George Raft Interview with Author Stone Wallace
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Uploaded by Modaent on May 3, 2008
Listen on www.iconsradio.com
Hosted by John Mulholland, Meir Ribalow & Stephen Bogart
George Raft was born and grew up in a poor family in Hell's Kitchen, at the time, one of the roughest, meanest areas of New York City. In his youth he showed a great interest in, and aptitude for, dancing. That, combined with his dark good looks and sharp dressing, made him a local favorite at such spots as the El Fey Club with Texas Guinan. In 1928, Raft went to Hollywood to try his luck at acting. His first big role was as the coin-tossing henchman in Scarface (1932). His career was marked by numerous tough-guy roles, often a gangster or convict. The believability with which he played these, together with his lifelong associations with such real-life gangsters as Owney Madden and Bugsy Siegel, added to persistent rumors that he also was a gangster. The slightly shady reputation may have helped his popularity early on, but it made him somewhat undesirable to movie executives later in his career. He somewhat parodied his gangster reputation in Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot (1959).
Join John, Meir and Steve for a discussion with Stone Wallace, author of The Man who would be Bogart as they discuss the colorful career of actor George Raft. Icons Radio Hour airs every Sunday night at 8PM ET at www.iconsradio.com
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All Comments (12)
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Nobody wore a suit like George.
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@raftfan james cagney?
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@jezzfan33 Very true. That's what gave him his distinction as an authentic movie mobster. I mean, during the 20s and pretty much throughout his life, Georgie knew 'em all: Capone, McGurn, Siegel, Schultz, Luciano . . . and on and on. Probably the only star of his era who did.
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@raftfan those guys do not have the real-life background credo which George had
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@donnyduck55 I know; that's one reason the likes of George should continue to succeed with fans
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I'm sorry but I have to say it.. He was a VERY very good looking man. I miss his work. He just had so much class, and was great at dancing! He was amazing. ._.
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Well, donnyduck55, while there aren't the mobster stars of the caliber of George, Bogie, Jimmy and Eddie G., we do have Pacino, DeNIro, Pesci and Palminteri
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There are no mobster stars anymore
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This guy is related to me in some apparent way cuz he's related to my grandad!
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This guy could dance bigtime...
blinko656 3 years ago 4
Jimmy wasn't connected to the underworld in any way close to how George was associated with gangsters. Jimmy grew up tough in a rough neighborhood, but he never palled around with the big shots. For that matter, neither did Bogie or Robinson.
raftfan 1 year ago