Neither was I putting down Raft, whom I have always enjoyed as an actor. But people's backgrounds were what they were!
They made "LADIES" out of street urchins, "bitches" out of THE nicest women ever, sexpot leading lady vamps out lesbians, and only a very very few people ever knew back then, or now; if they even know who we're talking about.
Men used to be men, now they are little boys in adult bodies, who have no manners, no intellect, far too much arrogance, and no patience. Also, they are a bunch of stupid wussies! Girls aren't any better and yes, though I am painting with a rather large brush, it is what it is.
Actually, we’re not that much in conflict over history as it might seem. I well know about Cagney’s pre-film ‘theater’ activities, as well as his sickliness. Truthfully, I don’t get much into the private lives of the vintage stars, being primarily a ‘film’ nut, not a ‘star’ nut. But over the years, getting to talk to dozens and dozens of old-time film folk, including some Warner fixtures like Mae Clarke, Helen Vinson and such, I’ve picked up my share of stories.
And sometimes these actors do have amazing histories of digging ditches, working in lumber mills and farms, and living in shacks and having to go to bed hungry. Things that most people wouldn’t expect of then-future famous ‘movie stars,’ from today’s perspectives. Some real tough cookies (and a few that contrarily had it real comfortable and easy, like rich guys Franchot Tone, Charles Starrett or Robert Stack). But the majority seemed to endure a lot of poverty and hardship on their way up. And sometimes it’s that hard-bitten, well-earned realism of living life that still comes through in all those old 35mm artifacts. Something which just isn’t present in modern fare and all its self-conscious calculations.