| Riffraff | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster |
|
| Directed by | J. Walter Ruben |
| Produced by | Irving Thalberg |
| Written by | Frances Marion Anita Loos H. W. Hannaford |
| Starring | Jean Harlow Spencer Tracy |
| Music by | Edward Ward |
| Cinematography | Ray June |
| Editing by | Frank Sullivan |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | January 3, 1936 |
| Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Riffraff is a 1936 film starring Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy. The movie was written by Frances Marion, Anita Loos, and H. W. Hannaford, and directed by J. Walter Ruben.
Spencer Tracy plays a rough and tough fisherman ("Dutch" Mueller), who leads in a strike with his fellow Fishery workers against the "fat-cat" owners of a Tuna cannery. The love interest Hattie (Jean Harlow), is also a Tuna cannery worker. Her character has a tough exterior with her "bombshell" good looks.
Jimmie (Mickey Rooney) plays a teenager, who is the Uncle of the two youngest children. They all live with; "Pops" (Roger Imhof), Hattie and his Aunt Lil (Una Merkel) together in the same small, apartment-like "shack" on the wharf. Aunt 'Lil runs the home.
The thuggish cannery owner, Nick Lewis (Joseph Calliea), is also trying to romance Hattie with his money & gifts. He has wealth, Dutch does not. Hattie falls for Dutch in the end but this antagonism creates many struggles throughout the film. Pete (William Newell) is a family friend along with many colorful characters in the movie.
The movie explores some cutting edge sub-themes that were socially current at the time of its release in 1936 release. Some scenes involve a woman having a baby while in prison, a hobo camp deep in the woods showing vagabonds, as well as worker strike scenes on the docks in the story.