The fascinating biography of a Hollywood legend, La Rue, whose journey to stardom was marked by a series of twists and turns. It all began on Broadway, where he was discovered by the renowned director Howard Hawks, who brought him to Hollywood with big plans to cast him in a gangster role in the iconic film Scarface (1932). However, fate had other plans, and La Rue lost the role to the charismatic George Raft.
Undeterred, La Rue continued to pursue his dreams, only to be replaced again by the talented Humphrey Bogart in the film adaptation of The Petrified Forest (1936). It seemed as though La Rue's big break was always just out of reach. But he refused to give up, and eventually, he found his niche as a mean, sexy gangster type in sadistic roles that left audiences loathing him on-screen. One of his most notable performances was as Miriam Hopkins' abductor in The Story of Temple Drake (1933),a role that showcased his versatility and range.
Despite his tough-guy image, La Rue was capable of playing against type, and his portrayal of a romantic lead in A Farewell to Arms (1932) proved that he was more than just a one-dimensional tough guy. La Rue's final film was the low-budget Paesano: A Voice in the Night (1975),a fitting conclusion to a career marked by both triumph and heartbreak.
