“Intrigue”, New Raft Film, Is Tense Drama

Those addicts of the George Raft type of highly keyed, taut drama with a thoughtful content will welcome his latest film, “Intrigue.”

The story of an ex-Army flier who is sucked into black market operations in food in post-World War II Shanghai features Raft as the protagonist, June Havoc as the blonde enchantress who lives by her wits and off the proceeds of the food manipulators, and that charming newcomer, Helena Carter, as a hostess in a Red Cross canteen.

In the supporting cast are three of the most sinister-appearing characters Hollywood has produced in many a day: dulcet-toned radio announcer Marvin Miller whose face belies his voice; Dan Seymour, and Egypt’s favourite romantic hero, Hassan Ezzat, who is the Western World’s prototype of villainy. Tom Tully plays a newspaperman with the proverbial nose £or news and the guts to follow it into many a precarious situation.

“Intrigue” has many novel facets to it. It represents its star, George Raft's first venture into actual production, the first of three films he and Sam Bischoff will co-produce for United Artists release. And it marks the fifth time Raft has worked under the direction of Edwin L. Marin whom he personally selected to megaphone this and his future co-produced films.

In addition it registers June Havoc's success at talking the motion picture minds out of casting her in strictly cheese-cake roles. She has been aiming at dramatic stature for some time and finally gave up Hollywood in disgust to appear on Broadway as a thespian rather than a “Bumper” and a “Bumper” and a “grider,” as the film capitol seemed to feel Gypsy Rose Lee’s sister had to be. Raift lured her back to the West Coast with the offer of the starring feminine role in “Intrigue.”

Miss Havcc has put thumbs down on all cheesecake poses and X throughout the film in evening gowns without once giving the audience a glimpse of her famous, shapely legs.

And Raft, who has a reputation for gambling on new talent, signed up Helena Carter, who had only two small parts in “Something in the Wind” and “Time Out of Mind” to her credit, for the second stellar feminine part.

The fact that “Intrigue” is set in present-day Shanghai required so many Chinese actors that the Raft-Bischoff film used up every available Oriental thespian and would-be thespian in the environs，of Hollywood, including the city’s one Korean actor who plays the part of a Chinese. And Marin was still so desperately in need of additional players that Phillip Ahn, the Korean, enlisted the aid of his brother, Philson Ahn, a research engineer for Howard Hughes’ aviation enterprises, in an acting capacity.