It Had to Happen

Before watching It Had To Happen I read the biography of George Raft, The George Raft File by James Robert Parrish. When discussing this film he compared it to a Horatio Alger story. Then after seeing it, by God it was a Horatio Alger story.

Back in the latter half of the 19th century those stories were popular fiction. It was a poor boy by hard work and a break by some older established man was able to make a success of himself and become rich. It certainly enforced the notion of America being the land of opportunity.

Raft and his sidekick Leo Carrillo arrive as immigrants from Italy, Raft with barely a trace of accent if any. Through an incident while they're earning a living as ditch diggers Raft comes to the attention of the Mayor of the city. He takes Raft into a menial job on the city payroll. Five years later Raft's a political figure, a ward boss responsible for the welfare of his district.

Raft also is carrying a Statue of Liberty size torch for rich society girl Rosalind Russell who is slightly married to Alan Dinehart. But Raft has ambitions.

Both stars were on loan to the newly formed 20th Century Fox Studio, Raft from Paramount and Russell from MGM. This is hardly a major picture for either of them. Russell barely shows a trace of the personality she burst forth with in films like Four's A Crowd, The Women and His Girl Friday all coming up in a few years.

Raft was somewhat more animated than usual, but he definitely had no gift for comedy at all. That is on film. Russell recalls in her memoirs that she made a sports wager with Raft and he lost. Raft paid her off with a few sacks of pennies.

How Cary Grant would have handled that on screen.

Enrico Scaffa (George Raft) is a guy who accidentally insults the Mayor. However, the Mayor holds no grudges and appreciates how Enrico stood up for himself and what was right...and offers him a job as a ward 'fixer'. This means he'll no longer have to be a laborer but will have a nice office. His job will entail representing the Mayor's office with the local ward and dealing with problems and concerns...sort of like being a deputy mayor. Well, Enrico is great at the job and makes the city a much better place. But he also has attracted a few enemies...which leads to an exciting finale.

What surprised me about this film is Enrico falling for Beatrice (Rosalind Russell)...since Beatrice WAS married to another man...albeit a sleazy and unscrupulous one. Making a love story between Enrico and Beatrice is odd for a film made during the toughened Production Code (which looked down on plots involving adultery)...but somehow it was made! I am not complaining...I really enjoyed the film and Beatrice had several excellent reasons for divorcing her ne'er-do-well husband! Overall, an exciting film...one of Raft's best.

....but was made with George Raft and Rosalind Russell.

George Raft plays Enrico Scaffa, an immigrant who comes to America with friend Giuseppe (Leo Carrillo) and begins doing menial work. His toughness and his ability to stand up to big shots comes to the attention of the mayor, who hires him, apparently as some sort of go-between between the mayor and the public.

Enrico becomes very powerful. However, while working in construction, one of the cars he stops belongs to Rodmen Dreke, married to heiress Beatrice Newnes. Enrico falls for Beatrice and never forgets her.

Four years later, they meet again. This time, Enrico has found out that Dreke has stolen $4 million from a bank in Enrico's district. He demands that Enrico give him the money before the audit, so Enrico can replace it without anyone knowing. He takes off for Cuba, and Beatrice makes up the money.

This doesn't dissuade Enrico from pursuing Beatrice, who is in a loveless marriage. They fall in love. Problems ensue, and Enrico finds himself before a Grand Jury.

Okay movie with nice performances, with a standout performance by Arline Judge as Enrico's jealous secretary. Russell and Raft are very likable.

Good, and it's always great to see the ubiquitous Charles Lane.

George Raft and Leo Carillo return from Italy broke. They get jobs on a city construction crew, where Raft spots super-rich Rosalind Russell and falls instantly in love.

But life goes on and soon he lands a job in city government, where his energy and honesty gives him a lot of clout. When Miss Russell's husband, Alan Dinehart, steals four million dollars from an investment firm, Raft gives him two days to replace the money or face more than a decade in prison. Dinehart flees to Cuba, while Miss Russell comes up with the cash. Soon sparks fly between the two leads.

It's a romantic comedy carried more on the energy of the two leads than any great number of jokes or gags. They are very engaging, and Miss Russell's simple line readings are very telling. Other interesting performers include Arline Judge as Raft's jealous secretary, and the ubiquitous Charles Lane.