Broadwayis a 1942crime dramamusical filmdirected byWilliam A. Seiterand starringGeorge Raftas himself andPat O'Brienas a detective.[2]The supporting cast featuresJanet BlairandBroderick Crawford.[3]
| Broadway | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | William A. Seiter |
| Screenplay by | Felix Jackson John Bright adaptation Bruce Manning |
| Based on | theJed Harrisstage production byPhilip Dunning&George Abbott(play) |
| Produced by | Bruce Manning |
| Starring | George Raft Pat O'Brien |
| Cinematography | George Barnes |
| Edited by | Ted J. Kent (as Ted Kent) |
| Music by | Frank Skinner |
Production company | Bruce Manning Productions |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.1 million[1] |
Another fictionalized biographical movie based on Raft's life,The George Raft Story(1961), featured a different actor (Ray Danton) playing Raft.
Plot
editGeorge Raft, a Hollywood dancer, returns toManhattanand recalls working in a nightclub with a bootlegger's girlfriend.
Cast
edit- George Raftas George Raft
- Pat O'Brienas Dan McCorn
- Janet Blairas Billie Moore
- Broderick Crawfordas Steve Crandall
- Marjorie Rambeauas Lillian (Lil) Rice
- Anne Gwynneas Pearl
- S. Z. Sakallas Nick
- Edward Brophyas Porky (as Edward S. Brophy)
- Marie Wilsonas Grace
- Gus Schillingas Joe
- Ralf Haroldeas Dolph
- Arthur Shieldsas Pete Dailey
- Iris Adrianas Maisie
- Janet Warrenas Ruby (as Elaine Morey)
- Dorothy Moore as Ann
- Nestor Paivaas Rinalti
- Abner Bibermanas Trado
- Damian O'Flynnas Scar Edwards
- Mack Grayas Mack 'Killer' Gray
Production
editUniversal paid $175,000 for the rights[4]to the 1926play of the same namethat hadpreviously been filmed in 1929.OnBroadway,Lee Tracy played the dancer, Thomas Jackson played the detective and Paul Porcasi played the nightclub owner. In the 1929 film, Jackson and Porcasi reprised their roles and Glenn Tryon replaced Tracy. Pat O'Brien once played the detective role in a road show.[5]
In February 1941, Universal announced the film for the coming year. Bruce Manning, a writer who had recently been promoted to producer, would produce and George Raft and Broderick Crawford would star. Manning and Felix Young were to write the screenplay.[6]
However, Raft was under contract for three more pictures withWarner Bros.,which refused to loan him to Universal. Raft had been refusing roles that he did not like over the course of eight months,[7][8]but an agreement was reached whereby $27,500 would be taken from Raft's salary to allow Warner Bros. to borrowRobert Cummingsfrom Universal.[7]In December 1941, Raft signed on to make the film.[9]
Manning wanted to change thebootleggercharacters from the play intoforeign agents.He discussed the story with Raft and recognized the similarities between the story of Roy, the dancer played on stage by Tracy, and that of Raft's early career. He kept the characters as bootleggers but changed the story to focus on Raft. He also added a prologue and epilogue in which Raft returns to New York after establishing himself as a movie star.[10]
In February 1942, O'Brien signed on and filming began.[11]
Reception
editThe film was a success with audiences.[12]
TheLos Angeles TimescalledBroadwaya "sock melodrama."[13]Filminksaid that the film "... isn’t particularly well remembered but it's a lot of fun, with plenty of gunfire and dancing, and was reasonably popular – Raft was best known for his gangster movies, but he was also a half-decent draw in musicals."[14]
References
edit- ^"101 Pix Gross in Millions".Variety.6 January 1943. p. 58.
- ^"Broadway".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedSeptember 14,2016.
- ^"Broadway".Monthly Film Bulletin.Vol. 9, no. 97. Jan 1, 1942. p. 85.
- ^THOMAS F. BRADY (Apr 5, 1942). "A FEW HOLLYWOOD ACHES AND PAINS: Metro Gauges Public Reaction to Ayres Case -- Mr. Raft Protests".New York Times.p. X3.
- ^"'Broadway' tradition is perpetuated ".The Washington Post.May 25, 1942.ProQuest151528200.
- ^"Universal Plans Program Including 61 Major Offerings".Los Angeles Times.Feb 11, 1941. p. A2.
- ^abBrady, Thomas F. (1942-04-05). "A FEW HOLLYWOOD ACHES AND PAINS".The New York Times.p. 3, Section 8.
- ^T. B. (Jan 11, 1942). "THE HOLLYWOOD SCENE".New York Times.ProQuest106247892.
- ^"News From Hollywood". Dec 30, 1941. p. 23.
- ^Scheuer, P. K. (Mar 10, 1942). "SCREEN".Los Angeles Times.ProQuest165325181.
- ^"SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD".New York Times.Feb 7, 1942. p. 13.
- ^Everett Aaker,The Films of George Raft,McFarland & Company, 2013 p 100
- ^Scheuer, P. K. (Jun 26, 1942). "'Broadway' packs thrill as remake ".Los Angeles Times.
- ^Vagg, Stephen (February 9, 2020)."Why Stars Stop Being Stars: George Raft".Filmink.
External links
edit- BroadwayatIMDb
- Review of filmat Variety