George Raft

George Raft

Nascimento : 1895-09-26, Los Angeles, California, USA

Morte : 1980-11-25

História

George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, today Raft is mostly known for his gangster roles in the original Scarface (1932), Each Dawn I Die (1939), and Billy Wilder's 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot, as a dancer in Bolero (1934), and a truck driver in They Drive by Night (1940). Description above from the Wikipedia article George Raft, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Perfil

George Raft

Filmes

Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films
Himself (archive footage)
Among the pieces featured in Fragments are the final reel of John Ford's The Village Blacksmith (1922) and a glimpse at Emil Jannings in The Way of All Flesh (1927), the only Oscar®-winning performance in a lost film. Fragments also features clips from such lost films as Cleopatra (1917), starring Theda Bara; The Miracle Man (1919), with Lon Chaney; He Comes Up Smiling (1918), starring Douglas Fairbanks; an early lost sound film, Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929), filmed in early Technicolor, and the only color footage of silent star Clara Bow, Red Hair (1928). The program is rounded out with interviews of film preservationists involved in identifying and restoring these films. Also featured is a new interview with Diana Serra Cary, best known as "Baby Peggy", one of the major American child stars of the silent era, who discusses one of the featured fragments, Darling of New York (1923).
Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film
Self (archive footage)
Produced for Turner Classic Movies, this documentary looks at the early days of the gangster film.
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Himself (archive footage)
Out-takes (mostly from Warner Bros.), promotional shorts, movie premieres, public service pleas, wardrobe tests, documentary material, and archival footage make up this star-studded voyeuristic look at the Golden age of Hollywood during the 30s, 40, and 50.
The Man with Bogart's Face
Petey Cane
In this send-up of the Humphrey Bogart detective films of the 1940s, a man idolizes Bogart so much that he has his features altered to look exactly like him and then opens up a detective agency under the name Sam Marlow.
Sextette - A Grande Estrela
Himself
On the day of her wedding to her sixth husband, a glamorous silver screen sex symbol is asked to intervene in a political dispute between nations, which leads to chaos.
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
Period music, film clips and newsreel footage combined into a visual exploration of the American entertainment industry during the Great Depression.
Deadhead Miles
George Raft
A long-distance trucker, dressed like a sea captain, aimlessly sails the American highways in his 18 wheeler mumbling manic, southern accented non sequiturs; carnivalizing roadside stops and happenstance towns while out-weirding cops and weigh stations with his new cryptic, over-coated hitchhiker buddy.
Unidos Pelo Mal
Guido Scartucci
The Faust legend retold (loosely) and applied to a mentally disturbed patient in a hospital run by a doctor of dubious sanity himself. The patient offers the innocent orderly vast riches if he'll help him escape.
Skidoo Se Faz a Dois
Captain Garbaldo
Ex-gangster Tony Banks is called out of retirement by mob kingpin God to carry out a hit on fellow mobster "Blue Chips" Packard. When Banks demurs, God kidnaps his daughter Darlene on his luxury yacht.
The Movie Orgy
Self (archival footage)
Clips from assorted television programs, B-movies, commercials, music performances, newsreels, bloopers, satirical short films and promotional and government films of the 1950s and 1960s are intercut together to tell a single story of various creatures and societal ills attacking American cities.
Cinco Dragões Dourados
Dragon #2
While travelling through Hong Kong, Bob Mitchell accidentally stumbles into the middle of criminal negotiations between a mean gang, the Five Golden Dragons and the local mobsters.
Cassino Royale
Himself
Sir James Bond aposenta-se no auge da fama. A CIA, a KGB e a Scotland Yard imploram que ele volte à ativa para uma última missão. Em meio a uma multidão de imitadores e aproveitadores, Sir James provará que ainda é o único, e verdadeiro, Bond. Sátira ao agente criado por Ian Fleming. Este filme não é considerado um legítimo representante da antologia "James Bond" no cinema. Ele também é notável pelos inúmeros problemas e brigas que ocorreram durante as filmagens (incluindo discussões entre Orson Welles e Peter Sellers, que chegou a abandonar a produção, deixando as suas cenas inacabadas), chegando ao ponto do filme ter tido vários roteiristas e cinco diretores!
The Upper Hand
Charles Binnaggio
In Paris, a gold smuggler is at war with other local gangsters who want piece of the action. Then the mob shows up and makes things worse. And an undercover US Treasury Department agent is trying to infiltrate the smuggling business.
Juventude Desenfreada
Detective (uncredited)
A wealthy young man tries to woo a university student, while her two uncles work to popularize a local club.
Hollywood Without Make-Up
Self
A collection of behind the scenes and home movies from the golden age of Hollywood.
O Terror das Mulheres
Himself
Herbert H. Heebert é um jovem rapaz que perdeu sua namorada e não quer mais saber de romances. Ele vai trabalhar como camareiro em uma pensão, dirigida por Helen Wellenmellen. Para seu desespero, a pensão é só para mulheres. Elas são inúmeras e a maioria delas belas e solteiras, causando terror em Herbert que não quer ceder a novos relacionamentos amorosos. Até que Fay resolve ajudá-lo a se curar de seu medo de mulheres.
Onze Homens e Um Segredo
Jack Strager
Em Las Vegas, onze homens tomam parte de um fantástico plano de assaltar cinco cassinos ao mesmo tempo, durante a virada do ano. Tudo parece perfeito, mas algo acaba saindo errado.
Jet Over The Atlantic
Stafford
Director Byron Haskin's 1960 airplane-in jeopardy drama stars Guy Madison, Virginia Mayo, George Raft, Ilona Massey, Margaret Lindsay, George Macready, Brett Halsey, Anna Lee and Mary Anderson.
Quanto Mais Quente Melhor
Spats Colombo
Em 1929, Joe e Jerry, dois músicos desempregados, testemunham sem querer o cruel Massacre do Dia de São Valentim. Desesperados para não serem pegos pelos gangsters, eles se disfarçam de mulheres e entram para um grupo feminino musical, que está indo para Miami fazer shows. Joe se apaixona por Sugar, a garota problema do grupo, enquanto um milionário se apaixona pelo disfarce de Jerry, tudo isso em meio a uma convenção de criminosos, que também está acontecendo em Miami.
A Volta ao Mundo em Oitenta Dias
Saloon Bouncer
Em 1872, o nobre inglês Phileas Fogg (David Niven) aposta vinte mil libras com seus colegas do Clube Reformatório de Londres de que ele consegue dar a volta no planeta em exatamente oitenta dias. Ao lado do engenhoso Valet Passepartout (Mario Moreno), ele busca cumprir o seu objetivo com aventuras em todos os continentes, acaba conhecendo e se encantando pela bela viúva Aouda (Shirley MacLaine), ao mesmo tempo que, em uma conspiração, é acusado de ter roubado o dinheiro que investiu na aposta.
Cada Bala Uma Vida
Joe Victor
Raoul Leduc is a police inspector trailing a spy who plots to kidnap an important American atomic scientist. Joe Victor a gangster who is hired to carry out the abduction, balks when he learns what is at stake and helps Leduc out instead.
A Viúva Negra
Detective Lt. C.A. Bruce
A young stage hopeful is murdered and suspicion falls on her mentor, a Broadway producer.
Pecado e Redenção
Dan Beaumonte
A police detective on the take tries to catch his brother's killer.
The Man From Cairo
Mike Canelli
"The Man from Cairo", a Michaeldavid production for distribution by Lippert, with Ray Enright the only credited director on the film print, finds Mike Canelli, the man from Cairo, nosing around Algiers with mystery surrounding the people he meets and the things he does and has done to him, all deriving from the war-time theft of $100,000,000 in gold which lies somewhere in the adjacent desert. People representing many nationalities and reasons are also seeking the gold. It boils down to a battle between Canelli and the original looter aboard a speeding train.
Eu Te Pegarei
Steve Rossi
When nuclear scientists are kidnapped and smuggled behind the Iron Curtain, an FBI man and a British agent are assigned to catch the kidnappers.
Loan Shark
Joe Gargen
A vicious loan shark ring has been preying on factory workers. When several workers at a tire factory suffer violence at the hands of the loan sharkers, a union leader and the factory owner try to recruit ex-con Joe Gargan to infiltrate to the gang. At first Joe does not want to get involved, but changes his mind when his brother-in-law dies at the hands of a savage loan shark hood. Joe works his way into the mob, but in order to keep his cover, Joe can't tell anyone what he is up to. This results in him being disowned by his sister and girl friend.
I'll Get You for This
Nick Cain
Nick, an American gambler, arrives in San Paolo and falls in love with Colleen, an American tourist, after she loses all of her money at the casino. Nick flees with Colleen after they are framed for murder and he tries to track down the real killer.
We Will All Go to Paris
George Raft
The film tells the story of three presenters on Radio X, an amateur clandestine radio station.
Capturado
Vince Kane
A cop-turned-bail bondsman gets involved in a murder investigation.
Desafiando o Perigo
Johnny Torno
Nick Cherney, in prison for embezzling from Torno Freight Co., sees a chance to get back at Johnny Torno through his young priest brother Jess. He pays fellow prisoner Rocky, who gets out a week before Nick, to murder Jess... who, dying, tells revenge-minded Johnny that he'd written a clue "in the Bible." Frustrated, Johnny obsessively searches for the missing Gideon Bible from Jess's hotel room.
Johnny Allegro
Johnny Allegro
Treasury Department officials recruit a florist (Raft) to lead them to a wanted criminal (Macready); but once he gets too close, he finds he's the hunted.
Posto Avançado em Marrocos
Paul Gerard
Captain Gerard, greatest lover in the Foreign Legion, is assigned to escort an emir's daughter to her father's mountain citadel and find out what he can about the emir's activities. Gerard enjoys his work with lovely Cara, but arrives to find rebellion brewing.
Traição
Dan Gannin
A night club owner takes on the crooks who killed his best friend.
Intrigue
Brad Dunham
Dishonorably discharged from the Army Air Corps, Brad Dunham (George Raft) disconsolately decides to try his luck with Shanghai's postwar black market. Teaming with the treacherous Tamara Baranoff (June Havoc), Dunham prospers in his newly-found illicit profession, much to the dismay of his best friend, reporter Mark Andrews (Tom Tully). When Tamara has the troublesome Andrews murdered, Dunham realizes the folly of his behavior and works overtime to squash the black market for good and all.
Véspera de Natal
Mario Torio
The greedy nephew of eccentric Matilda Reid seeks to have her judged incompetent so he can administer her wealth, but she will be saved if her three long-lost adopted sons appear for a Christmas Eve reunion. Separate stories reveal Michael as a bankrupt playboy loved by loyal Ann; Mario as a seemingly shady character tangling with a Nazi war criminal in South America; Jonathan as a hard-drinking rodeo rider intent on a flirtatious social worker. Is there hope for Matilda?
Noturno
Joe Warne
O detetive Joe Warner investiga o assassinato do compositor mulherengo Keith Vincent. Evidências apontam para suicídio e este acaba sendo o veredito oficial, mas Joe não acredita e obsessivamene continua a investigar.
Mr. Ace
Eddie Ace
A rich society woman uses a gangster to win a congressional election.
Por Causa de uma Mulher
Kenny Veech
When beautiful Mary returns to her "whistle stop" hometown, long-standing feelings of animosity between two of her old boyfriends leads to robbery and murder.
Johnny Angel
Johnny Angel
George Raft plays a sailor who sets out to solve his father's mysterious death.
Nob Hill
Tony Angelo
A Barbary Coast saloon owner hopes to marry his way into San Francisco's high society. Directed by Henry Hathaway, the film was released in 1945.
Epopeia da Alegria
Tony West
During World War II, all the studios put out "all-star" vehicles which featured virtually every star on the lot--often playing themselves--in musical numbers and comedy skits, and were meant as morale-boosters to both the troops overseas and the civilians at home. This was Universal Pictures' effort. It features everyone from Donald O'Connor to the Andrews Sisters to Orson Welles to W.C. Fields to George Raft to Marlene Dietrich, and dozens of other Universal players.
Background to Danger
Joe Barton
An American gets caught up in wartime action in Turkey.
Noivas do Tio Sam
George Raft
A young soldier on a pass in New York City visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous stars of the theater and films appear and host a recreational center for servicemen during the war. The soldier meets a pretty young hostess and they enjoy the many entertainers and a growing romance
Broadway
Himself
Gangsters, nightclubs and the Roaring '20s.
Breakdowns of 1942
Self
This is a collection of bloopers and film manipulation by The Warner Studio Club for an annual dinner for the staff at Warner Brothers.
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2
Hedda Hopper plays hostess at a party for her (grown) son William (DeWolfe Jr.). Hopper, attends the dedication of the Motion Picture Relief Fund's country home and goes to the Mocambo. There is also a sequence dedicated to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin world premiere of the first short in this series attended by more that a few film stars.
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Blooper out-takes from Torrid Zone, Four Mothers, The Wagons Roll at Night, The Sea Wolf, No Time for Comedy, The Bride Came C.O.D., and Affectionately Yours, among other Warner Brother productions of 1940 and 1941.
Aquela Mulher!
Johnny Marshall
Hank McHenry and Johnny Marshall work as power company linesmen. Hank is injured in an accident and subsequently promoted to foreman of the gang. Tensions start to show in the road crew as rivalry between Hank and Johnny increases.
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Self
This 1940 presentation features highlights of earlier (1928 onward) Oscar ceremonies including Shirley Temple and Walt Disney, plus acceptance speeches for films released in 1939 with recipients and presenters including Vivien Leigh, Judy Garland, Hattie McDaniel, Fay Bainter, Mickey Rooney, Thomas Mitchell, Sinclair Lewis, and more, with host Bob Hope.
Dentro da Noite
Joe Fabrini
Joe Fabrini (George Raft) e Paul Fabrini (Humphrey Bogart) são dois irmãos motoristas de caminhão que levam uma acidentada e explorada vida como caminhoneiros. Joe sonha com o dia em que terão seu próprio negócio. Eles acabam sendo demitidos do serviço de um patrão corrupto. Um acidente com Paul mudará os sonhos dessa dupla, e para tentar manter um emprego, Joe se vê envolvido em uma trama de crime com a mal-intencionada Lana Carlsen (Ida Lupino), mulher de seu patrão.
Amada Por Três
Steve Larwitt
Nightclub owner Steve Larwitt (George Raft) sees his empire of investments collapse as he faces tax evasion charges and attacks by rivals. Believing Steve will be safer in prison for one year, his wife, Brenda (Joan Bennett), testifies against him on advice from his lawyer, Slant Kolma (Lloyd Nolan), who is in love with her. After Steve receives 10 years in Alcatraz, Brenda moves to be near him and avoids advances of airplane builder Tim Nolan (Walter Pidgeon), who knows nothing about her past.
Breakdowns of 1940
Himself
Flubs and bloopers that occurred on the set of some of the major Warner Bros. pictures of 1940.
Homens Marcados
Cliff Taylor
A gangster is unable to go straight after returning home from prison.
I Stole a Million
Joe Lourik
A cabbie and petty thief dreams of the big heist that will end his thieving ways.
Each Dawn I Die
'Hood' Stacey
A corrupt D.A. with governatorial ambitions is annoyed by an investigative reporter's criticism of his criminal activities and decides to frame the reporter for manslaughter in order to silence him.
The Lady's from Kentucky
Marty Black
Good-natured gambler Marty Black falls into ownership of a booking joint but soon falls on hard times. His one out is a marker for half-ownership in a young thoroughbred, which he quickly calls in. He discovers the other owner to be a young woman from an old horse racing family who wants to protect her colt almost as much as Marty wants to rush him into big races for a fast buck. While they clash, Marty soon comes to understand the human bond with the horses and what it means to be a thoroughbred.
Lobos do Norte
Tyler Dawson
Two Alaskan salmon fisherman find their friendship at risk when one aligns with Russian fish pirates and the other aligns with local vigilantes.
You and Me
Joe Dennis
Mr. Morris, the owner of a large metropolitan department store, gives jobs to paroled ex-convicts in an effort to help them reform and go straight. Among his 'employed-prison-graduates' are Helen Roberts and Joe Dennis, working as sales clerks. Joe is in love with Helen and asks her to marry him, but she is forbidden to marry as she is still on parole, but she says yes and they are married. In spite of their poverty-level life, their marriage is a happy one until Joe discovers she has lied about her past, in order to marry him. Disillusioned, he leaves, goes back to his old gang and plans to rob the department store.
Souls at Sea
Powdah
Michael 'Nuggin' Taylor and Powdah save lives during a sea tragedy in this story about the slave trade on the high seas during 1842.
Yours for the Asking
Johnny Lamb
Casino operator Johnny Lamb hires down-on-her-luck socialite Lucille Sutton as his casino hostess, in order to help her and to improve casino income. But Lamb's pals fear he may follow Lucille onto the straight-and-narrow path, which would not be good for business. So they hire Gert Malloy and Dictionary McKinney, a pair of con-artists, to manipulate Johnny back off the path of righteousness.
It Had to Happen
Enrico Scaffa
A poor boy rises to power in politics.
The Fashion Side of Hollywood
Self
Compilation of lighting and costume tests from various films, most notably Sternberg's The Devil Is a Woman (1935).
She Couldn't Take It
Joe "Spot" Ricardi
The wealthy Van Dyke family are constantly in the media for outrageous behavior, much to the frustration of the patriarch, Dan Van Dyke. His self-centered wife has a fondness for foreign imports, including "pet projects" like dancers and such and his spoiled children Tony and Carol have constant run-ins with the law. When Dan himself ends up in the clink for five years for tax evasion, he becomes bunk-mates with ex-bootlegger Joe "Spots" Ricardi. Ricardi lectures him on being such a push-over for an out-of-control family, so a dying Dan makes Ricardi his estate trustee once he is released from prison. Ricardi is then thrust into high society and must do everything he once nagged Dan to do.
Every Night at Eight
Tops Cardona
Three young girls working in an agency have build a singing trio. They want to "lease" the Dictaphone of their boss to make a record of their singing, but they are caught and fired. When they are not able to pay their rent any longer, they decide to try it on an amateur contest at a radio station.
The Glass Key
Ed Beaumont
When Paul Madvig, a successful politician who fights his rivals to seize the city, becomes implicated in a murder, Ed Beaumont, his friend and right-hand man, must decide which side he is on.
Stolen Harmony
Ray Ferraro
Band leader Jack Conrad is impressed by prison inmate Ray Ferrera on saxophone. Conrad hires Ray to join his band and tour upon his release. Ray hooks up with Jean, a dancer in the show, and the two become a successful dance act. However, when an ex-inmate buddy of Ray's robs the tour bus, Ray is suspected of wrongdoing by Jack and the others in the group. After a gang of thugs hijacks the tour bus, Ray tries to use his street smarts to redeem his reputation.
Rumba
Joe Martin
A bored society girl sets her sights on a dancer in a Broadway show.
Limehouse Blues
Harry Young
Fresh from Chinatown in New York, Harry Young has taken over the illegal import business in the seamy Limehouse district of London, where he cold-bloodedly disposes of rivals and runs a smoky nightclub. He falls for a low-class, white pickpocket, diminishing his pride in the Chinese half of his heritage and sparking the jealousy of the nightclub's moody star performer.
The Trumpet Blows
Manuel Montes
In Mexico, a former bandit settles down and picks out a beautiful young dancer to be his wife. His younger brother also comes home after having spent years in the U.S., and falls in love with his brother's intended fiancé. Rather than cause problems, the younger brother goes to Mexico City to become a matador. While there, he gets word that the police, who have been hunting his brother, have finally captured him.
Bolero
Raoul De Baere
The complicated relationship between an ambitious, ruthless nightclub dancer and the woman he loves.
All of Me
Honey Rogers
A professor tires of the direction his life is going and wants to move west, but his girlfriend doesn't understand why he is so dissatisfied.
Hollywood on Parade No. B-5
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Comedian Lloyd Hamilton escorts a group of beauty contest winners to various Hollywood night spots.
The Bowery
Steve Brodie
"In the Gay Nineties New York had grown up into bustles and balloon Sleeves ... but The Bowery had grown younger, louder and more rowdy until it was known as the 'Livest Mile on the face of the globe' ... the cradle of men who were later to be famous.
Midnight Club
Nick Mason
With a sparkling script by Leslie Charteris, creator of "The Saint" - the latest crime wave has Scotland Yard baffled. Commissioner Hope (Sir Guy Standing) sends two of his officers (Billy Bevan and Charles McNaughton) to the Midnight Club to check up on a couple of shady characters - Colin Grant (Clive Brook) and Arthur Bradley (Allan Mowbray) and a girl, Iris Witney (Helen Vinson). There have been a number of jewel robberies around town recently, but, unknown to the police, these three have the perfect alibis!!! They have found "doubles", and while they are out committing the robberies, their doubles spend the night at the club, confusing the two officers who are on their tail.
Pick Up
Harry Glynn
The scheme of a pair of married con artists goes awry when their victim dies, and they are both caught and imprisoned. When she gets out of prison, she tries to put her life back together.
Under-Cover Man
Nick Darrow
When his father is murdered, erstwhile conman Nick Darrow asks the cops if he can go undercover to find the killers, and maybe even stop a crime ring that has been plaguing the police. The sister of another innocent victim joins him as they infiltrate the syndicate. Any wrong move could lead to instant death.
If I Had a Million
Eddie Jackson
An elderly business tycoon, believed to be dying, decides to give a million dollars each to eight strangers chosen at random from the phone directory.
Noite Após Noite
Joe Anton
A former boxer purchases a classy speakeasy and falls in love with a wealthy society girl.
Madame Racketeer
Jack Houston
International con artist Martha Hicks a.k.a. Countess von Claudwig is released from another stay in prison and decides to treat her rheumatism with a stay at her estranged husband's hotel at a Wisconsin spa. There undercover, she checks in on the two daughters she abandoned as infants.
Night World
Ed Powell
"Happy" MacDonald and his unfaithful wife own a Prohibition era night club. On this eventful night, he is threatened by bootleggers, and the club's star dancer falls in love with a young socialite who drinks to forget a personal tragedy, among other incidents.
Scarface: A Vergonha de uma Nação
Guino Rinaldo
Tony "Scarface" Camonte trabalha para Johnny Lovo, um ambicioso gangster que deseja criar um império do crime em Chicago. Nesta guerra pelo comando, o chefe da quadrilha rival fora assassinado por Tony e a polícia suspeita que Lovo o tenha pago para tal feito. Tony logo ganha respeito na quadrilha pelo feito e espera pacientemente pelo momento exato de liquidar com seu chefe e assumir o comando do bando. No comando, Tony ganha dinheiro como jamais sonhou e passa viver tranqüilo e luxuosamente. Mas sua tranqüilidade duraria pouco tempo, pois sua irmã Cesca Camonte, por quem tem paixões secretas, envolve-se com Guino Rinaldo, seu "braço direito", obrigando-o a tomar medidas drástic.
Dancers in the Dark
Louie Brooks
A bandleader tries to romance a dancer by sending her boyfriend, a musician, out of town. However, things get complicated when he finds out that a gangster has designs on her too.
Taxi!
William Kenny (uncredited)
Amidst a backdrop of growing violence and intimidation, independent cab drivers struggling against a consolidated juggernaut rally around hot-tempered Matt Nolan. Nolan is determined to keep competition alive on the streets, even if it means losing the woman he loves.
Palmy Days
Joe
Musical comedy antics in an art deco bakery (motto: "Glorifying the American Doughnut") with Eddie Cantor as an assistant to a phoney psychic, who is mistaken for an efficiency expert and placed in charge. Complications ensue when the psychic and his gang attempt to rub the payroll.
Hush Money
Maxie
Story of a girl who tries to live down the past and marries a wealthy man. Blackmail attempt by old associate foiled by friendly detective.
Quick Millions
Jimmy Kirk
A truck driver "too lazy to work and too nervous to steal" gets mixed up in racketeering. Naturally his underhanded business practices make him a pillar of the community.
Side Street
Georgie Ames (uncredited)
Three New York Irish brothers cross paths as policeman, doctor and bootlegger.
Gold Diggers of Broadway
Dancer (uncredited)
Three Broadway chorus girls seek rich husbands.
Queen of the Night Clubs
Gigola
Irked by the success of a brassy nightclub owner. her rivals set out to drive her out of business, and frame her for a murder in the bargain.