Riffraff (1947 film): Difference between revisions

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m minor fixes, replaced: <ref>Studio Space Jammed; O'Brien Story Bought Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 23 Feb 1946: A5.</ref> → <ref>{{Cite news|title=Studio Space Jammed; O'Brien Story Bought|author=Sch
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| caption = Movie poster
| caption = Movie poster
| director = [[Ted Tetzlaff]]
| director = [[Ted Tetzlaff]]
| producer = [[Nat Holt]]
| producer = [[Nat Holt]]<br>'''executive'''<br>Jack Gross
| writer = [[Martin Rackin]]
| writer = [[Martin Rackin]]
| based_on =
| based_on = story by Rackin
| screenplay =
| screenplay =
| starring = [[Pat O'Brien (actor)|Pat O'Brien]]<br>[[Anne Jeffreys]]<br>[[Walter Slezak]]
| starring = [[Pat O'Brien (actor)|Pat O'Brien]]<br>[[Anne Jeffreys]]<br>[[Walter Slezak]]
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}}
}}


'''''Riff-Raff''''' is a 1947 [[black-and-white]] film starring [[Pat O'Brien (actor)|Pat O'Brien]], [[Anne Jeffreys]] and [[Walter Slezak]]. Considered a minor [[film noir]] entry more in the adventure genre, it was directed by [[Ted Tetzlaff]], who later directed ''[[The Window (1949 film)|The Window]]'' (1949) and worked as a [[cinematographer]] for over 100 films, including another successful suspense film, [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s ''[[Notorious (1946 film)|Notorious]]'' (1946). The music was composed by [[Roy Webb]] and [[Joan Whitney Kramer|Joan Whitney]].
'''''Riff-Raff''''' is a 1947 [[black-and-white]] film starring [[Pat O'Brien (actor)|Pat O'Brien]], [[Anne Jeffreys]] and [[Walter Slezak]]. Considered a minor [[film noir]] entry more in the adventure genre, it was directed by [[Ted Tetzlaff]], who later directed ''[[The Window (1949 film)|The Window]]'' (1949) and worked as a [[cinematographer]] for over 100 films, including another successful suspense film, [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s ''[[Notorious (1946 film)|Notorious]]'' (1946). The music was composed by [[Roy Webb]] and [[Joan Whitney Kramer|Joan Whitney]].<ref>Riff-Raff
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 14, Iss. 157, (Jan 1, 1947): 51. </ref>


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
[[File:Pat O'Brien-Anne Jeffreys in Riffraff.jpg|thumb|left|225px|[[Pat O'Brien (actor)|Pat O'Brien]] and [[Anne Jeffreys]]]]
[[File:Pat O'Brien-Anne Jeffreys in Riffraff.jpg|thumb|right|225px|[[Pat O'Brien (actor)|Pat O'Brien]] and [[Anne Jeffreys]]]]
A cargo plane leaves Peru, bound for Panama with two passengers during a storm. When one of the two pilots goes to check on an opened door, Charles Hasso (Marc Krah) claims he tried but failed to prevent the other passenger from jumping to his death. Upon landing, Hasso is questioned by Major Rues (George Givot) of the Panamanian secret police, but is released as there were no witnesses. Hasso takes with him the deceased's briefcase, in which he finds a map.
A cargo plane leaves Peru, bound for Panama with two passengers during a storm. When one of the two pilots goes to check on an opened door, Charles Hasso (Marc Krah) claims he tried but failed to prevent the other passenger from jumping to his death. Upon landing, Hasso is questioned by Major Rues (George Givot) of the Panamanian secret police, but is released as there were no witnesses. Hasso takes with him the deceased's briefcase, in which he finds a map.


Line 48: Line 49:


==Production==
==Production==
The film was based on an original screenplay by Martin Rackin. It was known as ''The Big Angle''.<ref>{{Cite news|title=ROSALIND RUSSELL SET FOR 'ELECTRA': Will Portray Lavinia in RKO's Film of O'Neill Play--'Open City' in Eleventh Week Of Local Origin|date=May 7, 1946|work=New York Times|page=31}}</ref> Rackin had previously written two films for Pat O'Brien, ''Bombadier'' and ''Marine Raiders'', and he was linked to the project as soon as RKO bought the script.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Studio Space Jammed; O'Brien Story Bought|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Feb 23, 1946|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A5}}</ref> Rackin reportedly wrote the story while serving in the air force.<ref>{{Cite news|title=PAT O'BRIEN TO STAR IN 'THE BIG ANGLE': Crime Drama Was Written by Author of 'Bombardier'-- 'Gatsby' to Be Remade|date=Feb 26, 1946|work=New York Times|page=31}}</ref>
The film was based on an original screenplay by Martin Rackin. It was known first as ''The Big Angle'' and was bought by RKO in February 1946. Rackin had previously written two films for Pat O'Brien at RKO, ''Bombadier'' and ''Marine Raiders'', and he attached to the project from the start.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Studio Space Jammed; O'Brien Story Bought|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Feb 23, 1946|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A5}}</ref> Rackin reportedly wrote the story while serving in the air force.<ref>{{Cite news|title=PAT O'BRIEN TO STAR IN 'THE BIG ANGLE': Crime Drama Was Written by Author of 'Bombardier'-- 'Gatsby' to Be Remade|date=Feb 26, 1946|work=New York Times|page=31}}</ref> By May the title had been changed to ''Riff-Raff'' and Walter Slezak was signed to support.<ref>{{Cite news|title=ROSALIND RUSSELL SET FOR 'ELECTRA'|date=May 7, 1946|work=New York Times|page=31}}</ref>

At one stage the film was known as ''The Amazing Mr Hammer''.<ref>DRAMA AND FILM: Lead in 'Race Street' Awaits Anne Jeffreys
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 29 Jan 1947: A3. </ref>


Cinematographer Ted Tezlaff had started directing motion pictures before serving in World War II. When he returned to Hollywood he shot a number of films for RKO as cinematographer but he wanted to return to directing. Producer Jack Gross assigned him to direct ''Riffraff'', although it meant Tetzlaff took a salary cut to get the job.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Cameraman Tetzlaff Scores as Director: Tetzlaff Scores as Director|author=Scheuer, Philip K.|date=Oct 24, 1948|work=Los Angeles Times|page=D1}}</ref>
Cinematographer Ted Tezlaff had started directing motion pictures before serving in World War II. When he returned to Hollywood he shot a number of films for RKO as cinematographer but he wanted to return to directing. Producer Jack Gross assigned him to direct ''Riffraff'', although it meant Tetzlaff took a salary cut to get the job.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Cameraman Tetzlaff Scores as Director: Tetzlaff Scores as Director|author=Scheuer, Philip K.|date=Oct 24, 1948|work=Los Angeles Times|page=D1}}</ref>
==Reception==
The ''Los Angeles Times'' said "someone took pains to make it hang together pretty well" and that O'Brien "plays his part with casual skill".<ref>Pat O'Brien Solves One in 'Riffraff'
Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 31 July 1947: A3. </ref>


The ''New York Times'' said it "only emerges a notch above the run-of-the-murder adventure despite a thoroughly engrossing beginning and some crisp dialogue."<ref>At the Palace
A.W. New York Times 30 June 1947: 25. </ref>
== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
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* {{TCMDb title|15729}}
* {{TCMDb title|15729}}
*[http://www.noiroftheweek.com/2009/11/riffraff-1947.html Review of film] at ''Noir of the Week''
*[http://www.noiroftheweek.com/2009/11/riffraff-1947.html Review of film] at ''Noir of the Week''
*[https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b4586ea Riffraff] at BFI
*[https://letterboxd.com/film/riff-raff-1947/ Riffraff] at Letterbox DVD
*[https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F06EFDA123CE13BBC4850DFB066838C659EDE Review of film] at ''[[New York Times]]''
*[https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F06EFDA123CE13BBC4850DFB066838C659EDE Review of film] at ''[[New York Times]]''
*[https://archive.org/stream/variety166-1947-06#page/n63/mode/1up review of film] at ''Variety''
*[https://archive.org/stream/variety166-1947-06#page/n63/mode/1up review of film] at ''Variety''

Revision as of 08:14, 28 June 2020

Riff-Raff
Movie poster
Directed byTed Tetzlaff
Written byMartin Rackin
Based onstory by Rackin
Produced byNat Holt
executive
Jack Gross
StarringPat O'Brien
Anne Jeffreys
Walter Slezak
CinematographyGeorge E. Diskant
Edited byPhilip Martin
Music byRoy Webb
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release dates
  • June 28, 1947 (1947-06-28) (New York City)[1]
  • September 15, 1947 (1947-09-15) (U.S.)[1]
Running time
80 minutes
LanguageEnglish

Riff-Raff is a 1947 black-and-white film starring Pat O'Brien, Anne Jeffreys and Walter Slezak. Considered a minor film noir entry more in the adventure genre, it was directed by Ted Tetzlaff, who later directed The Window (1949) and worked as a cinematographer for over 100 films, including another successful suspense film, Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious (1946). The music was composed by Roy Webb and Joan Whitney.[2]

Plot

Pat O'Brien and Anne Jeffreys

A cargo plane leaves Peru, bound for Panama with two passengers during a storm. When one of the two pilots goes to check on an opened door, Charles Hasso (Marc Krah) claims he tried but failed to prevent the other passenger from jumping to his death. Upon landing, Hasso is questioned by Major Rues (George Givot) of the Panamanian secret police, but is released as there were no witnesses. Hasso takes with him the deceased's briefcase, in which he finds a map.

Hasso hires private investigator Dan Hammer (Pat O'Brien) to be his bodyguard for a couple of days. While Hammer is changing, Hasso secretly pins the map to Hammer's bulletin board.

Hammer receives an urgent summons from oil executive Walter Gredson (Jerome Cowan), so he arranges to meet Hasso later at his hotel room. Gredson hires Hammer to find Hasso and the map, which shows the locations of unregistered oil wells in Peru that his company has bought.

Later, in a nightclub, Hammer is attracted to singer Maxine Manning (Anne Jeffreys). He invites her to come by his office after work, unaware that she is spying on him for her boyfriend, Gredson. Tourist Eric Molinar (Walter Slezak) tries to hire him as a guide, but Hammer turns him down.

When Hammer goes to see Hasso, he finds Hasso's body in the overflowing hotel room bathtub. As the search for the map continues, Maxine starts falling for Hammer and switches sides. Meanwhile, Molinar reveals that he is also after the map. He has his two thugs try to beat its location out of the detective, but Hammer has no idea where it is.

Molinar and his men later go to question Gredson. Hammer has Maxine telephone the executive to say the map is in Hammer's office. Molinar, listening in, sees no further use for Gredson and has him killed. Then he and his goons go to the office. A fight breaks out, during which Molinar finally spots the map. He hastens away with it in a taxi driven by Pop (Percy Kilbride), Hammer's close friend. Molinar takes Pop's suggestion to hide out for a while, only to find that the driver's directions lead him straight to police headquarters.

Cast

Production

The film was based on an original screenplay by Martin Rackin. It was known first as The Big Angle and was bought by RKO in February 1946. Rackin had previously written two films for Pat O'Brien at RKO, Bombadier and Marine Raiders, and he attached to the project from the start.[3] Rackin reportedly wrote the story while serving in the air force.[4] By May the title had been changed to Riff-Raff and Walter Slezak was signed to support.[5]

At one stage the film was known as The Amazing Mr Hammer.[6]

Cinematographer Ted Tezlaff had started directing motion pictures before serving in World War II. When he returned to Hollywood he shot a number of films for RKO as cinematographer but he wanted to return to directing. Producer Jack Gross assigned him to direct Riffraff, although it meant Tetzlaff took a salary cut to get the job.[7]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times said "someone took pains to make it hang together pretty well" and that O'Brien "plays his part with casual skill".[8]

The New York Times said it "only emerges a notch above the run-of-the-murder adventure despite a thoroughly engrossing beginning and some crisp dialogue."[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Riff-Raff: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  2. ^ Riff-Raff Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 14, Iss. 157, (Jan 1, 1947): 51.
  3. ^ Schallert, Edwin (February 23, 1946). "Studio Space Jammed; O'Brien Story Bought". Los Angeles Times. p. A5.
  4. ^ "PAT O'BRIEN TO STAR IN 'THE BIG ANGLE': Crime Drama Was Written by Author of 'Bombardier'-- 'Gatsby' to Be Remade". New York Times. February 26, 1946. p. 31.
  5. ^ "ROSALIND RUSSELL SET FOR 'ELECTRA'". New York Times. May 7, 1946. p. 31.
  6. ^ DRAMA AND FILM: Lead in 'Race Street' Awaits Anne Jeffreys Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 29 Jan 1947: A3.
  7. ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (October 24, 1948). "Cameraman Tetzlaff Scores as Director: Tetzlaff Scores as Director". Los Angeles Times. p. D1.
  8. ^ Pat O'Brien Solves One in 'Riffraff' Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 31 July 1947: A3.
  9. ^ At the Palace A.W. New York Times 30 June 1947: 25.
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