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Raffles (1930 film)

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Raffles
Lobby card for Raffles
Directed byGeorge Fitzmaurice
Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast (uncredited and replaced by Fitzmaurice)
Written bySidney Howard
Based onThe Amateur Cracksman
1899 novel
by E. W. Hornung
Eugene Wiley Presbrey (1906 play)
Produced bySamuel Goldwyn
StarringRonald Colman
Kay Francis
CinematographyGeorge Barnes
Gregg Toland
Edited byStuart Heisler
Production
company
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
July 24, 1930
Running time
72 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Raffles is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy-mystery film produced by Samuel Goldwyn. It stars Ronald Colman as the title character, a proper English gentleman who moonlights as a notorious jewel thief, and Kay Francis as his love interest. It is based on the play Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman (1906) by E. W. Hornung and Eugene Wiley Presbrey, which was in turn adapted from the 1899 short story collection of the same name by Hornung.

Oscar Lagerstrom was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Recording.[1]

The story had been filmed previously as Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman (1917) with John Barrymore as Raffles, and again as Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman (1925) by Universal Studios. A 1939 Goldwyn produced version, again titled just Raffles, starred David Niven in the title role.

Plot

Famed cricketer and gentleman jewel thief A.J. Raffles decides to give up his criminal ways as the notorious "Amateur Cracksman" after falling in love with lovely Gwen. However, when his friend Bunny Manders tries to commit suicide because of a 1,000 pound gambling debt he cannot repay, Raffles offers to get him the needed money. He joins Bunny as a guest of Lord and Lady Melrose, intending to steal the famed Melrose necklace.

Complications arise when a gang of thieves also decides to try for the necklace at the same time. An informant betrays the plan to inspector Mackenzie of Scotland Yard, who shows up at the Melrose estate with his men.

Unexpectedly Gwen shows up there and joins the rolling party. Burglar Crawshaw breaks into the house and succeeds in stealing the necklace, only to have Raffles take it away from him. Crawshaw is caught empty-handed by the police, but remains silent, hoping to settle his score yet with Raffles.

Meanwhile, both Gwen and Mackenzie suspect that Raffles is the famous jewel thief. When the necklace is not found, Mackenzie confines all the guests to the home, then quickly changes his mind. Gwen overhears Mackenzie tell one of his men that he intends to let Crawshaw escape, expecting the crook to go after Raffles and thereby incriminate him. She follows Raffles back to London to warn him.

Mackenzie appears at Raffles’ home, finding Gwen hiding there, “compromising” her reputation. She learns Raffles has the necklace, but not why. Crawshaw shows up on Raffles’ rooftop, drawing away Mackenzie in chase. Crenshaw then appears and takes Raffles at gunpoint. However, Raffles convinces him that it is too dangerous to flee with the necklace with all the policemen around and helps him escape. Then, after a ruse fails and Makenzie accuses Raffles of being the Amateur Cracksman, Raffles confesses. Lord Melrose shows up. With Raffles arrested and bound for jail, Raffles reminds Melrose of the 1,000 pound reward he offered for the necklace's return. Saying only that Bunny could use that amount, he then produces and returns it.

Outwitting Mackenzie again, he seeks to flee alone to the life of a perpetual fugitive. Gwen interrupts him, declares that her reputation is ruined, professes her love for him in spite of knowing what he has done, still without knowing why, and promises to accompany him wherever their journey may lead.

Arranging to meet her in Paris, Raffles makes a successful escape.

Cast

Production

According to Robert Osborne, host on Turner Classic Movies, Raffles was the last film that Samuel Goldwyn made in both a silent and talking version.[citation needed]

Cultural References

The film is mentioned in an episode of Dad's Army, 'No Spring for Frazer', when several of the characters are breaking into a house.

References

  1. ^ "The 3rd Academy Awards (1929/30) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
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