Reviews & Ratings for
Race Street More at IMDbPro »

22 out of 23 people found the following review useful:

Race to see this exceptional film noir flick

Author: krorie from Van Buren, Arkansas
13 January 2006

One of the best of the film noir movies was "Nocturne" directed by Edwin L. Marin starring George Raft. The two teamed once more in an attempt to recreate the magic of that movie. Though the result "Race Street" doesn't have the compactness nor the intricate story lines of "Nocturne," it is worthwhile film noir. George Raft while not a great actor had an aura about him that gave authenticity to roles such as that of Dan Gannin. William Bendix, perhaps the most underrated actor Hollywood ever produced with the possible exception of Bob Mitchum, steals the show as always. Marilyn Maxwell makes a dandy femme fatale and the rest of the cast do their part to make this one a winner.

The cinematography of the San Francisco area is crisp black and white at its best. Who ever designed the stairs that Harry Morgan is thrown down to his death deserves special recognition. Later George Raft is beat up on the same stairs. They appear menacing with the cold drab look of death about them.

The music is appropriate and the songs well chosen to capture the necessary mood of the piece. Even the title is a good one. "Race Street" may indicate horses since the film is about double dealing bookies but it is also a metaphor for the story.

25 out of 30 people found the following review useful:

Doing It for a Pal

Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York
9 January 2006

Noted San Francisco bookie and club owner George Raft is being muscled by the syndicate. He shrugs it off until pal Harry Morgan is thrown down a flight of stairs and killed. After that Raft is hot for revenge.

Though this film was produced by RKO it has a Paramount look to it because of the presence of William Bendix as a police lieutenant and Frank Faylen as the syndicate's man in San Francisco.

Raft gets a lot of good advice from Bendix in the film, most of which he ignores. Raft also has some very treacherous associates as the viewer will find out.

George Raft films are always art imitating life when they are about gangsters. Except for horror film stars like Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff, I doubt there was ever a major star whose own life so closely got involved in the roles he played.

Raft was hardly a great actor, but in gangster films he knew the mob literally from the inside out so it was never acting.

Bill Bendix of course is always good, films with him in it should be seen if for no other reason than to watch him.

Race Street is an average noir film which I'm sure entertained the audiences who came to see whatever A picture was playing with it.

9 out of 13 people found the following review useful:

Don't Put Mu ch Money On This One

Author: David (Handlinghandel) from NY, NY
5 June 2006

George Raft is said to have turned down more than one role that ended up making someone else's career. Sam Spade in "The Maltese Falcon," for example. Yet the movies he did choose are for the most part flat and predictable.

I like him as a tough guy. He does it well. "Race Street" is strictly routine. He won't pay protection money, with predictable results.

Harry Morgan is excellent in a fairly small role. William Bendix, who always turned in a fine performance, is very good as a cop. And Marilyn Maxwell is the femme fatale.

She's OK. But her performance is unexciting. We neither hate her nor feel sorry for her. Maxwell essentially executes a plot contrivance.

3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:

More twists than a mountain road!!

Author: kidboots from Australia
2 February 2010

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

George Raft was a much better actor than people (and himself) gave him credit for. The fact that 20 years after his first film he was still making good movies is a credit to his durability and star power.

This is a pretty good crime movie with many twists. Raft plays Dan Gannin, a bookie, who with the love of his girl "Robbie" (Marilyn Maxwell) wants to leave the race track racket for good. There is a protection racket starting to operate. Dan has told them he is not interested and being friends with Barney (William Bendix), a detective, helps to keep them at bay. His childhood friend Hal (a young Harry Morgan) is not so lucky - he is killed by some thugs who throw him down stairs.

That is all Dan needs to flush the rats out. It leads him after a few twists and turns to Robbie's brutish husband Phil Dixon, who is very much alive and well (she had told Dan that he had been killed in the war). Frank Faylen plays Dixon. He was in so many films in the 40s, often playing vile characters but always memorable in a "Say, wasn't he the guy"!! way. Playing a harassed father in the TV series "Dobie Gillis" finally made him a household name.

The deceiving Robbie was played by former singer Marilyn Maxwell, She was blonde (although a beautiful brunette in this film) pretty and curvaceous but just couldn't break through the ranks into stardom. Gale Robbins played Dan's sister Elaine but the role was just an excuse to let her sing a couple of songs - which she did very well. Charles Lane plays a sly hotel clerk. See it for the co-stars alone.

Recommended.

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:

Race Street-Doesn't Rush It ***

Author: edwagreen from United States
21 January 2010

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Interesting Bill Bendix and George Raft film filled with back-stabbing galore. With Bendix as the cop and Raft as a bookie, threatened by a protection racket, we have a taut story here.

Marilyn Maxwell is Raft's new love interest who is lying through her teeth. She sports a black wig here, but Bendix recognizes her for what she is.

Interesting to see Raft in a role trying to go straight.

This is basically the story of friendship and betrayal as told by the Bendix character. When their friend, played by Henry Morgan, is killed for not playing ball with the racketeers, Bendix and Raft step in to avenge his murder, but in different ways.

The film would have been better had it been longer. The Maxwell character, the stinker that she was, could have been stretched to show how evil she really was.

You know this is a different film for George Raft as he is not throwing that coin up and down in the manner that only he could do.

Add another review

Related Links