"Invisible Stripes" won't go down as being a classic, not even a minor one. The plot and dialogue offer nothing new whatever. Gangster films were going out of fashion at this stage as the studio focused on other film genres. Two ex convicts are released at the same time from the same prison. One wants to go straight and begin life afresh (Raft). The other still has plans to build a new criminal empire (Bogart). Raft experiences the prejudice and bigotry from various people during the film in his attempts to go straight. William Holden makes an early film appearance as Raft's younger brother. According to reports, Bogart wasn't too happy that Holden got higher billing as Bogart had been working at the studio for a lot longer. He also expressed bewilderment and annoyance at George Raft for his changing some of the dialogue before they went for a take. George Raft is never someone I could describe as being an actor, he had no formal training of any kind. He just happened to fit the mould for certain roles, mainly "tough guy" ones. The above film was one of 5 that he made for "Warner Bros." Raft could have become a major star for the studio but his choice of films and his turning down major roles, only hampered his chances of success. As a result, George Raft was the star who nearly was. His co-star in "Invisible Stripes," Humphrey Bogart, was the one who would overshadow him. Their scenes in this movie are not bad but it is quite obvious to me who the real performer is. The whole film is decidedly dull and low on invention. It is just business as usual. The climax actually livened things up but it was a bit late by then.

A great cast is closeted in a movie that spends a great deal of its running time shooting down the then-current USA parole system. Fortunately, all the characters are well acted, though we see a little too much of impassive parolee, George Raft – here nearing the end of his number one star-billing career – and not enough of people like Paul Kelly, Lee Patrick, Marc Lawrence and Leo Gorcey. After a somewhat too long introduction in the prison showers, Bogart disappears from the movie for long stretches but fortunately figures as a central character in the all-action climax. A pity the movie-makers didn't wrap the film up at that point, but instead they tag on a somewhat overly sentimental all's-well-that-ends-well wrap-up with Bill Holden and Jane Bryan. Available on a superb Warner DVD.

Somehow at the age of 22, William Holden looked like a better-looking Tom Hanks. And I'll bet there are a lot of people who could sit through "Invisible Stripes" and not know it was William Holden."Invisible Stripes" stars George Raft, Humphrey Bogart, William Holden, and Jane Bryan.George Raft plays Cliff Taylor who, once released from prison, decides to stay on the straight and narrow. His pal, Chuck Martin (Bogart) has no such intentions. Cliff, who has a brother (Holden) and a mother (Fay Robson) finds the going tough, unable to get a job he can keep for various reasons, usually someone making trouble for him. His kindly parole officer encourages him to keep trying. With his brother Tim wanting to marry his girlfriend Peggy, and the job situation, Cliff decides to go in with Chuck's group.Pretty good gangster flick, with Bogart, not long before his breakout role in High Sierra, giving the strongest performance. Raft is playing a good guy so he doesn't demonstrate a lot of bite. The film has some exciting scenes, particularly toward the end.Holden, as stated above, is just a kid but does a good job as a man in love who wants to give his girlfriend the world, if only he had some money. It would be 11 years before he made his mark in "Sunset Boulevard" and became a true superstar.As an aside, Jane Bryan retired to marry Justin Dart, who took over Rexall Drug chain. She died in 2009 at the age of 91.In many ways a typical Warner Brothers gangster film, but a good one.

This film should have been more interesting with the potential of such a cast. The script tries to be important. Indeed, we again get a "Les Miserables"-themed story of a parolee trying to go straight but finding all of the rules and society's prejudice forcing him back to crime. But Lloyd Bacon's sluggish direction holds everything back and it is never interesting storytelling.How can a film with George Raft, Humphrey Bogart and William Holden not be compelling? Thank you, Mr. Bacon, for demonstrating. Raft tries hard to be the nice guy but the script gives the character no depth. He could be any ex-con coming home after a stint in Sing Sing. He seems handcuffed throughout. He does believably make a (much) older brother for Holden - the voice, the nose - but he surely can't pass for 27. Holden is so young and enthusiastic and all his acting mechanics are hanging out there for everyone to see. As few as his scenes are, Bogart is a steady if smarmy hand to get the action started.Flora Robson, as the mother of Raft and Holden, is the most sympathetic character. The actress had a tremendous soul to give weight to what could be a thankless part. Only through her does any real feeling come into this melodrama. And though nearly seven years younger than Raft, just a little age makeup makes her look as if she could at least be his aunt.It is interesting that the film never shows the cons in actual prison stripes. The only two scenes of Raft and Bogart in prison are in the shower (thank you) and in the warden's office before leaving.I do like to show this film to friends after they've seen John Ford's "Mary of Scotland" just so they can be amazed at Moroni Olsen's range.