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Riffraff

  • 1936
  • Passed
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
1K
YOUR RATING
Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow in Riffraff (1936)
CrimeDramaRomance

Fisherman Dutch marries cannery worker Hattie and quits his poorly paid job to concentrate on getting better working conditions as union leader. Unfortunately, the union members disagree wit... Read allFisherman Dutch marries cannery worker Hattie and quits his poorly paid job to concentrate on getting better working conditions as union leader. Unfortunately, the union members disagree with Dutch's ideas and kick him out. Without a job or union card to get another, he leaves Ha... Read allFisherman Dutch marries cannery worker Hattie and quits his poorly paid job to concentrate on getting better working conditions as union leader. Unfortunately, the union members disagree with Dutch's ideas and kick him out. Without a job or union card to get another, he leaves Hattie to look for work. Hattiee steals money to help him when she learns he is really down ... Read all

  • Director
    • J. Walter Ruben
  • Writers
    • Frances Marion
    • H.W. Hanemann
    • Anita Loos
  • Stars
    • Jean Harlow
    • Spencer Tracy
    • Una Merkel
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • J. Walter Ruben
    • Writers
      • Frances Marion
      • H.W. Hanemann
      • Anita Loos
    • Stars
      • Jean Harlow
      • Spencer Tracy
      • Una Merkel
    • 21User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos51

    Spencer Tracy, Jean Harlow, and Joseph Calleia in Riffraff (1936)
    Jean Harlow in Riffraff (1936)
    Spencer Tracy, Jean Harlow, and Joseph Calleia in Riffraff (1936)
    Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow in Riffraff (1936)
    Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow in Riffraff (1936)
    Joseph Calleia, Arthur Housman, and Victor Kilian in Riffraff (1936)
    Jean Harlow and Joseph Calleia in Riffraff (1936)
    Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow in Riffraff (1936)
    Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow in Riffraff (1936)
    Spencer Tracy, Jean Harlow, and Joseph Calleia in Riffraff (1936)
    Jean Harlow and Joseph Calleia in Riffraff (1936)
    Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow in Riffraff (1936)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jean Harlow
    Jean Harlow
    • Hattie Muller
    Spencer Tracy
    Spencer Tracy
    • Dutch Muller
    Una Merkel
    Una Merkel
    • Lil
    Joseph Calleia
    Joseph Calleia
    • Nick Lewis
    Victor Kilian
    Victor Kilian
    • 'Flytrap'
    Mickey Rooney
    Mickey Rooney
    • Jimmy
    J. Farrell MacDonald
    J. Farrell MacDonald
    • 'Brains' McCall
    Roger Imhof
    Roger Imhof
    • 'Pops'
    Juanita Quigley
    Juanita Quigley
    • Rosie
    Paul Hurst
    Paul Hurst
    • Belcher
    Vince Barnett
    Vince Barnett
    • Lew
    Dorothy Appleby
    Dorothy Appleby
    • Gertie
    Judith Wood
    Judith Wood
    • Mabel
    Arthur Housman
    Arthur Housman
    • 'Ratsy'
    Wade Boteler
    Wade Boteler
    • Bert
    Joe Phillips
    • Al
    William Newell
    William Newell
    • Pete
    Al Hill
    Al Hill
    • 'Speed'
    • Director
      • J. Walter Ruben
    • Writers
      • Frances Marion
      • H.W. Hanemann
      • Anita Loos
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A charge of negligence was brought against MGM by the California State Industrial Welfare Committee on behalf of the 40 female extras who were drenched in the prison rainstorm sequence. It contended that women who lost work because of illness after that sequence should be compensated. Each of the extras received an extra $15 as an initial compensation.
    • Goofs
      During the prison escape when Harlow and friend hop into the getaway car, the seat backs are already wet before the two drenched escapees get into the auto. Obviously this was a second or third take of this scene.
    • Quotes

      Dutch Muller: [showing his bride Hattie his place] It's genuine artificial roses. They never wear out!

    • Connections
      Featured in Babes in Arms (1939)
    • Soundtracks
      You Are My Lucky Star
      (1935) (uncredited)

      Music by Nacio Herb Brown

      Lyrics by Arthur Freed

      Played and sung by a chorus at the July 4 celebration party

      Sung a cappella by Jean Harlow in prison

    User reviews21

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Okay melodrama with two classic stars
    "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.
    helpful•19
    3
    • blanche-2
    • Mar 13, 2006

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 3, 1936 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Flor de arrabal
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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