info: 38 photos, appendices, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2013
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6646-7
eISBN: 978-0-7864-9313-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments  vi
Preface  1
Introduction  3
Biography  5
The Films  14
Other Film Appearances  183
Miscellanea  184
Television Appearances  189
Radio Broadcasts  191
Appendix A: The Films, by Studio  193
Appendix B: The Films, by Director  194
Bibliography  197
Index  199

• “George Raft’s low-key understated performances and erratic screen career has kept him from getting the same attention as his movie tough guy contemporaries like James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, and Edward G. Robinson…looks at this fascinating actor’s screen career film-by-film in great detail, helping the reader to more fully understand Raft’s impact…highly recommended”—Examiner.com; “thunderingly well researched…a fascinating read”—The Black Bird Club Members’ Newsletter
• “well-known for his many roles as a gangster”—Reference & Research Book News