A Bath with George Raft

Famous for being Mae West's screen debut, the vastly underrated "Night After Night" (1932) also was George Raft's first starring vehicle. Later he would become associated mostly with gangster roles, a la James Cagney, but initially his studio planned to make him the next Valentino.

Thus, his first starring scene is one in which he slowly strips down out of his pajamas and steps quite obviously naked into a bath tub, where he lounges, scrubbing himself and chatting with his valet.

So much sex appeal has George Raft in the film that no less than three women are frantic for his bod. In desperation, one pulls a gun, another throws a violent tantrum and wrecks his bedroom, and the third - Mae West - has her own special way of coping which I'll get to in a minute.

This pre-code film also has distinct homoerotic overtones in the relationship between Raft and his male valet, who is also his lifelong friend, confidant, and watchdog. They share a physical intimacy in the form of affectionate wrestling until the valet is giggling and gasping, and also in the way the valet cares for George's dressing and appearance, tugging and patting and smoothing fabric over George's shoulders and backside.

Further, there is an obvious lesbian subtext. When Mae West is thrown over by George Raft, the pan-sexual Mae takes the jilting in stride and instead ends up in bed with a drunken and frowzy Alison Skipworth!

If you're patient through the deliberate pacing at the start of "Night After Night," the film will reward with some hilarious scenes, as well as some biting commentary on society and its sexual mores.