Invisible Stripes
| Invisible Stripes | |
|---|---|
 theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Lloyd Bacon |
| Produced by |
Hal B. Wallis Jack L. Warner |
| Written by |
Lewis E. Lawes (novel) Jonathan Finn (story) Warren Duff (screenplay) |
| Starring |
George Raft Jane Bryan William Holden Humphrey Bogart |
| Music by | Heinz Roemheld |
| Cinematography | Ernest Haller |
| Editing by | James Gibbon |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release dates | December 30, 1939 |
| Running time | 81 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $500,000[1] |
Invisible Stripes is a 1939 Warner Bros. crime film about a gangster (George Raft) unable to go straight after returning home from prison. The movie was directed by Lloyd Bacon and also features William Holden and Humphrey Bogart. The screenplay by Warren Duff was based on the novel of the same name by Warden Lewis E. Lawes, a fervent crusader for prison reform, as adapted by Jonathan Finn.
Plot
Cliff Taylor (George Raft) is an ex-con who wants to go straight, but since being released from prison on parole, he finds it hard to find and hold a job due to his criminal past. Cliff's younger brother Tim (William Holden) follows in his footsteps, and joins up with Charles Martin (Humphrey Bogart)'s gang in an attempt to support himself and his girlfriend Peggy (Jane Bryan).[2]
Cast
- George Raft as Cliff Taylor
- Jane Bryan as Peggy
- William Holden as Tim Taylor
- Humphrey Bogart as Charles Martin
- Flora Robson as Mrs. Taylor
- Henry O'Neill as Parole Officer Masters
- Paul Kelly as Ed Kruger
- Lee Patrick as Molly Daniels
- Marc Lawrence as Lefty Sloan
- Joe Downing as Johnny Hudson
- Tully Marshall as Old Peter
- Margot Stevenson as Sue
- Joseph Crehan as Mr. Chasen
- Chester Clute as Mr. Butler
- John Hamilton as Police Capt. Johnson
- Frankie Thomas as Tommy McNeill
- William Haade as Shrank
Cast notes:
- Leo Gorcey, who would later become known for playing "Slip Mahoney" in the Bowery Boys series of films, has a small part as the head stockroom boy.
Production
During a fight scene, William Holden accidentally hit George Raft and caused a gash.[1]
Reception
The film was only a minor success.[1]
Critical reaction
Time Out Film Guide calls Invisible Stripes "A thoroughly predictable tale of the tribulations of an ex-con."[3] A New York Times review from 1940 commented about the unusual lack of prison scenes in the movie. "Let us hasten in all gratitude to add that "Invisible Stripes" is a prison picture in which the stripes are much less visible than usual, most of the action being paroled to the outside in the capable custody of George Raft, Jane Bryan, William Holden and Humphrey Bogart. There are no jute mill scenes, no bullying guards, no big prison break sequence; in fact, we don't understand why they've suddenly commuted our sentence from the customary duration of the picture to a brief prison prelude, a mere graduating exercise at the beginning: good behavior, maybe."[4]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Everett Aaker, The Films of George Raft, McFarland & Company, 2013 p 88
- ↑ Allmovie Overview
- ↑ Time Out Film Guide review
- ↑ New York Times review, January 13, 1940
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Invisible Stripes (film). |