Virginia Mayo and George Raft
Roy Del Ruth directed several pre-Code favorites: the first The Maltese Falcon (1931); James Cagney in Blonde Crazy (1931), Taxi! (1932) and Lady Killer (1933); underappreciated Lee Tracy in one of his best, Blessed Event (1932); and my own favorite of the era, Warren William, in Beauty and the Boss (1932), Employees' Entrance (1933), The Mind Reader (1933), and Upperworld (1934). Not a mainstream classic amongst the bunch, but each a fast paced little film populated by slick-talking characters who keep us fans coming back time and again for further viewing. That's kind of the mark of Del Ruth's career, one which began in silent film and stretched for forty years, yet doesn't really have a signature film attached to keep his name remembered. Red Light is later, but it fits right in with the best of the bunch for Roy Del Ruth.
Turner Classic Movies aired Red Light a few days ago as I write this and to be totally honest it was the first time I ever caught it. I'm really not a big George Raft fan but he's typically in movies I like despite his being there, so I keep on watching him. Regardless of your own opinion of Raft, he's no better or worse than usual in Red Light, but even if he grates on you it's a movie worth checking out. I knew nothing about Red Light going in, in fact I hadn't even planned on watching and I'd already missed the first half hour when I turned on my TV. I really only stuck around at the time because I saw what turned out to be William Frawley's brief single scene. Then I spotted Raft as he first meets with Mayo, and oh, there's Raymond Burr ... and Gene Lockhart! ... Barton MacLane? ... and Harry Morgan, wow, what is this I wondered!
Raymond Burr and Harry Morgan
Luckily I'd had it recording as it aired that night so I was able to watch the entire movie in one sitting tonight. The basic story reduced to a single paragraph is as follows: Nick Cherney (Burr) is locked up for embezzling from Johnny Torno's (Raft) freight company and still stewing over it in conversation with fellow inmate Rocky (Harry Morgan). Both are soon out on the streets. Meanwhile Johnny welcomes his brother Jess (Arthur Franz), an army chaplain, home from duty. Jess is quickly shot and killed though manages to survive just long enough for Johnny to arrive and ask who did it. With his last gasp Jess tells him, "Bible." Johnny keeps this info from MacLane's Detective Strecker and tries to figure out for himself what Jess had meant by steering him towards the Bible. Along the way he runs into Carla (Mayo), who he also puts to work on solving his mystery. The bulk of the movie is Johnny connecting the dots from Jess' murder to the mystery of his last words.
George Raft
Doesn't sound like much, and maybe it's not, but we're entertained along the way by the excellent cast and a few scenes that are pretty violent for 1949. Raft is Raft, Mayo is more or less invisible, but Raymond Burr is quite menacing and the various character actors are excellent as per usual. Roy Del Ruth keeps it moving, Red Light's pacing more reminiscent of those pre-Code titles I mentioned earlier than the typical late 40's noir thriller. It's interesting to note that Mayo was in production on Red Light immediately prior to work commencing on the classic White Heat (1949). White Heat would be released September 3 of 1949, while Red Light wouldn't come out until later that same month, September 30. I'd imagine this timing worked well for promotion of Red Light.
Virginia Mayo
I just wanted to give this one a quick recommendation while it was still fresh in my mind. I'd thought about doing a longer piece on it but Red Light is already very well served not only by it's TCM page, but by an extremely detailed piece on Film Noir of the Week that is guest posted by Raft biographer Stone Wallace. Both worth checking out if you want more than my word before pressing play.
Red Light (1949), 83 minutes, is available as a manufactured-on-demand DVD-R from Warner Archive. Or pick it up on Amazon here if that's your preferred shopping destination. It was a Roy Del Ruth Production originally distributed through United Artists.
Gene Lockhart
Patricia Nolan-Hall says
May 26, 2011 at 3:17 pmI happened to be up at that ungodly hour and was about to shut off the television exactly when “Red Light” began. Black & White and the name Raymond Burr – no sleep for me!
I like Raft. I want him to do well when I see him in a picture. He doesn’t reach the heights – maybe he can’t or maybe he’s afraid to try, but nonetheless, I sit there urging him on. He comes pretty close in “Red Light” to being better than his best. Not much chemistry with Mayo, but he certainly puts across his affection for the kid brother and his rage. The weariness displayed near the end of the picture really works.
Gene Lockhart wowed me. I felt his fear in that parking lot scene.
I always get a sense from a Roy del Ruth picture that the project means a lot to him personally. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there is an aura that it was made by someone who really cared about what he was doing.
Cliff Aliperti says
May 26, 2011 at 4:07 pmHi Patricia! Mayo even being there just seemed odd after a bit–the character just didn’t seem important at all. Gene Lockhart is always so good and that particular scene was great! You knew he was a goner, but you didn’t know how it was going to happen–I figured the camera would leave him and we’d hear a couple of gun shots, that’s it. Uh uh.
I agree, that list of pre-code titles back up what you say about Del Ruth. As he also produced this one and presumably chose what he worked on by this point of his career I’d have to assume he just never picked the right movie. Though the previous Roy Del Ruth production, the absolutely terrible Babe Ruth Story, leaves me wondering about all of that. What a bomb!
Just ask says
October 18, 2011 at 1:38 pmCliff,
I really enjoyed your take on Red Light. I haven’t seen it but then again I haven’t seen a lot of ‘film noir’. Like you, I’m not a huge fan of George Raft (sure we’re in the minority) but I’ve gotten used to his presence on screen in the genre I go for.
I always enjoy your little bits of trivia thrown it like the delayed release date and Mayo making “White Heat” right after this one.
And thanks for the link on the story by Stone Wallace. I can’t wait to read it.
Your reviews never disappoint! A fun read.
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Eddie Brady says
November 21, 2013 at 5:16 pmDo you know anyone who has the full movie or where I might get a complete copy to watch?
I’m in the UK and most sites only do region 1 which is of no use to me.
Thanks again for the insight. I like Raft
Cliff Aliperti says
November 21, 2013 at 10:19 pmHi Eddie,
I’m in the US, so not very sure about other sources myself. Have you tried this site? They accept international orders, so perhaps they can help you? Their email is on this page. Good luck!
Cliff