FEATURE FILM

Riffraff

5.4/10
TMDB18 votes
1936Original: English94 min

Fisherman Dutch marries cannery worker Hattie. After he is kicked out of his union and fired from his job he leaves Hattie who steals money for him and goes to jail. He gets a new job, foils a plot to dynamite the ship, and promises to wait for Hattie.

Genres: Crime, Drama
Cast: Jean Harlow, Spencer Tracy, Una Merkel, Joseph Calleia, Victor Kilian

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THE STORY & THE PEOPLE

About Riffraff

When a red-headed woman meets a red-headed man!

Riffraff (1936) is a film in the crime, drama genres. Directed by J. Walter Ruben. The cast includes Jean Harlow, Spencer Tracy, Una Merkel, Joseph Calleia.

Released
1936-01-03
Original language
English
Runtime
94 minutes
Status
Released
Production countries
United States of America
Production companies
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Writers
Frances Marion, H.W. Hanemann, Anita Loos

Riffraff cast & characters

Audience reviews

5.4/10 from 18 TMDB votes. Ratings and reviews are supplied by TMDB. Reviews are attributed to their original authors.

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TMDB member review

Though this is incredibly dated, it's also a very sincere and bizarre cross between a rags-to-riches drama and social commentary on unfair work practices/rights of workers/unions. And just so fans could see sexpot starlet Jean Harlow (the film's from Warner Archives' 7-film boxed set put out for the recent 100th anniversary of her birth in 1911) in as many costumes and gowns as possible, they have her married and…

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Though this is incredibly dated, it's also a very sincere and bizarre cross between a rags-to-riches drama and social commentary on unfair work practices/rights of workers/unions. And just so fans could see sexpot starlet Jean Harlow (the film's from Warner Archives' 7-film boxed set put out for the recent 100th anniversary of her birth in 1911) in as many costumes and gowns as possible, they have her married and involved in romances not simply with strait-laced activist Spencer Tracy but also their rich, slimy boss, tuna cannery owner Joseph Galleia (most famous in 'Touch of Evil' and 'Gilda'). Women loved her because she was lippy, brazen, glamourous, loyal and had a heart of gold, and men loved her because...she was Jean Harlow. This also sports an early appearance by Mickey Rooney in comic relief as her 15-year-old punk nephew; hard to belief he had already spent 10 years by that time on the silver screen! Not the worst film you would ever see, and her charisma with both starring actors is extraordinary. If you're a fan of either Harlow or 30's drama, don't miss it for the world.

Questions about Riffraff

What is Riffraff about?

Fisherman Dutch marries cannery worker Hattie. After he is kicked out of his union and fired from his job he leaves Hattie who steals money for him and goes to jail. He gets a new job, foils a plot to dynamite the ship, and promises to wait for Hattie.

Who stars in Riffraff?

Jean Harlow, Spencer Tracy, Una Merkel, Joseph Calleia, Victor Kilian, Mickey Rooney. See the cast cards above for character names.

How can I watch Riffraff online?

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