George Raft

<p> 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 <I>Scarface</I>. 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.</p>