Broadway (1942 film)

Broadway
Directed by William A. Seiter
Produced by Bruce Manning
Screenplay by Felix Jackson
John Bright
Starring George Raft
Pat O'Brien
Music by Frank Skinner
Cinematography George Barnes
Edited by Ted J. Kent
(as Ted Kent)
Production
company
Bruce Manning Productions
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • March 23, 1942 (1942-03-23) (San Francisco)
  • April 17, 1942 (1942-04-17) (New York City)
  • May 8, 1942 (1942-05-08) (Los Angeles)
Running time
 91 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $1.1 million[1]

Broadway is a 1942 crime drama musical film directed by William A. Seiter and starring George Raft as himself and Pat O'Brien as a detective.[2][2] The supporting cast features Janet Blair and Broderick Crawford.

Another fictionalized biographical movie based on Raft's life, The George Raft Story (1961) featured a different actor (Ray Danton) playing Raft.

Plot

A Hollywood dancer (George Raft playing Gearge Raft) returns to Manhattan and recalls working in a nightclub with a bootlegger's (Broderick Crawford) girlfriend.

Cast

Production

The film was an adaptation of a Broadway show which had previously been filmed in 1929. On Broadway, Lee Tracy played the dancer, Thomas Jackson played the detective and Paul Porcasi played the night club 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.[3]

Universal had paid $175,000 for the rights.[4]) Raft had wanted to make it at Universal - he was announced in February 1941[5] - but Jack Warner refused to loan him out so Raft spent eight months on suspension.[6] Eventually Warners relented and Raft made the film.[7] Raft said he had to pay $27,500 out of his own pocket and negotiate so that Warners could borrow Brod Crawford from Universal.[4]

Producer Bruce Manning wanted to make a reasonably faithful adaptation. However he added a prologue and epilogue. He did consider making the bootleggers into foreign agents. He discussed the story with George Raft and recognised the similarities the story of Roy, the dancer, had with the career of George Raft.[8]

Reception

The film was a success with audiences.[7]

The Los Angeles Times called it a "sock melodrama".[9]

References

  1. ↑ "101 Pix Gross in Millions". Variety. 6 January 1943. p. 58.
  2. 1 2 "Broadway". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  3. ↑ 'Broadway' tradition is perpetuated. (1942, May 25). The Washington Post (1923-1954) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/151528200?accountid=13902
  4. 1 2 A FEW HOLLYWOOD ACHES AND PAINS: Metro Gauges Public Reaction to Ayres Case -- Mr. Raft Protests By THOMAS F. BRADY HOLLYWOOD. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 05 Apr 1942: X3.
  5. ↑ Universal plans program including 61 major offerings. (1941, Feb 11). Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/165231082?accountid=13902
  6. ↑ By, T. B. (1942, Jan 11). THE HOLLYWOOD SCENE. New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/106247892?accountid=13902
  7. 1 2 Everett Aaker, The Films of George Raft, McFarland & Company, 2013 p 100
  8. ↑ Scheuer, P. K. (1942, Mar 10). SCREEN. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/165325181?accountid=13902
  9. ↑ Scheuer, P. K. (1942, Jun 26). 'Broadway' packs thrill as remake. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/165335714?accountid=13902
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