A distinguished English gentleman has a secret life--he is the notorious jewel thief the press has dubbed "The Amateur Cracksman". When he meets a woman and falls in love he decides to "retire" from that life, but an old friend comes to him with a predicament that entails him committing one last job.
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Social gadfly, accomplished cricketer and eligible bachelor A.J. Raffles (Ronald Coleman) has the full attention of all the ladies. He’s charming and smooth and everyone loves him. But Raffles has a secret. He’s also an amateur cracksman. That is to say, a safe cracker. Why amateur? I suppose that if you crack safes as a hobby you’re in the amateur class, as opposed to someone like Harry Houdini who was paid to do it? Regardless, Raffles has decided to give up the criminal game and settle down with his lithe and elegant girlfriend Gwen (Kay Frances.) But problems arise when Raffles’ buddy Bunny (Bramwell Fletcher) amasses so much gambling debt that he attempts suicide. In a play to help his friend…
In both versions I have seen of this, a fairly meh story is upheld by a leading man perfect for the role and a breezy runtime that doesn’t overstay its welcome. The David Niven remake of this from a few years later is actually one of my favorites in his filmography because he is just so perfectly suited to the role, Ronald Colman perhaps even more so. While the Niven remake very closely follows the Colman remake (because there were, like, three others before this one too...), they’re both worth watching because Colman and Niven bring out such different parts of the Raffles character. Niven’s is seen as more of a noble Robin Hood-style thief while Colman’s is just so darn charming that the Scotland Yard detective even says “you can’t help but like the guy!” It’s interesting to see different actors portray this role... especially when they’re all very pretty and shot with flattering shadowy cinematography.
Ronald Colman is the only actor with the right touch of gentlemanly charm to pull off this absurd story of an upperclass jewel thief with any true earnestness. He’s so handsome and utterly dashing though, and with that beautiful voice. There’ll just never be another actor half so sophisticated.
“Who’s protecting my bed?”
Everybody loves Raffles, and the game of cricket, in this British set romantic thievery adventure featuring silent star turned successful talker, Ronald Colman.
It’s a debonair jewel thief warm-up for the sexy smokefest that is Jewel Robbery (clearly, they were the most prevalent, dangerous and attractive criminals of the early 20th century), with Colman paving the way for Bill Powell to sweep Kay Francis off her feet, and throw her on the bed. Both films even end on a similar note, with Francis turning toward the camera and giving a sly, curtain closing smile (“I wonder?” vs. a finger to her lips)
It doesn’t really matter that this film isn’t all that good, it got exotic…
Ronald Colman and Kay Francis do make a good "ride or die" couple, and there are some nice visual touches, but it can't quite shake feeling like a rather stagey filmed play.
"Scoundrel! . . . Well, one can't help liking him."
Any film with a gentleman thief is going to depend pretty heavily on the gentleman in question, and it's no surprise that Ronald Colman is perfect for the role. He's on par with John Barrymore in Arsène Lupin (1932) or William Powell in Jewel Robbery (1932), and he's just as much of a flirt as he is a filcher.
I am very much the target audience for films about mustachioed nighttime capers, but even with Colman, Raffles drags pretty badly in the second half. The set-up is promising, with the infamous "Amateur Cracksman" deciding to turn over a new leaf for Kay Francis . . . after one last job,…
'One can't help liking him..' (David Torrence as Inspector McKenzie talking about the title character)
By the time producer Samuel Goldwyn got around to filming this slightly creaky early Talkie, E.W. Hornung's The Amateur Cracksman - which introduced the character of Arthur J. Raffles, well-connected cricketer who pays his bills by stealing art treasures or jewellery from his hosts, who can well afford to lose them - had already been adapted for the screen several times including versions in 1905, 1917 (starring The Great Profile, John Barrymore) and again in 1925 with House Peters (no, me neither...) and would go on to be adapted yet again with the debonair David Niven taking up the mantle - again for Goldwyn -…
“I love you.”
“That’s nice.”
Quintessential totally fine 3 star movie. Ronald Coleman is handsome and likable enough as Raffles, the reforming thief. Kay Francis is his down bad chick who will follow him to hell or jail. Not enough pre-code salaciousness to keep the attention of my sick mind. And a really long scene of men playing cricket. Not exactly thrilling stuff! Fairly light and silly, with several moments where they speed up the reel to make it look like action is happening faster than it really is. If you don’t laugh at that you’re a monster.
You couldn’t be in any trouble that Mr. Raffles can’t get you out of.
This is a remake of a remake that I’m watching before I watch the 1939 remake. Say that three times fast!
I liked the story and Colman is fine, but I actually enjoyed the supporting characters more. Lord & Lady Melrose are a hoot and David Torrence as the Scottish Inspector is rather amusing. I'd also happily watch Kay Francis watch paint dry so it was a nice bonus to have her along even though she isn’t given much to do.
Oh and here’s a fun Raffles party game:
Take a drink every time someone says “Raffles” and take two drinks whenever they say “Mr. Raffles”
If you’re still standing by the end I’ll be very impressed.
My own cleverness often amazes me.
That’s quite natural inspector, quite natural.
”Well, one way or another we’re all thieves at times.”
For all the technical tribulations and heartburn associated with the transition from silent films to talkies, there was at least one unambiguous joy - the sound of Ronald Colman’s voice.
Colman’s third talking picture (and the last made with an alternate silent version) casts him perfectly as E. W. Hornung’s dashing cricketer/gentleman burglar. Love inspires him to give up his nocturnal criminal habit, but a friend is suddenly in desperate need of some quick cash. You see where this is going . . .
Sure I wish the camera moved more, but it’s still smoother than many-a 1930 film with some deliberate attempts to break up the static nature, including…
Hold on to your pearls, a sexy jewel thief is ravaging the countryside. Kay Francis starts by actively ignoring his advances. I wish this will she, won't she energy had continued throughout. Rogue Ronald Coleman is best when he's not sure Kay Francis will ever see him more than spoiled brat... the valiant attempt to save your bro from financial ruin and suicide is also an intriguing plot development that goes mostly dropped.
Kay Francis returns to a very similar plot in Jewel Robbery (1932) with William Powell where they exude the charm, wit, and romance that this film trips over.
"But before that are sequences of how love comes to a thief—and what it does to him"
Staff film…
When Ronald Colman looks you deep in the eyes and tells you that he loves you, you don't say "that's nice!", you say "ohmigod".
