JACK LA RUE - CARICATURE SIGNED - HFSID 15722

JACK LA RUE
LaRue signs caricature of himself
Caricature signed: "O.K. Drop/the gun/Jack La Rue". B/w, 8x10. Photograph of an illustration by "Berman/Boston" (imprint at lower right margin). Actor Jack La Rue (1902-1984), who was also known as Gaspare Biondolillo, had been brought to Hollywood in 1930 by Howard Hawks to co-star opposite Paul Muni in Scarface, but Hawks changed his mind and cast the then unknown George Raft in place of La Rue. La Rue, who made his film debut in 1930, would appear in scores of films over the next five decades. Usually cast in villainous roles, such as a gangster or a thug, but equally menacing in period pictures, such as Westerns (To the Last Man, 1933; Wild Horse Stampede, 1943) and swashbucklers (The Sea Hawk, 1940; The Spanish Main, 1945), La Rue become one of film's most recognized "heavies". His other film credits include A Farewell to Arms (1932), The Story of Temple Drake (1933), 42nd Street (1933), Captain's Courageous (1937), Road to Utopia (1946), No Orchids for Miss Blandish (1948), 40 Pounds of Trouble (1963), Robin and the Seven Hoods (1964) and Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976, his last film). La Rue also appeared on television in the 1950s and 1960s, appearing as a guest star on such series as Cheyenne (1957), Perry Mason (1965) and Love, American Style (1969). Lightly creased at upper and lower edges. Light 1¾x1¾ stain in lower right corner. Otherwise, fine condition.