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Maybe he was poor compared to his glory days, but I don't think he was starving. He did all the talk shows in addition to movies right up to the end. And his Alka Seltzer commercial is legendary. :D
Never knew that George Raft died poor and alone...at least he lived life to the fullest, and amazingly worked up to his death at 79. His working career speaks for itself, I remember his movies and liked him as an actor. Thanks for a walk down memory lane, Facts Verse!
I watched George Raft in Night After Night with my mother late one night and fell in love with the actor. He was so good looking and such a good actor. I was one of those people who believed he was a real gangster since he played them so convincingly and was a close friend of Benjamin Seigel.
The FBI thought he was a real gangster and kept a file on him. Of course, they were mistaken. Everyone in Hollywood knew gangsters, that's how they got liquor during Prohibition. Jean Harlow dated Longy Zwillman, but nobody thought for a minute that she was guilty of anything. They sure picked on George, though. He was said to "dress like a gangster" but actually it was the other way around - gangsters emulated George Raft. The man could rock a suit. By the way, George got Mae West her first movie role in "Night After Night."
I'm a huge George Raft fan, and his best role was opposite Humprey Bogart in THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT. They play two brothers who are truckers and run afoul of business rivals. Contrary to popular belief Raft was never considered for the lead in CASABLANCA. According to the definitive Bogart biography, TOUGH WITHOUT A GUN, "Jack Warner never wanted anyone except Bogart as Rick. Stories that George Raft or Ronald Reagan were offered the role are legends".
It would have been better if you stuck to facts. Much of this you got right but the whole "broke and alone" line is wrong. He still lived in the Century Towers, but money was tight. As far as the alone nonsense, it was the time when our small dysfunctional family was actually the closest. Not only did he have us, on any given day there would be a cast of people visiting. Quite often it would be a group of friends. Next, the years. I find it irresponsible that people keep repeating the DOB of 1901 even after being corrected and even hearing it in George's own words. Some have even published in their books after speaking with myself or my father. The studios came up with that year as they always seemed to make actors appear younger than they really were. George was born in 1895. Next is the year he died. You mention 1979. George was very much alive in 1979. He passed in 1980. I don't usually comment on these pages but felt that this should be addressed. Ernest Raft
I love George Raft! His star should have shined much brighter. So handsome and sexy. I wish he could have done more dancing and light comedy roles. Were you related or personal connection with him?
Raft and Bogie were in a movie together. George Raft and Mae West died the same month. I'm a big George Raft fan. He was very young in the movie "The Bowery".
@@kirbywaite1586 too call somebody like Astaire an amateur is absurd He was far more creative and innovative like somebody like Raft . When it comes to dancing in the movies Raft was not nearly in the same league with Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire. Raft might have been a good dancer but in a rather conventional way. Kelly and Astaire had ideas of their own and did fantastic choreographies where Raft just danced in the fashion of the days. That's why Kelly & Astaire are still interesting to watch but Raft only for nostalgic reasons anymore
@2011framat I never liked Astaire's dancing. He seemed to act as if it were a form of high Art. I think a lot if it was simply physically unappealing and his rather skeletal body was not pleasant to watch in motion . But I am glad you enjoy him.
There was always a sense of darkness and melancholy around this man which I have always found intriguing. He was one of those who could do it all and that’s maybe the cause of his downfall: it came too easy for him.
I think some of the sadness was because he was Catholic and couldn't divorce his wife. Maybe unrequited love for someone he could have loved and had a happy life with caused that sad aura.
I knew very little about George Raft but gather he was very smooth and appealing. Not surprisingly for someone successful he lived beyond his means and never expected to live so long.
I've never heard about Goerge Raft until I saw Nocture along with Lynn Bari. I thought he was William Holden until I checked credits. What a good actor ! Now I've seen many of his movies in youtube. How could no one channel streams his work ? Thaks for the documentary.
I saw a clip a few days ago with George Raft on Mike Douglas. He came out to Sweet Georgia Brown and did this little dance move that looked kinda gay for his persona. I had only ever seen him in gangster movies and had no idea he was a famous dancer before Hollywood till seeing this clip here. I went back and looked up his early life and movies and was very surprised. I have always like his movies even as a little kid and couldn't believe I had never seen anything about him being a dancer especially in light of the fact he was a top notch one at that. I never understand why [they] say he is forgotten. I'm 65 and I can say without a doubt everyone I know remembers him well and they play his movies on TCM regularly.
Was always fascinated by him. There was a family rumour when I was a child. That my uncle who emigrated to NY in 1925 aged 23, at one time shared an apartment with GRaft. My father's brother, was a cartoonist/artist who later had an advertising agency at 118west57th street. Must hve been before GR went to Hollywood. Aged 83 Liverpool
George Raft, the true gangster..from what i understand, his friends Gary Cooper and Jimmy Cagney owed him a debt of gratitude as a call from Raft got those two out of harms way via organized crime connections..a true good guy on and off the silver screen
Did watch a lot of his movies. I don’t remember the name of each film but remember his dancing in them. A lot of the old stars are forgotten but for them being in films.
George Raft himself claimed to have been or in 1895. I watched a vid of him on the. Ike Douglas show from 1980and George himself 1895 as his date of birth. He was 85 at the time and it was his last television appearance. He lead a fantastic life and he was not a punk; he was a man of his times. In his era, en did not take insults or disrespect lightly. Did he die broke? I doubt it. He may not have had the money that he made in his lifetime but he had friends. As a matter of fact, Frank Sinatra paid Raft’s hospital bills at the end of Gorge’s life - hardly alone I would say. And may I suggest to you, that if you do it right, you do die broke.
Excellent video. Again, though, there arises the controversy surrounding George's birth year. Although it has been given as 1901, George himself in his final television interview (on The Mike Douglas Show, 1980 - the year he also passed) gives his age as 85 - which is also engraved on his mausoleum marker. What's interesting is that if an actor fudges about his/her age, they often subtract from their actual years, rather than add to it. Another point, George only appeared in one other movie with Cagney: Each Dawn I Die (1939). One misconception that many believe is that George turned down the role of Rick in Casablanca. In truth, he campaigned for the part but neither producer Hal Wallis nor director Michael Curtiz wanted to work with him, championing Humphrey Bogart instead. His career really declined in the 50s, with two notable exceptions: Rogue Cop and Some Like it Hot, which saw him playing two of the most ruthless gangsters of his career. Even though he enjoyed success with the Wilder film, following the mediocre Jet Over the Atlantic, his film career consisted solely of cameos and bit parts. Interestingly, he appeared in Mae West's first and final films and the two died just days part, their bodies lying together in the same mortuary. If you're interested, you can read more about George in my bio: "George Raft: The Man Who Would Be Bogart"
@@FactsVerse I enjoy anything that deals with vintage actors - with a special affinity for the movie tough guys: Lawrence Tierney, Lloyd Nolan, Jack LaRue, Marc Lawrence. Keep up the great work! BTW: George Raft did sort of appear with Cagney in another movie. His blink-and-you'll-miss him bit as a bandleader in "Winner Take All" was actually culled from his debut film "Queen of the Night Clubs".
Wasn't he best friends with Bugsy Siegel? Joe Mantegna played Raft in "Bugsy." (Raft was great as the head gangster, Spats Columbo, in "Some Like It Hot." )
There is no reason to think it sad George Raft died broke. He had no children and his wife died 10 years prior. He enjoyed his life and money to till both were gone. And he was working right up to the end so obviously he was not living in squalor. As they say, You can't take it with you. Live hard, die fast and leave a good looking corpse: which is exactly what he did. We all should be so lucky
Here's the deal we all die broke. And the only people that get our money is our family that's left behind that has to fight for whatever they want to because it was not in the wheel nobody leaves the will.
It is not necessarily true that people who splurge on women and race die poor.Many have done it . Throughout the world actors and people connected with the industry have done it.Not every one is lonely and penniless.Yes people have lost huge money on film making
Absolutely, we feel the same way! Thank you for sharing your sentiments and for watching our content. What other types of video would you like to see on our channel?
FV, George Raft was No Rudolph Valentino but, Carried His Weight On The Big Screen. The way he ended Most Tragic and Unfortunate. Mae West Life went the opposite of his. Gambling, Women and MOB Ties All brought him to poverty A Very Sad Situation. May He R.I.P. along with Mae West. RCJLEO 🦁♌
He was likeable and had presence, but he was not too smart. Yet when you are young and successful and enjoying the money and the girl friends it s easy to think that it is all going to last forever.
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We all die alone ,we all make mistakes, he didn't died poor ,he lived as he wished ,oh and George will never be forgotten by real movie fans !!!!!!😁🇬🇧
Maybe he was poor compared to his glory days, but I don't think he was starving. He did all the talk shows in addition to movies right up to the end. And his Alka Seltzer commercial is legendary. :D
@@StellaWaldvogel I would say he died poor. All he had was a small apartment, a few pieces of furniture, and a small pension.
@ricardocantoral7672 how depressing to work all your life only to end up destitute in the end when you are too old to work hard and healthy
Never knew that George Raft died poor and alone...at least he lived life to the fullest, and amazingly worked up to his death at 79. His working career speaks for itself, I remember his movies and liked him as an actor. Thanks for a walk down memory lane, Facts Verse!
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Meni je zao njega zbog njegove lude supruge koja mu nije dala razvod...a voleo je Normu Siler!Njegov zivot bez ljubavi,tuga,!
Very handsome man. Love watching him act and dance. So sorry he died poor and alone. ❤️💐
Us too! Were' happy to know that you're a fan of George. May he find peace 🙏
I watched George Raft in Night After Night with my mother late one night and fell in love with the actor. He was so good looking and such a good actor. I was one of those people who believed he was a real gangster since he played them so convincingly and was a close friend of Benjamin Seigel.
Beautiful words, thank you for your message for George! Thank you so much for sharing your life story. In your opinion, what is his best film?
The FBI thought he was a real gangster and kept a file on him. Of course, they were mistaken. Everyone in Hollywood knew gangsters, that's how they got liquor during Prohibition. Jean Harlow dated Longy Zwillman, but nobody thought for a minute that she was guilty of anything. They sure picked on George, though.
He was said to "dress like a gangster" but actually it was the other way around - gangsters emulated George Raft. The man could rock a suit.
By the way, George got Mae West her first movie role in "Night After Night."
I always loved George Raft. I am sorry to hear of the sadness that came along in his life. May he rest in peace.
We're very happy to know that you're a fan of George. If we may ask, what is your favorite role of his?
George Raft captivated the scenes and enjoyed watching his movies.
Well said, we strongly concur! Thank you for watching our content and for sharing your thoughts. Which of George's movies appealed to you the most?
I'm a huge George Raft fan, and his best role was opposite Humprey Bogart in THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT. They play two brothers who are truckers and run afoul of business rivals. Contrary to popular belief Raft was never considered for the lead in CASABLANCA. According to the definitive Bogart biography, TOUGH WITHOUT A GUN, "Jack Warner never wanted anyone except Bogart as Rick. Stories that George Raft or Ronald Reagan were offered the role are legends".
One of our favorites too, you've got taste! What other types of video would you like to see?
So sad he turned down those parts in Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon etc. he would have been great.
I doubt it. Raft was a wooden actor. He was only good at playing heavies.
It would have been better if you stuck to facts. Much of this you got right but the whole "broke and alone" line is wrong. He still lived in the Century Towers, but money was tight. As far as the alone nonsense, it was the time when our small dysfunctional family was actually the closest. Not only did he have us, on any given day there would be a cast of people visiting. Quite often it would be a group of friends.
Next, the years. I find it irresponsible that people keep repeating the DOB of 1901 even after being corrected and even hearing it in George's own words. Some have even published in their books after speaking with myself or my father. The studios came up with that year as they always seemed to make actors appear younger than they really were. George was born in 1895. Next is the year he died. You mention 1979. George was very much alive in 1979. He passed in 1980.
I don't usually comment on these pages but felt that this should be addressed.
Ernest Raft
I love George Raft! His star should have shined much brighter. So handsome and sexy. I wish he could have done more dancing and light comedy roles. Were you related or personal connection with him?
Thank you for your input and correction of the video. It seems he was born the same year as valentino
Raft and Bogie were in a movie together. George Raft and Mae West died the same month. I'm a big George Raft fan. He was very young in the movie "The Bowery".
We remember The Bowery too! Thank you so much for bringing back memories. May George find peace.
He was a great dancer and actor!! Forgotten Actor!! I still watch his movies 🎥
We absolutely agree! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Be safe and have a great day!
i always loved seeing him in movies
Us too! What is your favorite movie of George?
I always thought he was an actual mobster . Goes to show how good he was as an actor .
He will always be the best actor and dancer
His quiet good looks never left him. Richard Conte also had quiet good looks.
This one shocked me. Great actor!
Glad to know that you discovered something new about George. May he find peace 🙏
He was really goodlooking and his dancing makes Astaire look like an amateur.
Well said, we strongly concur! Thank you for watching our content and for sharing your thoughts. What other types of video would you like to see?
"his dancing Astaire look like an amateur" lousy joke
@2011framat It wasn't intended as a joke.
@@kirbywaite1586 too call somebody like Astaire an amateur is absurd He was far more creative and innovative like somebody like Raft . When it comes to dancing in the movies Raft was not nearly in the same league with Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire. Raft might have been a good dancer but in a rather conventional way. Kelly and Astaire had ideas of their own and did fantastic choreographies where Raft just danced in the fashion of the days. That's why Kelly & Astaire are still interesting to watch but Raft only for nostalgic reasons anymore
@2011framat I never liked Astaire's dancing. He seemed to act as if it were a form of high Art.
I think a lot if it was simply physically unappealing and his rather skeletal body was not pleasant to watch in motion . But I am glad you enjoy him.
George Raft was a street smart American boxer, dancer and film actor.
Yes I had heard of him. Thanks for his story!
@Sally, favorite movie?
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There was always a sense of darkness and melancholy around this man which I have always found intriguing. He was one of those who could do it all and that’s maybe the cause of his downfall: it came too easy for him.
We absolutely agree! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Be safe and have a great day!
I think some of the sadness was because he was Catholic and couldn't divorce his wife. Maybe unrequited love for someone he could have loved and had a happy life with caused that sad aura.
I knew very little about George Raft but gather he was very smooth and appealing. Not surprisingly for someone successful he lived beyond his means and never expected to live so long.
Good actor! ⭐️
We absolutely agree! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Be safe and have a great day!
Good Piece...George Raft was the real deal !
I always loved him.Reminds me of Valentino.
So sad, but thankfully George lives on forever 👍👍😁
Sounds like my past and present
I've never heard about Goerge Raft until I saw Nocture along with Lynn Bari. I thought he was William Holden until I checked credits. What a good actor ! Now I've seen many of his movies in youtube. How could no one channel streams his work ? Thaks for the documentary.
One of my favorite actress OG for real rest in peace
Raft was a good actor. Liked his films. But to be honest I'm a Cagney fan.
Sounds like my future
I saw a clip a few days ago with George Raft on Mike Douglas. He came out to Sweet Georgia Brown and did this little dance move that looked kinda gay for his persona. I had only ever seen him in gangster movies and had no idea he was a famous dancer before Hollywood till seeing this clip here. I went back and looked up his early life and movies and was very surprised. I have always like his movies even as a little kid and couldn't believe I had never seen anything about him being a dancer especially in light of the fact he was a top notch one at that. I never understand why [they] say he is forgotten. I'm 65 and I can say without a doubt everyone I know remembers him well and they play his movies on TCM regularly.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing! What other types of video would you like to see on our channel?
Thanks for sharing❤
He was greatV
Our pleasure! We're glad to know that you love our video. If we may ask, what other types of video would you like to see on our channel?
Was always fascinated by him. There was a family rumour when I was a child. That my uncle who emigrated to NY in 1925 aged 23, at one time shared an apartment with GRaft. My father's brother, was a cartoonist/artist who later had an advertising agency at 118west57th street. Must hve been before GR went to Hollywood.
Aged 83 Liverpool
George Raft, the true gangster..from what i understand, his friends Gary Cooper and Jimmy Cagney owed him a debt of gratitude as a call from Raft got those two out of harms way via organized crime connections..a true good guy on and off the silver screen
Yeah. I heard he actually stopped a hit on Cagney!
Loved his gangster films as a child,can always remember him flicking a coin in his hand,not sure if it was in one film or more!
Big George Raft fan.
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George raft was just class looked good talked good different level...
Sounds like a great life!❤
I liked watching. George. In movies. Didn't know about his last years. And. Poverty. It was. Late night. TV. After the news. We watched them.
He was stiff as an actor according to director Raoul Walsh. And Walsh said that Bogart was a much much better actor!
Of course. I doubt anyone took Raft over Bogart.
Did the creator even bother to read George Raft's autobiography? Because it certainly looks like he didn't.
A passion which men nowdays don't have.
He may have died poor, but he lived life to it's fullest. Many men died rich and old; however, they never lived.
Love George Raft.
That's Virginia Hill he hands the broken chair leg to at 4:36.
Did watch a lot of his movies. I don’t remember the name of each film but remember his dancing in them. A lot of the old stars are forgotten but for them being in films.
We're happy to know that you've watched a lot of George's films but wait, which movie do you think is his finest?
Love is gangster movies
George Raft himself claimed to have been or in 1895. I watched a vid of him on the. Ike Douglas show from 1980and George himself 1895 as his date of birth. He was 85 at the time and it was his last television appearance. He lead a fantastic life and he was not a punk; he was a man of his times. In his era, en did not take insults or disrespect lightly. Did he die broke? I doubt it. He may not have had the money that he made in his lifetime but he had friends. As a matter of fact, Frank Sinatra paid Raft’s hospital bills at the end of Gorge’s life - hardly alone I would say. And may I suggest to you, that if you do it right, you do die broke.
Noo😢
How he said he spent his money.
“Part of the $10 million I spent on gambling, part on booze and part on women. The rest I spent foolishly.”
As usual, your episodes are full of errors. He admitted to being born in 1895 so he didn't die at 79; he was 85 when he died.
That’s terrible when someone gets famous to only lose it all.
Couldn't agree more! Thank you for sharing your views on this. Which role of George is your favorite?
Excellent video. Again, though, there arises the controversy surrounding George's birth year. Although it has been given as 1901, George himself in his final television interview (on The Mike Douglas Show, 1980 - the year he also passed) gives his age as 85 - which is also engraved on his mausoleum marker. What's interesting is that if an actor fudges about his/her age, they often subtract from their actual years, rather than add to it. Another point, George only appeared in one other movie with Cagney: Each Dawn I Die (1939). One misconception that many believe is that George turned down the role of Rick in Casablanca. In truth, he campaigned for the part but neither producer Hal Wallis nor director Michael Curtiz wanted to work with him, championing Humphrey Bogart instead. His career really declined in the 50s, with two notable exceptions: Rogue Cop and Some Like it Hot, which saw him playing two of the most ruthless gangsters of his career. Even though he enjoyed success with the Wilder film, following the mediocre Jet Over the Atlantic, his film career consisted solely of cameos and bit parts. Interestingly, he appeared in Mae West's first and final films and the two died just days part, their bodies lying together in the same mortuary. If you're interested, you can read more about George in my bio: "George Raft: The Man Who Would Be Bogart"
Thanks for watching! We're glad to know that you love our video. If we may ask, what other types of video would you like to see on our channel?
@@FactsVerse I enjoy anything that deals with vintage actors - with a special affinity for the movie tough guys: Lawrence Tierney, Lloyd Nolan, Jack LaRue, Marc Lawrence. Keep up the great work! BTW: George Raft did sort of appear with Cagney in another movie. His blink-and-you'll-miss him bit as a bandleader in "Winner Take All" was actually culled from his debut film "Queen of the Night Clubs".
All these old school Hollywood actors not having a cent to their name. It's sad really.
Wasn't he best friends with Bugsy Siegel? Joe Mantegna played Raft in "Bugsy." (Raft was great as the head gangster, Spats Columbo, in "Some Like It Hot." )
Hmmmmm this is so unusual because of his dancing, acting, and movies but this tends to be part of the industry...
Well said, we strongly concur! Thank you for watching our content and for sharing your thoughts. What other types of video would you like to see?
I enjoyed his movies he had a distinctive voice,I heard that he owed the IRS a bunch That Frank Sinatra covered
Us too! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. What other types of video would you like to see?
He stole the scenes in Scarface and I loved him in Some Like It Hot. Sad he died the way he did- basically penniless. 🕊️🙏❤️
Us too! Thank you so much for bringing back memories. Made us miss George. May he find peace 🙏
There is no reason to think it sad George Raft died broke. He had no children and his wife died 10 years prior. He enjoyed his life and money to till both were gone. And he was working right up to the end so obviously he was not living in squalor. As they say, You can't take it with you. Live hard, die fast and leave a good looking corpse: which is exactly what he did. We all should be so lucky
Here's the deal we all die broke. And the only people that get our money is our family that's left behind that has to fight for whatever they want to because it was not in the wheel nobody leaves the will.
George at was a phenomenal dancer far more versatile than Astaire, in my opinion.
It is not necessarily true that people who splurge on women and race die poor.Many have done it .
Throughout the world actors and people connected with the industry have done it.Not every one is lonely and penniless.Yes people have lost huge money on film making
A lot of us will most likely died poor and alone.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. What other types of video would you like to see?
Never meard of him
Glad to know that you had a chance to discover George. May he find peace.
Get a copy of GEORGE RAFT, a bibliography,
copy wright by LEWIS YABLONSKY if you want to know why he was depressed!
. Rudolph Valentino
🤺💐
I liked him. Too bad he got the bug from people who took advantage of him. It happens when they know you have tallent & money.
Absolutely, we feel the same way! Thank you for sharing your sentiments and for watching our content. What other types of video would you like to see on our channel?
FV,
George Raft was No Rudolph Valentino but, Carried His Weight On The Big Screen. The way he ended Most Tragic and Unfortunate. Mae West Life
went the opposite of his. Gambling, Women and MOB Ties All brought him
to poverty A Very Sad Situation. May He
R.I.P. along with Mae West.
RCJLEO 🦁♌
I read that he couldn’t read and that this contributed to him turning down a lot of scripts.
He was likeable and had presence, but he was not too smart. Yet when you are young and successful and enjoying the money and the girl friends it s easy to think that it is all going to last forever.
Couldn't agree more! Thank you for sharing your views on this. Financial literacy is really rare.
Raft was a great actor. But he was also a rake. For that reason, I do not respect him, in spite of his talent.
Thanks for sharing❤
He was greatV
You're very much welcome! We're glad to know that you love our video. If we may ask, what other types of video would you like to see on our channel?
Thanks for sharing❤
He was greatV
You're very much welcome! We're glad to know that you love our video. Be safe and have a great weekend 💗