La nuit désespérée

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.

From RKO, William Bendix is Barney, the cop (and narrator!). His buddy Dan Gannin is a bookie, played by George Raft. Dan's partner is Hal (Harry Morgan, from MASH) The love interest here is Marilyn Maxwell, as Robbie. Maxwell moved into television in the 1950s, but died quite young at 51, of a heart attack. it's a murder noir, and of course, the mob moves in and wants protection money, just as they are opening a club downtown. Barney is determined to lean on Dan to get to the mob. they even manage to show an RKO theater about an hour in. Gale Robbins is Dan's sister Elaine. Robbins ALSO died young at 58. Some fun scenery of san francisco... if they really did film scenes there. and Charles Lane is the desk clerk... for a time, he held the record for the most un-credited, minor, and supporting roles; lived to 102 ! Directed by Ed Marin.he made SIX films with Raft. also died young at 52. film is pretty good. your typical murder noir. in this one, they keep waiting for the bad guys to move in, but not a lot of suspense, or solving clues.

From 1948, Race Street, starring George Raft and directed by Edwin L. Marin.

Slower moving than an iceberg with two tuneless musical numbers to boot.

Raft plays bookie Dan Gannin, who is leaving the racket and has opened his own nightclub featuring his sister (Gale Robbins). When his buddy (Harry Morgan) is killed after refusing mob protection, Dan goes after the killers. This doesn't sit well with Runson (William Bendix) a cop and friend, who feels Dan is putting himself in danger.

Race Street has no zip, no pace, and the plot just meanders along. It seemed as if the same scenes were repeated over and over - Runson asking Dan if he had any info, Gannin's friends discussing the problem, Gannin being threatened.

Marilyn Maxwell as a brunette is Gannin's girlfriend. Charles Lane, who died at 102, is a switchboard operator - his last credit was in 1995 after a 65-year career. Jason Robards Sr. Is uncredited as a hotel clerk. Frank Faylen plays a bad guy.

You can skip this.

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

George Raft plays Gannin, a bookie who is, despite this, basically an honest guy. His pal, Hal (Harry Morgan) approaches him to say that some mobsters want in on his own bookmaking business. Well, these creeps turn out to mean business and when Hal refuses to cooperate, they murder him in a very vivid and brutal scene (one of the best in the film). Naturally, Gannin isn't happy but things are about to get rough for him as well, as the mobsters soon approach him as well. Now he could work with the detective (William Bendix) to expose these rats but, naturally, Gannin only likes to handle things alone. Does he possibly stand a chance?! Well, since it's George Raft, you certainly assume so!

This film turned out to be a lot better than I expected. No, George Raft was just as stiff and unbelievable as he usually was in films. However, the plot offered some nice twists and kept me guessing. Plus the ending came as a HUGE surprise to me! Well worth seeing...almost deserving an 8...but not quite making it due to Raft's very ordinary sort of performance.

Ironically, later Harry Morgan would play Bill Gannon on "Dragnet"...the show that helped make him a household name.