George Raft

William Bendix

Marilyn Maxwell

Frank Faylen

Harry Morgan

Gale Robbins

Cully Richards

Mack Gray

Russell Hicks

Tom Keene

William Forrest

James Nolan

George Turner

Richard Benedict

Dean White

Freddie Steele

Eddie Arden

Wong Artarne

Reginald Billado

Barry Brooks

James Bush

George Chandler

James Conaty

Oliver Cross

Robert Dudley

Franklyn Farnum

Joe Gilbert

George Goodman

Charmienne Harker

Cy Kendall

Mary Kent

Mike Lally

Charles Lane

Mickey Martin

Sam McDaniel

Frank McLure

Hercules Mendez

Al Murphy

George Murray

Joan Myles

William H. O'Brien

June Pickerell

Paul Power

Al Rhein

Jason Robards Sr.

Edna Ryan

Carl Saxe

Frank J. Scannell

Michael St. Angel

Larry Steers

Bert Stevens

Michael Wallace

Eric Wilton

Edwin L. Marin

Maurice Davis

Martin Rackin

Nat Holt

Roy Webb

J. Roy Hunt

Samuel E. Beetley

Jack J. Gross

Albert S. D'Agostino

Walter E. Keller

Darrell Silvera

William Stevens

Edward Stevenson

Gordon Bau

Florence Guernsey

Sam Ruman

Dore Schary

Grayson Rogers

Terry Kelling

Jean L. Speak

Ollie Sigurdson

Jim Kirley

Crime

Drama

Race Street

RKO Radio Pictures

United States of America

"Stay with it"

Race Street, directed by Edwin L. Marin and adapted to screenplay by Martin Rackin from a story by Maurice Davis. Starring George Raft, William Bendix, Marilyn Maxwell, Frank Faylen, Gale Robbins and Harry Morgan. Music is by Roy Webb and cinematography by J. Roy Hunt.

Story centers around two friends played by Raft and Bendix, the former is a turf accountant and night club owner, the latter a plain clothes policeman. With a syndicate racket moving in on the Frisco bookmaking circuit, Dan Gannin (Raft) refuses to co-operate, putting himself in grave danger. Barney Runson (Bendix) wants to move in and do it the official way, begging Dan to step aside and let the police do their job. But when the syndicate make a deadly move that hits Dan close to home, he's not for turning.

In the grand scheme of Raft and Bendix movies, or classic era film noir pics in fact, this one is small fry, but strong cast and solid production foundation ensure it's an enjoyable experience. Story isn't strong, where two old friends lock horns while some villain throws his weight around, but in true noir fashion there's some sneaky surprises in store and a none cop out finale.

Technically it's interesting, one quite dreadful process backed sequence aside, Marin and Hunt hit the noir bars for mood compliance. The absence of chiaroscuro is a shame, for a number of scenes here cry out for it, but the lighting techniques and shadow indulgence keeps the eyes pleased. There's even a startling sequence that appears to show Gale Robbins floating in and around the night club crowd as she sings a song, while a bit of zoom play and nifty Frisco locations add further quality.

Good honest noirville enjoyment. 6.5/10

CinemaSerf

This is a superior crime noir let down by a most nondescript title! Harry Morgan ("Hal") is found at the bottom of a flight of stairs - George Raft ("Gannin") and detective "Barney" (William Bendix) know his death is a bit fishy, and decide to investigate (separately!). Soon it transpires that the former is involved in dodgy bookmaking, as was the deceased, and that someone is trying to muscle in on their business. Raft is good as he tries to avenge his dead friend, never quite sure to trust, as are femme fatale Marilyn Maxwell as "Robbie" and Gale Robbins as his sister "Elaine" who sings a couple of quite decent numbers too. It's quite a tense short feature with plenty of darkly lit scenes and a tight dialogue to keep the suspense going until, I have to say, a rather silly ending. Well worth a watch, though.

English