Like James Cagney, actor George Raft rarely was given the opportunity to show off his chops on the dance floor. Cast in gangster film roles early on, both actors got their foot in the door in Hollywood in the early 1930s through their success as professional dancers, appearing in a number of stage musicals on and off Broadway. Raft had the chance to show off his lithesome dance moves in February 1934's "Bolero."
As a child, Raft's mother taught him to dance. His specialty became the Charleston. "I could have been the first X-rated dancer," bragged Raft later. "I was very erotic. I used to caress myself as I danced. I never felt I was a great dancer. I was more of a stylist, unique." His talents were so great he toured in Europe's biggest cities, popularizing the tango as he performed. Fred Astaire remembers him as a quick-on-his-feet dancer, and he did "the fastest Charleston I ever saw." During the Broadway musicals before live audiences, Raft was encouraged by the reception he received from the appreciative crowds to pursue a Hollywood career beginning in 1929, breaking into film as talkies were emerging on the scene. He appeared in several small dancing sequences until he slid into his more popular gangster role in 1932's "Scarface," showing off his trademark coin flipping.
Raft knew Maurice Mouvet, the American dancer the film "Bolero" was based. The actor claimed he taught Maurice some dance steps. Unlike Mouvet, who constantly fell for his female dance partners, in the movie Raoul De Barre (Raft) made a point never to have affairs with women, even though several came on to him. After several partners, Raoul turns to Helen Hathaway (Carole Lombard). He vows not to fall in love with her, but eventually does. Trouble is, Lord Robert Coray (Ray Milland), is an admirer of hers and makes an effort to have her return the favor.
Lombard, never a professional dancer, was light on her feet. She took the place of Miriam Hopkins, who was recovering from an illness. Lombard was offered the role of Ellie in "It Happened One Night," but was tied up with "Bolero." Director Wesley Ruggles substituted Lombard and Raft during the difficult climatic number 'Bolero' with international ballroom dance stars Veloz and Yolanda, using extreme wide shots to mask their real identities. The pair also choreographed the movie's dance moves. The film, and particularly that climatic dance, impressed ice skaters Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean so much they copied the exact movements onto the ice for their memorable 1984 Olympic Game gold medal performance.
Burlesque sensation Sally Rand displayed her famous but provocative ostrich feather fan dance during an interlude in Raft's nightclub performance in "Bolero." The Hays Production Code censors were initially troubled by Rand's scheduled appearance in the movie. But once they saw the 'tasteful' routine from the controversial dancer, they allowed her trademark number to remain in the film. Rand was responsible for popularizing dancing with large ostrich feathers, a trend that Busby Berkeley capitalized on with his jaw-dropping 'Spin A Little Web of Dreams' number in 1934's "Fashions of 1934."
William Frawley's (Fred Mertz on "I Love Lucy") had one of his bigger roles on film in "Bolero." Appearing in over 100 movies, Frawley plays Raoul's brother who provides financial support as well as managerial advice. Surprisingly, his character was not written into the follow-up to "Bolero," Paramount Pictures' "Rumba," that Raft and Lombard appeared in the following year. Quite possibly because of the absence of Frawley, this caused "Rumba" to not live up to its predecessor's wildly successful theater run.
As a child, Raft's mother taught him to dance. His specialty became the Charleston. "I could have been the first X-rated dancer," bragged Raft later. "I was very erotic. I used to caress myself as I danced. I never felt I was a great dancer. I was more of a stylist, unique." His talents were so great he toured in Europe's biggest cities, popularizing the tango as he performed. Fred Astaire remembers him as a quick-on-his-feet dancer, and he did "the fastest Charleston I ever saw." During the Broadway musicals before live audiences, Raft was encouraged by the reception he received from the appreciative crowds to pursue a Hollywood career beginning in 1929, breaking into film as talkies were emerging on the scene. He appeared in several small dancing sequences until he slid into his more popular gangster role in 1932's "Scarface," showing off his trademark coin flipping.
Raft knew Maurice Mouvet, the American dancer the film "Bolero" was based. The actor claimed he taught Maurice some dance steps. Unlike Mouvet, who constantly fell for his female dance partners, in the movie Raoul De Barre (Raft) made a point never to have affairs with women, even though several came on to him. After several partners, Raoul turns to Helen Hathaway (Carole Lombard). He vows not to fall in love with her, but eventually does. Trouble is, Lord Robert Coray (Ray Milland), is an admirer of hers and makes an effort to have her return the favor.
Lombard, never a professional dancer, was light on her feet. She took the place of Miriam Hopkins, who was recovering from an illness. Lombard was offered the role of Ellie in "It Happened One Night," but was tied up with "Bolero." Director Wesley Ruggles substituted Lombard and Raft during the difficult climatic number 'Bolero' with international ballroom dance stars Veloz and Yolanda, using extreme wide shots to mask their real identities. The pair also choreographed the movie's dance moves. The film, and particularly that climatic dance, impressed ice skaters Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean so much they copied the exact movements onto the ice for their memorable 1984 Olympic Game gold medal performance.
Burlesque sensation Sally Rand displayed her famous but provocative ostrich feather fan dance during an interlude in Raft's nightclub performance in "Bolero." The Hays Production Code censors were initially troubled by Rand's scheduled appearance in the movie. But once they saw the 'tasteful' routine from the controversial dancer, they allowed her trademark number to remain in the film. Rand was responsible for popularizing dancing with large ostrich feathers, a trend that Busby Berkeley capitalized on with his jaw-dropping 'Spin A Little Web of Dreams' number in 1934's "Fashions of 1934."
William Frawley's (Fred Mertz on "I Love Lucy") had one of his bigger roles on film in "Bolero." Appearing in over 100 movies, Frawley plays Raoul's brother who provides financial support as well as managerial advice. Surprisingly, his character was not written into the follow-up to "Bolero," Paramount Pictures' "Rumba," that Raft and Lombard appeared in the following year. Quite possibly because of the absence of Frawley, this caused "Rumba" to not live up to its predecessor's wildly successful theater run.