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DramaAdventureThriller

Riff-Raff

- "Baby, this is a matter of love and death!"

A private detective foils the plans of villains attempting to take over Panamanian oilfields when he hides a valuable map in plain sight.

Release Date : 1947-06-28

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : RKO Radio Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Riff-Raff

Cast

Pat O’Brien

Character Name : Dan Hammer

Original Name : Pat O’Brien

Gender : Male

Anne Jeffreys

Character Name : Maxine Manning

Original Name : Anne Jeffreys

Gender : Female

Walter Slezak

Character Name : Eric Molinar

Original Name : Walter Slezak

Gender : Male

Percy Kilbride

Character Name : Pop

Original Name : Percy Kilbride

Gender : Male

Jerome Cowan

Character Name : Walter Gredson

Original Name : Jerome Cowan

Gender : Male

George Givot

Character Name : Major Rues

Original Name : George Givot

Gender : Male

Jason Robards Sr.

Character Name : Mr. Domingues

Original Name : Jason Robards Sr.

Gender : Male

Marc Krah

Character Name : Charles Hasso

Original Name : Marc Krah

Gender : Male

Robert Andersen

Character Name : Co-Pilot (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Andersen

Gender : Male

Ernest Anderson

Character Name : Wong - Houseboy (uncredited)

Original Name : Ernest Anderson

Gender : Male

Bobby Barber

Character Name : Customs Inspector (uncredited)

Original Name : Bobby Barber

Gender : Male

Bonnie Blair

Character Name : Airport Official (uncredited)

Original Name : Bonnie Blair

Gender : Male

Eddie Borden

Character Name : Panhandler (uncredited)

Original Name : Eddie Borden

Gender : Male

Tom Coleman

Character Name : Man in Hallway (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Coleman

Gender : Male

Italia DeNubila

Character Name : Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Italia DeNubila

Gender : Male

Alphonso DuBois

Character Name : Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Alphonso DuBois

Gender : Male

Fred Essler

Character Name : Hernandez - Man with Briefcase (uncredited)

Original Name : Fred Essler

Gender : Male

Betty Hill

Character Name : Singer (uncredited)

Original Name : Betty Hill

Gender : Male

Patt Hyatt

Character Name : Singer (uncredited)

Original Name : Patt Hyatt

Gender : Male

Lou Lubin

Character Name : Rabbit (uncredited)

Original Name : Lou Lubin

Gender : Male

Alice Ludes

Character Name : Singer (uncredited)

Original Name : Alice Ludes

Gender : Male

Sam Lufkin

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam Lufkin

Gender : Male

Carmen López

Character Name : Hula Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Carmen López

Gender : Male

Saul Martell

Character Name : Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Saul Martell

Gender : Male

Dorothy McCarty

Character Name : Singer (uncredited)

Original Name : Dorothy McCarty

Gender : Male

George Mendoza

Character Name : Mr. Marsh (uncredited)

Original Name : George Mendoza

Gender : Male

Drew Miller

Character Name : Pilot (uncredited)

Original Name : Drew Miller

Gender : Male

Tommy Noonan

Character Name : First Down-and-Outer at Cabaret (uncredited)

Original Name : Tommy Noonan

Gender : Male

Eduardo Noriega

Character Name : Maitre D' Felice (uncredited)

Original Name : Eduardo Noriega

Gender : Male

Bob O'Connor

Character Name : Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Original Name : Bob O'Connor

Gender : Male

Virginia Owen

Character Name : Singer (uncredited)

Original Name : Virginia Owen

Gender : Female

Julian Rivero

Character Name : El Caribe Airport Manager (uncredited)

Original Name : Julian Rivero

Gender : Male

Hector V. Sarno

Character Name : Pedro, Concierge (uncredited)

Original Name : Hector V. Sarno

Gender : Male

Norbert Schiller

Character Name : Henchman (uncredited)

Original Name : Norbert Schiller

Gender : Male

Sammy Stein

Character Name : Henchman (uncredited)

Original Name : Sammy Stein

Gender : Male

Tex Swan

Character Name : Driver (uncredited)

Original Name : Tex Swan

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

His name is Hammer and they call him Hammer, and he's just as subtle! Riffraff (AKA: erm, Riff-Raff) is directed by Ted Tetzlaff and written by Martin Rackin. It stars Pat O'Brien, Anne Jeffreys, Walter Slezak and Percy Kilbride. Music is by Roy Webb and cinematography by George Diskant. Something of a little cracker is this one, a pic for those with a discernible palate of Private Investigator based film noir. Don't be misled into believing others when they write that it's minor noir, or borderline of such, it quite simply is a noir pic from what was a stellar year for that film making style. Story is based in Panama and finds P.I. Dan Hammer (O'Brien) involved in the search for a map that shows priceless oil concessions. Sure enough there's others who desperately want the map, so in comes murders, beatings and a sultry babe. Pic opens with the shot of a reptile at nighttime, sitting on a rock in the pouring rain, it probably would have been better to use a snake in the shot, but it certainly is a most appealing and appropriate film opening. From there the piece is a veritable feast of super photography and punchy dialogue. OK, so the plot story is standard fare, but the makers never let it drag things down, there's always a quip or a punch thrown to keep things perky. Tetzlaff was himself a fine cinematographer (see the previous year's Notorious), and here armed with Diskant (They Live By Night/On Dangerous Ground/The Narrow Margin) in his corner the director makes hay. The plot set-up sequences in an aeroplane are moody visual supreme, and often when a scene calls for it - such as when Hammer is getting tortured in his office by Sleazak and his thugs - the noir style comes to the fore. There's wooden slats everywhere in this, wonderful! Initially one can be forgiven for being sceptical at a portly 48 year old O'Brien playing a tough P.I., but he pulls it off, sharp of tongue and he throws a good punch does Pat. Jeffreys (Dillinger) slinks in for some initial sultry suspicion, and does well, even getting involved in the key fight scene, Kilbride is wonderfully wry as Hammer's unofficial aide, and Sleazak does what he does best, Weasle time! Capping it off is the MacGuffin map, whose whereabouts at reveal is cheeky and something Hitch would have been proud of. Riffraff is a winner and well worth seeking out. 7/10