''Race Street'' is a 1948 American crime

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American '' ...

directed by

Edwin L. Marin Edwin L. Marin (February 21, 1899 – May 2, 1951) was an American film director who directed 58 films between 1932 and 1951, working with Randolph Scott, Anna May Wong, John Wayne, Peter Lorre, George Raft, Bela Lugosi, Judy Garland, Eddi ...

. The drama features

George Raft George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is ...

, William Bendix and Marilyn Maxwell. It was one of several collaborations between Raft and Marin.

Plot

When his bookie pal Hal is killed, nightclub owner Dan Gannin intends to do something about it. His police pal Lt. Runson warns him not to take the law into his own hands. Also concerned is Dan's girlfriend, Robbie, a war widow. But when two thugs working for a mob boss blindfold and beat Dan, a disloyal Robbie is also in the room. It turns out Robbie is not a widow at all but the showgirl ex-wife of the crime kingpin, Phil Dixon, and still working for him. She denies it at first, but Dan recalls recognizing the scent of her perfume while blindfolded. Lt. Runson tries to provide Dan protective custody, but another bookie betrays Dan to the mob. The lieutenant is about to be shot when Dan intercepts the bullet. He dies as Dixon is placed under arrest.

Cast

as Daniel J. 'Dan' Gannin * William Bendix as Lt. Barney Runson * Marilyn Maxwell as Robbie Lawrence * Frank Faylen as Phil Dixon *

Harry Morgan Harry Morgan (born Harry Bratsberg; April 10, 1915 – December 7, 2011) was an American actor and director whose television and film career spanned six decades. Morgan's major roles included Pete Porter in both ''December Bride'' (1954–1959 ...

as Hal Towers *

Gale Robbins Gale Robbins (born Betty Gale Robbins or Betty Gale Murphy, May 7, 1921 – February 18, 1980) was an American actress and singer. Early years Born in Chicago, Illinois, although one source claims she was born in Mitchell, Indiana and her fami ...

as Elaine Gannin *

Cully Richards Cully Richards (1908–1978) was an American singer, and film and television actor.Aaker p.130 He had a recurring role as First Sergeant Stanley Wozniak on the 1962–1963 situation comedy ''Don't Call Me Charlie!''. Selected filmography * '' S ...

as Mike Hadley * Mack Gray as Stringy *

Russell Hicks Edward Russell Hicks (June 4, 1895 – June 1, 1957) was an American film character actor. Hicks was born in 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland. During World War I, he served in the U.S. Army in France. He later became a lieutenant Colonel in the Cali ...

as Easy Mason

Production

The script was based on a magazine serial by Maurice Davis which appeared in ''Turf and Sport Digest'' from December 1945 to March 1946. Film rights were bought by RKO. Raft signed in January 1947. According to the ''New York Times'', Raft was to play a newspaper handicapper and William Bendix would play a bookmaker who tries to corrupt the handicapper because he is costing the bookmaker money. The story changed and the female lead went to Marilyn Maxwell.

, who played Raft's sister, was a singer under contract to RKO. There was some location filming in San Francisco. At one time the film was going to be called ''Jackpot''. The film was made by RKO when it was run by

Dore Schary Isadore "Dore" Schary (August 31, 1905 – July 7, 1980) was an American playwright, director, and producer for the stage and a prolific screenwriter and producer of motion pictures. He directed just one feature film, '' Act One'', the film bi ...

but before it was released the studio was bought by Howard Hughes and Schary left the company.

Reception

When the film was released, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' film critic, Thomas M. Pryor, panned the film, writing, "everything about this dreary exercise in violence is strictly formula, depressingly juvenile and dull...Mr. Raft, an old hand at this sort of thing, handles himself with ease and authority, and William Bendix does a good job as the detective. There is even professional dexterity to the direction, but all this energy is completely wasted on a shoddy, routine story." The ''Los Angeles Times'' said the film "didn't have much to say."

Box office

The film made a minor profit. It was the third of four films Raft made for RKO.Everett Aaker, ''The Films of George Raft'', McFarland & Company, 2013 p 132

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Race Street 1948 films American black-and-white films 1948 crime drama films 1940s English-language films Film noir Films scored by Roy Webb Films directed by Edwin L. Marin American crime drama films 1940s American films