Riffraff (1935) User Reviews

Strange name for a strange little film...

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 7 March 2010]

...but I guess the title "Riffraff" would do as well as anything else MGM could have come up with - but it's not very descriptive. Hattie (Jean Harlow) is a cannery worker in love with Dutch (Spencer Tracy), a very good fisherman and also a tremendous blow-hard. He fancies himself the leader of some future workers' revolution. Hattie lives with her extended family including sister Lil (Una Merkel) and Lil's husband and two kids, with the son being played by a mischievous Mickey Rooney. Dutch doesn't treat Hattie very well - they spend most of their time arguing, and to complicate matters she has caught the eye of wharf boss Nick (Joseph Calleia).

However, between arguments, Dutch and Hattie do manage to get married. Some have asked whatever Hattie saw in a selfish windbag like Dutch, but if a coherent 500 word essay was a prerequisite for love it would be the end of the human race, and I have seen odder pairings in real life that worked. They are married only a few months when Dutch decides he was meant for bigger and better things, and he tells Hattie he is leaving her - for awhile - to find his destiny. She understandably doesn't take this well, and he gets the last word in by saying that it's goodbye for keeps. Thus begins the long melodrama of these two apart as Dutch's plans don't exactly work out as he figured and an impulsive act by Hattie meant to aid Dutch in a time of trouble and that act's repercussions show Dutch how selfish he has been and how much she really means to him.

In spite of the melodrama, there really are no bad guys here. Even lecherous Nick is likable in his own way, and his conversations with his lawyer are particularly humorous. Thus this film is pure Depression-era entertainment in the MGM tradition. It has many of the familiar building blocks of 30's MGM dramas, but they are assembled in a rather quirky way such that this is nothing that will change the world, but it's still very interesting. The cast is outstanding with good performances by all. Especially notable is Una Merkel's performance as loyal sister Lil who manages to be simultaneously feisty and frumpy.

Riffraff has plenty of sass.

[st-shot · 7/10 · 10 December 2010]

Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy find love on the waterfront in this MGM production that has a Warner's look and feel. With its hardboiled and run down backdrop it also addresses contemporary issues of labor unrest, Red union infiltration as well as managing to sneak some risqué moments by the censor.

Dutch Muller (Tracy) is the best fisherman on the dock and he knows it. A bit of a charmer he has no problem with the ladies as well. Cannery worker Hattie (Harlow) has her sights on him but the pugnacious and confident Dutch isn't about to get tied down and the exchanges between the two are usually filled with invective. They weather and eventually wear each other down before getting hitched. When labor problems arise Dutch's arrogance and pride get's the best of him and he finds himself living in aq track side hobo camp. Faithful Hattie attempts to right him but instead ends up being sentenced to a long stretch at a women's prison. Dutch in turn vows to spring her.

Tracy and Harlow display a nice down to earth terse chemistry driven by pride and desire. Muller's thickheadedness seems impervious to penetrate but the resourceful Hattie's drive is not to be denied and while there is perhaps an overabundance of shouting between the two the tenderness comes across as natural and genuine. A trio of scene stealers Una Merkle, Joseph Calleia and Mickey Rooney doing a waterfront Puck also add to the story's humor and rhythm.

Riffraff does get a little improbable during its climax but Tracy and Harlow's dogged persistence and interplay give it an irascible verve.

Okay melodrama with two classic stars

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 13 March 2006]

"Riffraff" stars Spencer Tracy in an odd role for him and the lovely Jean Harlow as his wife in a story involving the tuna fishermen set, unions, prison, hobos and the like. It's a true potboiler with Harriet (Harlow) sacrificing everything for her man, an egotistical, bombastic fellow named Rudolph Muller. He's determined to make good but his stubbornness and big mouth get in the way.

Tracy is ill-suited for this role, though at the time, he was mainly playing character roles, and this certainly is one. But the actor comes off as too smart to be playing such a dumb lug. A year later, his stock at MGM would begin to rise, and he would transition out of this type of role into leading man parts as Bogart did. Tracy is much better in the second part of the film, where he's called upon to show his emotive range, than in the first part where his character is established.

Though Harlow plays a cannery worker turned wife, she still gets to be glamorous in a couple of scenes where the big boss, Nick (Joseph Calleia) takes her out. Harlow comes off tough and streetwise enough to be right for the role, and she does it well. Actually, she seems more comfortable than Tracy. MGM at that point was trying to expand the range of this incredibly popular actress. The film was made in 1935, and of course, by 1937 she would be dead, but not before doing another -- and far superior - film with Tracy, "Libeled Lady." All in all, there's nothing special about "Riffraff" except the two stars, but Tracy and Harlow were always special, so it's worth a look.

Good Entertainment for Harlow Fans

[Scoval71 · 7/10 · 26 December 2006]

I enjoyed this 1935 movie. I like Jean Harlow and she gives a splendid realistic portrayal of a girl in love with a man who seems to ignore her. She looks wonderful in this movie. The story is rather far fetched about a tuna fisherman who wants better conditions and better pay for himself and his fellow workers but is rather immature and bull headed about everything and everyone. He is always getting in arguments or fights at the drop of a hat. Una Merkel as the sister is fine and the young Mickey Rooney is also in this movie. It is a pleasant story, if rather dated and old fashioned, but I did enjoy it and recommend it, and especially for us Jean Harlow fans, of whom, there are many.

The Terror of Tuna Town

[lugonian · 7/10 · 16 December 2004]

RIFFRAFF (MGM, 1935), directed by J. Walter Ruben, stars Jean Harlow, as Hattie who lives by the waterfront with her married sister, Lil (Una Merkel), her husband (William Newell) and their kids, Jimmy and Rose (Mickey Rooney and Juanita Quigley). She works as a tuna-cannery worker for Nick Lewis (Joseph Calleia), but her real interest is Dutch Muller (Spencer Tracy), a loudmouthed, conceited fisherman. Although she pretends to hate him, she keeps his picture in her room and follows him about. During a festivity, she proves herself lucky for him at the gambling tables, causing him to dump his beauties and change his interest towards her. Eventually they wed, becoming the typical married couple, constantly yelling and screaming at one another, usually saying things for which they mean the opposite. After Dutch rises from fisherman to union leader, he becomes responsible for a strike that causes many men, he included, to be out of work for a length of time. Being more concerned about his pride than his wife and those who look up to him, Dutch deserts. When Hattie learns of Dutch being sick and living amongst homeless bums, she steals some money from Nick to give to Dutch. Because of this, she's arrested. While serving time in prison, Dutch takes time to think things over, unaware that Hattie is not only serving time for his sake, but has given birth to his child.

Although both Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy have appeared in better screen material during their careers, RIFFRAFF ranks one of the most televised of their films, particularly during the golden age of local television late shows of the 1960s and '70s. It has even been a viewer's request at one time or another on Turner Classic Movies. Yet, it's not as well known as Harlow's DINNER AT EIGHT (1933), or Tracy's CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS (1937), to name a few. Not that RIFFRAFF is a good or a bad film, but actually a total departure for both its stars. Yes, Harlow has played tough gals before, and handled her men with kid gloves, but due to the production code that went into affect in 1934, she still played it tough but a little more tamed.

On the comedic side, Dutch and Hattie start arguing right off after exchanging their vows, and politely smile and act as nothing's wrong in front of their wedding guests. Then there's the accented Joseph Calleia, whose double-talk along with another accented character actor, George Givot, add to the lighter moments, as well as Calleia delivering such a line following a big rumble, "I'm Okay, but I don't feel so good." A current hit tune, "You Are My Lucky Star," first introduced in Broadway MELODY OF 1936 (MGM, 1935), is plugged here, sung by a quartet during the party scene.

The supporting cast includes Vince Barnett as Flytrap; Paul Hurst as Belcher; Roger Imhoff as Hattie and Lil's drunken father, Pop; Lillian Harmer, Helene Costello, among others. In a notable performance is J. Farrell MacDonald as Brains, the more logical character in the story who plays his role as a soft-hearted union man with strong human quality. There is a scene in which the peaceful Brains tries to talk some sense into Dutch, and gets his face slapped for his trouble.

The central focus here is Spencer Tracy, a new resident to MGM, making his fourth appearance for the studio. Up to this point, MGM wasn't sure how to use Tracy. His Dutch Muller character is so unsympathetic, so conceited, and as the title indicates, a "Riffraff." Yet, it's a wonder how Tracy succeeded in getting the audience sympathy. Aside from all the yelling and screaming to either add tension to the drama or lighter moments in comedy, RIFFRAFF also includes many extras, many crowd scenes to go around.

The acting is satisfactory, although Harlow, criticized as being a very bad actress at the time, was improving with each passing film. Her most notable weak spot in RIFFRAFF is the scene in prison where she must surrender her infant baby to her sister Lil. It might have worked had Harlow been given a little more direction in doing this scene with more conviction. She does, however, work well with Tracy, making his second of three movies opposite her.

Although set on the waterfront locale, Harlow is the only female character in the story with a more glamorized look. Character actress Una Merkel, as her sister, Lil, plays her role with more believability and conviction, wearing second hand clothes, hair unsoiled and minus facial makeup. But viewers and MGM couldn't accept or present Harlow on screen looking like a second-rate character, even in poor man's settings.

RIFFRAFF, which was available on video cassette in the 1990s, is a worthy look at an early film with future stars on the rise, particularly both Tracy and Mickey Rooney, who would appear together in BOYS TOWN (1938) and its sequel, MEN OF BOYS TOWN (1941), as well as Jean Harlow at the prime of her movie career before death took a toll in 1937 at the age of 26. (***)

Depends

[GManfred · 24 August 2018]

How much you like "Riffraff" depends on whether you're a fan of Jean Harlow or Spencer Tracy. Fans of Jean Harlow will find a lot to like. For fans of Tracy, not so much. Harlow is cute and sexy in her playful innocent way, while Spencer Tracy is strident and overbearing as the union organizer of a fishing fleet. His onscreen persona was not yet solidified and here he strikes a discordant note with his dogmatic portrayal of Dutch Muller, a man who is never wrong. He marries dock denizen Harlow in a wedding that misfires - due mainly to Tracy's intransigence.

It is not really a good story and at times is a chore to watch. A bright spot is Joseph Calleia, the boss and owner of the fishing fleet. He speaks with an Italian accent and is very funny as he mangles the English language. Good cast support from Mickey Rooney, Una Merkel and J.Farrell MacDonald among others. Outside of the good cast it is a potboiler with minimal interest. It plays like a B picture.

5/10 - Website no longer displays my star rating.

"Any time you got a tough nut to crack, just call me".

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 13 August 2016]

This film has all the pacing and dialog of a screwball comedy, but it's emphasis is on drama and the fiery up and down relationship between it's principals. Personally, I couldn't wrap my head around the chemistry between Dutch Muller (Spencer Tracy) and his fiancé/wife Hattie (Jean Harlow), though obviously stranger pairings have occurred both in movies and real life. But just to quickly make my point, take note of the Fourth of July party on the Fairy Queen - Dutch gets miffed at Hattie and shoves her away with a hand in her face, while she spits on him in response. Boy, talk about a budding romance.

The story involves Dutch Miller's ambition to rise to the top of the local fisherman's union to thwart cannery owner Nick Lewis (Joseph Calleia) from taking advantage of his position against the tuna men. There's an interesting sequence showing the operation of a cannery assembly line, though I was amazed to see one of the female workers packing a can of tuna by hand! That didn't seem very probable to me but with just a quick glimpse there's no way to tell how normal that was. Other aspects of the assembly line required no hands-on involvement.

As one of those cannery workers, Hattie must have left work each day smelling like fish, thereby adding some resonance to Dutch's remark while dancing closely next to her - "That's swell stink-up you got in your hair". It was meant as a compliment obviously, though I'd be wary of using one like that today. If you try it though, get back to me and let me know how it went over.

The thing that really blew me away in the story was Hattie getting sent up to Sorena Valley Prison for ripping off her boss at the cannery. Geez, how much could she have stolen to get sent to the slammer? Then, when the picture segues to her prison life, she's in her jail cell with a baby! Come on, when was that ever the case? Okay, the film makers were going for a little pathos here, but that was just too in-your-face. But I guess it served it's purpose to bring Dutch back down to Earth from his high-hat ambition as a union boss.

The picture is peppered with it's share of colorful characters with names like Flytrap (Victor Kilian), Ratsy (Arthur Housman), Brains McCall (J. Farrell MacDonald), and Hattie's Dad Pops (Roger Imhoff). However the one to really keep your eye on and ear tuned into was the sleazy cannery owner Nick, who's dialog always kept you guessing. Case in point, one of his conversations with attorney Markis (George Givot) commenting on everything that's happened in the story - "What is past is gone out and over done". It sounded like something Stan Laurel would say.

Spencer Tracy On The Verge

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 6/10 · 9 March 2011]

There's a certain time in the late 1930s when, in my view, movies come of age. This film does have some substance, although it is not quite of that very slightly later Hollywood when films became "modern". And, the same can be said of Spencer Tracy (one of my two favorite actors; the other being Cary Grant). This was the film just before his breakout role in "Fury" and a series of truly impressive starring roles. This is the Tracy that seemed to feel he had to yell to make a point (or was that the direction he was receiving?). He hadn't quite learned what I'll refer to as simmering-subtlety. Nevertheless, Tracy has his moments in this film.

Jean Harlow is impressive, even without her platinum blond hair. You'll recognize quite a few of the supporting actors (including Una Merkel and a young Mickey Rooney). I was interested to see Joseph Calleia as the bad guy here...a common role for him at the time, although I remember him best as the papa from the Martin & Lewis film "The Caddy" more than a dozen years later. Although not a large role, there's a strong performance by supporting actor J. Farrell MacDonald (if you watch old movies, you'll recognize him, although you probably never knew his name).

The portion of the film that is most interesting is about midway through. After we learn that the major characters are sort of low class yellers, and after Tracy and Harlow split, it's the scene at the hobo camp that brought real substance to the movie...quite touching. And speaking of the hobo camp, it's a reminder that this film was made right in the middle of the Great Depression, and its depiction of labor unions is quite impressive. But then the film once again sinks into that pre-GWTW immaturity that I spoke of earlier. Harlow steals money from the bad guy to help Tracy, gets caught, goes to womens' prison, escapes through a drain pipe in the middle of a thunderstorm, at about the same time that the poor night watchman at a dock (Tracy) saves the union workers' jobs by foiling a sabotage attempt (why was there such an attempt by hobos???). Yes, it gets kinda dumb, and oh, I forgot to mention that while in prison, Harlow has a baby which nobody tells Tracy about. And believe it or not, despite Harlow breaking out of prison, they all live happily ever after. Dumb, dumb, dumb...but somewhat entertaining!

What did she see in Tracy anyway?

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 1 December 2005]

In watching Riffraff again I'm struck with the burning question, what did Jean Harlow see in Spencer Tracy?

Both are working class people, he's a commercial fisherman she's his sweetheart who works in the cannery owned by Joseph Calleia. He's a blustering, pigheaded, egomanaical boorish lout of a human being, kind of lovable in his own crude way. But stack him up against Joseph Calleia, foreign accent and all, there ain't a contest. Calleia is the guy all the fishermen deal with as independent contractors with their catch. He's shrewd and clever, ruthless at times, but definitely not stupid.

Frankly if it were me in Harlow's place, there's no contest. Take up with Joseph Calleia and give Spence the old heave-ho. But if Jean did that there'd be no movie.

Tracy's taking a part that normally would have been given to Wallace Beery at MGM. Maybe before San Francisco that's how MGM executives saw Tracy, a B picture Beery. It's similar to some of the roles he played at Fox. But I can't recall another film where he played a guy so dumb.

In fact the film is an odd property for MGM. This thing should have been made at Warner Brothers with Cagney and O'Brien.

But Jean loves her man through thick and thin, even goes to jail to protect him. I can hear Fanny Brice singing in the background.

Riffraff doesn't belong at the top of the list of film credits for either Tracy or Harlow. Mickey Rooney as Harlow's younger brother, Joseph Calleia as the boss, and J. Farrell MacDonald as the wise and compassionate head of the fisherman's union have the best roles.

But you want to see Tracy and Harlow sparkle? Go buy or rent Libeled Lady.

Disappointing

[tlbedman · 6/10 · 8 April 2021]

I had high expectations with both Tracy and Harlow in it, but there's just way too much yelling at each other. Jean Harlow comes off better, but Tracy is not a very likable guy through most of the movie.

Not the best old movie

[HotToastyRag · 4/10 · 16 September 2019]

When you think of Jean Harlow starring in a movie called Riffraff, there's only one explanation for it: her leading man must be Spencer Tracy. They both play workers in a tuna cannery, and their characters aren't particularly high class. They and their neighbors live in crowded slums, and Mickey Rooney looks after his young nieces and nephews, when he's a mere child himself!

As it's the 1930s, Joseph Calleia is the villain and Una Merkel is the best friend. If you really like Jean Harlow or movies about how the lower half lives in the slums, you can watch this one. It's far from the best classic I've seen, and I've made quite a study of it. I prefer Jean when she's more glamorous, or at least trying to be. Somehow, Jean Harlow and "riff raff" don't blend well.

An enjoyable venture for sexpot Jean Harlow!

[talisencrw · 8/10 · 23 August 2016]

Though this is incredibly dated, it's also a very sincere and bizarre cross between a rags-to-riches drama and social commentary on unfair work practices/rights of workers/unions. And just so fans could see sexpot starlet Jean Harlow (the film's from Warner Archives' 7-film boxed set put out for the recent 100th anniversary of her birth in 1911) in as many costumes and gowns as possible, they have her married and involved in romances not simply with strait-laced activist Spencer Tracy but also their rich, slimy boss, tuna cannery owner Joseph Galleia (most famous in 'Touch of Evil' and 'Gilda'). Women loved her because she was lippy, brazen, glamorous, loyal and had a heart of gold, and men loved her because...she was Jean Harlow. This also sports an early appearance by Mickey Rooney in comic relief as her 15-year-old punk nephew; hard to belief he had already spent 10 years by that time on the silver screen! Not the worst film you would ever see, and her charisma with both starring actors is extraordinary. If you're a fan of either Harlow or 30's drama, don't miss it for the world.

Low Class Weeper

[boblipton · 7/10 · 9 March 2002]

Not as good as one would expect from the talent -- Spencer Tracy, Jean Harlow and a script of Anita Loos -- but MGM still hadn't quite figured out what to do with Tracy and they were still teaching Harlow how to act. Given the earnest script, there are *no* laughs in this one, but you might want to see this anyway.

"I love dames with spirit...dames and fishes..."....'Dutch' Muller

[planktonrules · 2/10 · 18 August 2016]

In many ways, this is a bit like a Popeye cartoon with live actors. No, there's no spinach and super-strength, but the characters do seem a lot like these cartoons--and with about as much depth! This is especially true of Dutch (Spencer Tracy)...a guy who seems a lot like Popeye AND Bluto put together! All he seems to like to do is fight, yell and act tough. He's also a complete know-it-all who NEVER is willing to back down when problems arise. A multidimensional performance, it is NOT!

Dutch hates the guy in charge of the fishing fleet and spends much of his energy fighting with the guy. He also, inexplicably, has a girl that loves him...though he's about as tender and likable as a seasick hippo! Despite showing no tenderness towards her (or anyone), Hattie (Jean Harlow) is in love with him and eventually they marry. Now he doesn't exactly ask her...they have a fight and in the next scene they are married! None of this makes any sense, by the way!

Soon after the wedding, Dutch is made the head of the fishermen's union and his pig-headed attitude does not serve him or his men well. Soon, he's voted out and he's jobless--none of which would have happened if he hadn't been a bit of a jerk. What's next for him and his unlucky wife? See the film...or don't!

This is among the worst characters Spencer Tracy ever played because the character had zero depth and is just annoying. The only worse role might be in "Tortilla Flat"....which was also painfully bad and completely unrealistic. Perhaps an actor like Wallace Beery could have played Dutch better. All I know is that he was terrible...and much of it was due to miscasting and much was due to the poor writing for his character. Because of all this, the audience naturally HATES Dutch...so when bad things happen you simply don't care. I know I sure disliked him...intensely!

As far as the rest of the film goes, it's not especially good. It's a weepy melodrama and I found none of it enjoyable or engaging. A rare misfire for Tracy and Harlow....but clearly among their worst films.

By the way, in many ways the plot in this film is similar to an earlier Harlow film, "Hold on to Your Man". It's not particularly good and in it she also plays a long-suffering wife who marries a complete jerk.

Riffraff of the waterfront

[guswhovian · 7/10 · 28 July 2020]

Temperamental fisherman Dutch Muller (Spencer Tracy) marries cannery worker Hattie (Jean Harlow), but their marriage may not be able to survive Dutch's union work.

Riffraff is incredibly fun. Harlow is perfect, and the supporting cast is great. Una Merkel is a hoot as Harlow's sister, Joseph Calleia has another role as a smooth gangster. Mickey Rooney has some good comedy scenes as Harlow's brother(!). Spencer Tracy is an actor I've never really cared for, and I wish his role had been played by somebody else. Someone like Jimmy Cagney would have been perfect, but Tracy does a passable job.

The script, co-written by Anita Loos, is all over the place: sometimes it's a comedy, or sometimes it's a social drama. The direction is functional but unspectacular. Overall, this is definitely a B film, but it's elevated by Harlow's performance.

not very good

[kyle_furr · 6/10 · 31 March 2004]

The main problem i had with the film is the screenplay. It was just badly written and you didn't believe a lot of the things the characters did. The plot really doesn't come together like it should and the movie is just pretty bad. It stars out with Spencer Tracy talking some workers out of a strike that would of hurt them and he also p***es off his boss. Both Tracy and the boss are interested in Jean Harlow but Harlow only goes with the boss because, i just forget and who really cares anyway. Mickey Rooney is also in here and Spencer Tracy is a great actor but he's only OK in here. Jean Harlow does a pretty good job and you should watch Libeled Lady instead.

running hot and cold

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 7 September 2023]

Hattie Muller (Jean Harlow) lives on cannery row with her large poor family. Dutch Muller (Spencer Tracy) is a struggling fisherman. It's a love-hate, hate-hate connection. There is disturbance in the fisherman union and Dutch makes a popular speech. She calls him Riffraff.

The heated banter is sometimes the lifeblood of a good romance. In this case, I got whiplashed from these two going back and forth from hot to cold. They are so very melodramatic in their fights. Otherwise, I like these two actors. I just want them to calm down a bit. There is also a young Mickey Rooney running around here somewhere.

Tracy and Harlow continue to snap, slap, crackle, cackle, and pop, all the way to the top!

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 19 September 2017]

Harlow's a big hearted working class same who is employed at a fish cannery. Tracy's an aggressive strike breaker, often at odds with Harlow who nearly knocks his block off with a flying mackerel. He is publicly humiliated by her, but secretly they are crazy about each other. The only thing that stands in their way (besides his arrogance and her feistiness) is waterfront organized criminal leader Leo Carrillo. In spite of that, Spencer and Jean make it to the altar, but the road to happiness and security won't be easy thanks to their hot tempers.

Fighting only minutes after they tie the knot, Tracy and Harlow are a delight, and this slice of life drama with many comic moments is extremely enjoyable. There's also Una Merkel and Mickey Rooney as her siblings, and it's obvious that Mickey was destined for stardom. Harlow's platinum hair is a bit darker here, yet she's extremely lovely. She gets above the title billing and he's under the titles, but it's obvious that they are equal in talent.

This takes on some serious social issues among the taming of the shrew subplot, with waterfront boss Carrillo gregarious but ruthless, a sore loser over Tracy getting Harlow. The comic first half smoothly moves to social drama in the second half, yet the mood is not jarring. A musical moment featuring "You are my Lucky Star" which leads into a sudden burst of fireworks (thanks to the pranksterish Rooney) is one of the great single sequences, with the shot of Mickey with firecrackers in his ears edited into "Babes in Arms". Even lacking the MGM gloss as it emulates a Warner Brothers film, this is an exceptional A film that deserves to be more well remembered.

Completely disjointed

[todd-136-941782 · 4/10 · 5 September 2023]

You would think with Hollywood heavyweights, such as Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracey that the movie would have to be great. You'd be wrong.

First, this film shows the corruption and anti-American values that labor unions have. Spencer Tracey plays fishermen, turned union leader who is immediately corrupted by his newfound power. It isn't long before his fellow fishermen are tired of his lack of leadership and replace him.

Of course, Jean Harlow (who received top billing in 1935) plays the love interest, turned spouse. Once Tracey is ousted, he and Harlow's young marriage begins spiraling out of control.

Ultimately, Riffraff tries to tell too many story lines. Personally I think Spencer Tracey is an overrated actor. This is one of the rolls where he tries to do an accent and it is just awful (Captain Courageous is another). I don't understand why actors insist on doing accents if they aren't capable of being believable.

Anyway, Harlow is about the only saving grace in this film but the script and direction is just not good.

Riffraff ! Really so.

[sb-47-608737 · 3/10 · 30 July 2019]

I have to apologise to many hurt feelings - I had never been a fan of Jean harlow - in fact almost exactly opposite of it. I can never understand the basis on which she as well as Mae featured in top 25 of AFI. It could be Sympathy factor that tilted balance for her, but Mae? Who knows. The other lead character, Spencer Tracy was on other boat. In fact I had quite a liking for him - till I saw this one - in a role on similar lines, he was far better in Big City. Here he over-acts to extreme - almost irritating level. I absolutely can't find anything which could make it bearable. Leave aside the direction, even the plot wasn't thick enough to be stopped by a fine sieve, leave aside a fish net. There is of course one - almost lovable - or at least deserving sympathy character - unfortunately he was made the villain, though he really wasn't that - Joseph Calleia as Nick Lewis. He is the 'capitalist' there - and though for all practical purposes he is what 'capitalist' symbolises, in communist terms. Though the movie at several instances preach the communist ideology - deprivation of Labour by Capital - but the next instance scorns on communists - even before McCarthy made it a hate-word - making the whole thing a jumbled message. Our capitalist here, Nick, is capitalist in all the facets, except one. The exploitation of woman. He is, at least as per narrative, stuck on the heroine Hattie, but with all honorable intentions. In fact he prods her to get a divorce, from her husband, so that he could marry her. This husband was, not only unlovable, but one who had deserted her too, and had been incommunicado for months. May be he was living as a hobo, but was he doing something to get over that, there is no inkling of it. As against it, Nick's expensive gifts, the furs et al are all with the same intention, and only to her, no other women were in his cross-hairs - till she rebuffed his final advance, after he had even arranged her divorce. Another bearable character was of Una Merkel, as Hattie's sister. But the two main leads made the movie a real riffraff. One even don't know what happened to the Capital Vs Labour clash ? It looks the labour came back and accepted the dictat of capital, at same - or worse? - terms as before.

Tracy at his blustering best, Harlow looking for a love nest

[weezeralfalfa · 9/10 · 17 July 2017]

I love this movie. I'm sorry I didn't detect the same level of enthusiasm among the other reviewers. Tracy is at his blustering best. You might call it overacting but, to me, it's classic gung ho Tracy. Maybe his character made some poor impulsive decisions, such as quitting his job and union, but he also made some good decisions, such as seeing that calling a strike was just what the boss((Joseph Calleia, as Nick) wanted, so that he could void their 5 year contracts and bring in cheaper labor. Also, he worked out a plan for Jean's prison break. True, that was a very risky undertaking and, at the end, she (and he)was still being hunted by the police. The scene of the escape is exciting, with women screaming and running every which way after a rat was released in the laundry room. This provided Jean and her 2 accomplices diversion so that they could hop down the big storm drain pipe during a heavy rain, and get carried to outside the prison wall, to a waiting car. Later, Tracy detects a plan to blow up an oil tanker, while serving as the night watchman, and knocks out the 3 of them!

As to why Jean favored Tracy over Calleia, as some wonder. Partly, it's a matter of history, Clearly, they have been romancing on and off for some years. Looks like she wants a bully, who can fight with his fists as well as his brains, who alternates between loving her and fighting(mostly verbally)with her. During one of their fights, Jean labels him as riffraff. He's a man who doesn't want the bother of children, but is pleased when he sees the son Jean presents to him. Apparently, he's the most productive tuna fisherman of the lot, which counts for something. In contrast, to me, Calliea comes across as too oily. Apparently, Jean thought so too.

Tracy typically talks very fast and with certitude, although occasionally he admits he may not be as smart as he thinks.

The recently released "You are my Lucky Star" composed by Arthur Freedman and Nacio Herb Brown, is sung by a male chorus during the July 4 celebration, later reprised by Jean when in prison. It was also sung in "Broadway Melody of 1936" and, of course, in the later "Singing in the Rain".

As one reviewer pointed out, the plot seemed more in keeping with a Warner-type film. But, that doesn't keep it from being grand entertainment.

A young Mickey Rooney, and Una Merkel have subsidiary roles as Jean's younger brother and sister, respectively. Mickey puts a small firecracker in each ear, then wonders why it hurts when they go off!

See it at YouTube. The film was in excellent condition...Several reviewers claimed that "Libeled Lady", also costarring Tracy and Jean, but Myrna Loy and William Powell, as well, is much superior to this film. I haven't seen it, but doubt I would agree.

Weak film with big names

[hemisphere65-1 · 2/10 · 23 May 2021]

Harlow is decent here, but Tracy is imitating Cagney, yelling about everything. The script is garbage and the story is pathetic. No character development at all and poor acting abounds. It's amusing to see Mickey Rooney playing a kid who's supposed to be about 10 or 11 when he was 15 or 16...because he looked like he was 10.

No worth watching.

A top cast, but weak screenplay, directing and acting

[SimonJack · 5/10 · 30 September 2022]

The title of this film is quite interesting, and unless one thinks about it, it's easy to dismiss it as just an oddity. But, I think it has everything to do with this film. The definition of riffraff is refuse, rubbish, or a disreputable person. And, disreputable means disgraceful, shameful, shoddy, shady, dishonorable or unrespectable. So, then, who or how many characters in this film which bears this title, fit the bill?

Jean Harlow's Hattie is a good girl who doesn't go for the carousing of Spencer Tracy's Dutch Muller. But she definitely has the hots for him. That the film makes this so obvious is, I think, one of it's many screenplay and character foibles. Hattie isn't riffraff, at least at this point, but maybe all those other girls whom Dutch parties with are? And what about Dutch? Well, he parties and has fun, but mostly he's a conceited braggart and self-centered character who lives on his reputation as the best tuna fisherman on the docks. But, that doesn't make him riffraff. Well, then, what about Joseph Calleia's Nick Lewis? He's the big boss of a fish company who owns a fleet of tuna boats. He has lots of dough and the hots for Hattie. He's sly and cunning, and doesn't get upset about a possible union strike because he can get cheaper labor and make more money. He's greedy, clever in his business dealings, but he hasn't really done anything dishonorable.

So, none of the main characters are riffraff - yet. But each will take on some of the descriptions that apply at stages in the film. In the meantime, there is one character early on for whom the title seems to fit. Paul Hurst's Belcher tries to coax the union fishermen into a strike. He's the one character who solidly remains riffraff throughout the film. He tries to coax Dutch into trouble. He cheats Hattie when he takes the money she has stollen and says he will give it to Dutch when he meets him in a couple day. And he tries to set fire to a ship late in the film.

Well, Hattie becomes disreputable when she steals money from Nick to give to Dutch. And, she goes to prison for her deed - The Soreno Valley Women's Prison. Dutch becomes disreputable when he becomes a tyrant as the head of the fishermen's union; and then when he's voted out of office. Nick becomes disreputable when he hires scabs to work his tuna boats during a strike, and then persists in Hattie's conviction and prison sentence. So, most of the leads in the film turn out to be riffraff of some sort. But not all of the cast are. Hattie's sister, Lil (played by Una Merke), her dad, Pops (Roger Imhof), and Brains McCall (J. Farrell MacDonald) keep their heads above water and their feet on the ground.

"Riffraff" is a melodrama with clear overacting by Harlow and Tracy, and a screenplay that makes each of their sudden character changes questionable, if not unbelievable. Mickey Rooney has a supporting role as Jimmy, Lil's son and Hattie's nephew. His loudmouth, disrespectful behavior toward adults suggests future riffraff, but Jimmy does have a couple of key roles. George Givot has a small role as Nick Lewis's attorney, Markis. Highly regarded as one of the earliest and best Greek dialect comedians, Givot has one line that provides some humor for this conflicted film. He says, "As your attorney, Mr. Lewis, I have to ask you these answers."

Brains McCall has the only other good lines in the film when he dresses down Dutch Muller. He says, "Don't run before you learn to walk." Then, after Tracy's Dutch blows his stack, McCall says, "Ain't it time you forget your conceit and stop thinkin' you're bigger than anybody else?"

This is a pretty forgettable film. But it's an example to show that all performers who became big Hollywood stars in time weren't born stars from the get-go. And, that even stars don't' always have great hits or performances. But, before the end of this same year, Harlow and Tracy would co-star with William Powell and Myrna Loy in a smash comedy, "Libeled Lady." It's one of the best comedy films of all time.