George Raft Movies

Want to know the best George Raft movies?  How about the worst George Raft movies?  Curious about George Raft box office grosses or which George Raft movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which George Raft movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences and which got the worst reviews? Well you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.

George Raft (1901-1980) was an American actor.   Raft was well known for his portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s.  Raft’s IMDb page shows 86 acting credits from 1929 to 1980.    This page will rank 61 George Raft movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television shows, shorts, cameos, movies that were not released in North American and a handful of his movies that we could not find box office on, were not included in the rankings.  This was requested by Søren, Bob and Dee….sorry it took so long to complete.

Photo by Ed Seeman at etsy.com

George Raft Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.

1959’s Some Like It Hot

George Raft Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table

The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.

  • Sort George Raft movies by his co-stars
  • Sort George Raft movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost.
  • Sort George Raft movies by yearly domestic box office rank
  • Sort George Raft movies how they were received by critics and audiences.  60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
  • Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each George Raft movie received.
  • SortGeorge Raft movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score.  UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.

Possibly Interesting Facts About George Raft

1. George Ranft was born  in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City in 1901…though there are some reports that he was born in 1895.

2. George Raft’s mother taught him how to dance as a child.   Winning a Charleston dance competition was his big break.   Raft toured with his dancing and helped popularise the tango in Paris, Vienna, Rome, London and New York

3.  Fred Astaire on George Raft’s dancing…..”Raft was a lightning-fast dancer and did the fastest Charleston I ever saw.”

4.  George Raft’s dancing skills took him to Broadway and then to movies.  His first screen role was playing a dancer in 1929’s Queen of the Nightclubs (lost film).

5. 1932’s Scarface made George Raft a star.   Paul Muni was the star but George Raft’s coin tossing Guino Rinaldo caught the public’s eye.

6. George Raft was a close friend of notorious gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel since their childhood in New York. Siegel actually lived at Raft’s home in Hollywood for a time while trying to make inroads for organized crime within the movie colony.

7. George Raft  turned down the roles of Roy “Mad Dog” Earle in High Sierra (1941) and Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon (1941) These parts were picked up by Humphrey Bogart, and each one was essential in making Bogart a superstar.

8. George Raft played himself in ten films: Broadway (1942), Stage Door Canteen (1943), We Will All Go to Paris (1950), The Ladies Man (1961), The Patsy (1964), Casino Royale (1967), Silent Treatment (1968), The Great Sex War (1969), Deadhead Miles (1972) and Sextette (1977).

9.  George Raft married Grace Mulrooney in 1923. The pair separated soon thereafter, but the devoutly Catholic Mulrooney refused to grant a divorce, and Raft remained married to her, and continued to support her, until her death in 1970. A romantic figure in Hollywood, Raft had love affairs with Betty Grable, Marlene Dietrich, Tallulah Bankhead, Carole Lombard, and Mae West. He stated publicly that he wanted to marry Norma Shearer, with whom he had a long romance, but his wife’s refusal to allow a divorce eventually caused Shearer to end the affair.

10. Check out George Raft ‘s career compared to current and classic actors.  Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.

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18 thoughts on “George Raft Movies”

  1. Hello Girls and Boys,
    I saw three films of George Raft, Manpower , Some like it hot and the last I don’t remenbered the title in English but in this film he was a lawyer ( I hope )anyway for me he is in the shadow of Bogart and Edward G. Robinson but if I read the gazette of Hollywood he was very well known as a dancer specially with Carole Lombard in Boléro and Rumba and he played with Mae West Too.
    I don’t think he was a great star and great box office but surely he is in the Hollywood legend.
    It is so hot in France now that I drink with a lot of pleasure a great glass of Chardonnay ? with a lot of ice even if it is a very bad thing and in the mean time I listen Joe Cooker and Jennifer Warnes this fabulous song « up were we belong » reading the last comments of your site.
    Have a good time
    Pierre

    Reply

    1. Hey Pierre….good to here from year. Thanks for the comment, visit and tally count. Good thoughts on George Raft. I agree….he was a great dancer….I would have never guessed that…as all the movies I have seen with him…he was bad ass gangster…lol.

      We are in the same boat….it is very hot here as well…..it has averaged 100F the last few days…with a feels like 113F…….even worse…..two huge storms knocked out our power….so last night was horrible….the house felt like a coffin.

      Good to know you are enjoying the comments will drinking your Chardonnay…good stuff as always.

      Reply

  2. Another comment I put in and then the site shuts off. I find it interesting George Raft played himself 10 times in films, up their with greats like Abbott and Costello, Cheech and Chong, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers etc. I saw Each Dawn I Die at the Regency Revival Theater back in 1979 with The Roaring Twenties (both 1939).

    George was on the Oracle of Bacon Top 1000 Center of the Hollywood Universe back in the early days. Unfortunately when they went to Wikipedia info he did not come back on the list like some of his cronies.

    These are the actors on the December 15, 2018 list he has appeared with. He actually appeared with # 1.

    1 CHRISTOPHER LEE Five Golden Dragons (1967)
    18 JOHN GIELGUD Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    28 TREVOR HOWARD Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    48 JOHN CARRADINE Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    51 FRANCO NERO The Man with Bogart’s Face (1980)
    55 KLAUS KINSKI Five Golden Dragons (1967)
    57 ORSON WELLES Follow the Boys (1944)
    89 PETER USTINOV Hammersmith Is Out (1972)
    109 DAVID NIVEN Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    112 SHIRLEY MACLAINE Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    112 SHIRLEY MACLAINE Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
    120 JOHN MILLS Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    138 HERBERT LOM The Man with Bogart’s Face (1980)
    142 MARC LAWRENCE If I Had a Million (1932)
    142 MARC LAWRENCE Invisible Stripes (1939)
    155 ROBERT MORLEY Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    172 MICKEY ROONEY Skidoo (1968)
    182 BURGESS MEREDITH Skidoo (1968)
    193 WILLIAM HOLDEN Invisible Stripes (1939)
    198 ELLEN BURSTYN For Those Who Think Young (1964)
    241 AKIM TAMIROFF Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
    241 AKIM TAMIROFF Outpost in Morocco (1949)
    241 AKIM TAMIROFF Rumba (1935)
    241 AKIM TAMIROFF Spawn of the North (1938)
    242 AVA GARDNER Whistle Stop (1946)
    278 AUSTIN PENDLETON Skidoo (1968)
    297 HENRY FONDA Spawn of the North (1938)
    299 RICHARD BURTON Hammersmith Is Out (1972)
    309 ROBERT TAYLOR Rogue Cop (1954)
    372 BEAU BRIDGES Hammersmith Is Out (1972)
    431 HENRY SILVA Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
    467 PAUL FIX Dancers in the Dark (1932)
    467 PAUL FIX Scarface (1932)
    467 PAUL FIX Souls at Sea (1937)
    474 TONY CURTIS Some Like It Hot (1959)
    501 RAY MILLAND Bolero (1934)
    501 RAY MILLAND The Glass Key (1935)
    502 JACK LEMMON Some Like It Hot (1959)
    512 KEYE LUKE Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    543 ANGIE DICKINSON Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
    595 SLIM PICKENS Skidoo (1968)
    646 ELIZABETH TAYLOR Hammersmith Is Out (1972)
    672 WALTER PIDGEON The House Across the Bay (1940)
    687 FRANK SINATRA Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    687 FRANK SINATRA Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
    759 NEHEMIAH PERSOFF Some Like It Hot (1959)
    782 EDWARD G. ROBINSON A Bullet for Joey (1955)
    782 EDWARD G. ROBINSON Manpower (1941)
    784 CESAR ROMERO Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    784 CESAR ROMERO Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
    784 CESAR ROMERO Skidoo (1968)
    805 CHARLES LANE Intrigue (1947)
    805 CHARLES LANE It Had to Happen (1936)
    805 CHARLES LANE Race Street (1948)
    805 CHARLES LANE The Bowery (1933)
    854 PAT O’BRIEN Some Like It Hot (1959)
    867 PETER LAWFORD Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
    867 PETER LAWFORD Skidoo (1968)
    877 LLOYD NOLAN She Couldn’t Take It (1935)
    877 LLOYD NOLAN Stolen Harmony (1935)
    877 LLOYD NOLAN The House Across the Bay (1940)
    966 JIM BACKUS A Dangerous Profession (1949)
    970 YVONNE DE CARLO The Man with Bogart’s Face (1980)
    993 NINA FOCH Johnny Allegro (1949)
    HM (806) CHARLES BOYER Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    HM (937) GLYNIS JOHNS Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)

    Georgie (one of the world’s most exciting actors this side of Dana Andrews) appeared with 34 Oscar winners.

    CHARLES COBURN Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    CHARLES LAUGHTON If I Had a Million (1932)
    CLAIRE TREVOR I Stole a Million (1939)
    CLAIRE TREVOR Johnny Angel (1945)
    DAVID NIVEN Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    ELIZABETH TAYLOR Hammersmith Is Out (1972)
    ELLEN BURSTYN For Those Who Think Young (1964)
    FRANK SINATRA Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    FRANK SINATRA Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
    FREDRIC MARCH All of Me (1934)
    GALE SONDERGAARD FOLLOW THE BOYS (1944)
    GARY COOPER If I Had a Million (1932)
    GARY COOPER Souls at Sea (1937)
    GINGER ROGERS Black Widow (1954)
    HELEN HAYES Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    HENRY FONDA Spawn of the North (1938)
    HUMPHREY BOGART Invisible Stripes (1939)
    HUMPHREY BOGART They Drive by Night (1940)
    JACK LEMMON Some Like It Hot (1959)
    JAMES CAGNEY Each Dawn I Die (1939)
    JAMES CAGNEY Taxi! (1932)
    JANE DARWELL Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    JANE WYMAN Rumba (1935)
    JANE WYMAN Stolen Harmony (1935)
    JOHN GIELGUD Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    JOHN MILLS Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    JOSEPH SCHILDKRAUT SOULS AT SEA (1937)
    KATHARINE HEPBURN Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    LORETTA YOUNG Taxi! (1932)
    PAUL MUNI Scarface (1932)
    PAUL MUNI Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    PETER USTINOV Hammersmith Is Out (1972)
    RAY MILLAND Bolero (1934)
    RAY MILLAND The Glass Key (1935)
    RONALD COLMAN Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    SHIRLEY MACLAINE Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    SHIRLEY MACLAINE Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
    SPENCER TRACY Goldie (1931)
    SPENCER TRACY Quick Millions (1931)
    THOMAS MITCHELL ALL OF ME (1934)
    VAN HEFLIN Black Widow (1954)
    VICTOR MCLAGLEN Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
    VICTOR MCLAGLEN Whistle Stop (1946)
    WALLACE BEERY The Bowery (1933)
    WILLIAM HOLDEN Invisible Stripes (1939)

    Reply

    1. Hey Dan. Not sure why your comments are having so many issues getting posted lately. I agree him playing himself 10 times is pretty impressive….I guess his gangster persona made him a celebrity for life. He was famous in Hollywood before being famous in America. The character of Joe Massara in Little Caesar played by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. was based on actor George Raft. Seems Hollywood was fascinated by him.

      Seeing Each Dawn I Die and The Roaring Twenties on the big screen had to be fun. Each Dawn I Die is my favorite Raft performance…never been a huge fan of Some Like It Hot. First list….some big names here…though it looks like 4 is the most times he starred with an Oracler.

      Georgie working with 34 Oscar winning co-stars seems a little on the low side…..but his career really only lasted 20 or so years….by the mid 1950s….he was starting the George Raft playing George Raft part of his career. Good trivia as always…sorry again that your comments are having issues.

      Reply

  3. First of all, you have George Raft listed as George Murphy in the Possibly Interesting Facts About———————-

    George Murphy is a Song and dance man.

    I have seen 16 George Raft movies, including 6 of the top 10.

    The HIGHEST rated movie I have seen is Some Like it Hot.

    The highest rated movie I have NOT seen is Palmy Days.

    The LOWEST rated movie I have seen is Johnny Allegro.

    Favourite George Raft Movies:

    Some Like It Hot
    They Drive By Night
    Ocean’s 11
    Each Dawn I Die
    The Glass Key
    Stage Door Canteen
    Nocturne
    Scarface
    Manpower
    Invisible Stripes

    Other George Raft Movies I Have Seen:

    The Bowery
    Black Widow
    Background to Danger
    Taxi
    Johnny Angel
    Johnny Allegro

    Reply

    1. Hey Flora…George Raft or George Murphy….they sound almost alike…lol. I copied the possible interesting factor header from our Audie Murphy page…..just for forgot to change the last name. Thanks for the headsup on that. Happy to say that DoC2 was able to fix that for me…as I was away for the day for a training class.

      Your tally of 16 doubles my tally of 8. I am actually surprised that I had seen that many of his movies. I have seen 4 of your Top 10….with Scarface and Each Dawn I Die being my favorites. I would say that Each Dawn I Die is his best performance that I have seen. I think I would like to see Manpower….though I imagine that one might be hard to track down. Good stuff as always.

      Reply

  5. “The appeal of George Raft is difficult to pinpoint today. He looks surly and sour in most of his old films, wearing one stormy expression to represent all of his emotions” – The only 4 Star George Raft performances is 1932’s Scarface.” -Consumer Reports’ Rating the Movie Stars (1983)

    Reply

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