''Raffles'' is a 1930 American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was an era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry that occurred between the widespread adoption of sound in film in the late 1920s and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship gui ...

comedy-mystery film produced by

Samuel Goldwyn Samuel Goldwyn (; born Szmuel Gelbfisz; ; July 1879 (most likely; claimed to be August 27, 1882) January 31, 1974), also known as Samuel Goldfish, was a Polish-born American film producer and pioneer in the American film industry, who produce ...

. It stars

Ronald Colman Ronald Charles Colman (9 February 1891 – 19 May 1958) was an English-born actor who started his career in theatre and silent film in his native country, then emigrated to the United States where he had a highly successful Cinema of the United ...

as the

title character The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piëce. The title o ...

, 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. 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 Universal Studios may refer to: * Universal Studios, Inc., an American media and entertainment conglomerate ** Universal Pictures, an American film studio ** Universal Studios Lot, a film and television studio complex * Various theme parks operat ...

. A 1939 Goldwyn produced version, again titled just ''Raffles'', starred David Niven in the title role.

Plot

Famed cricketer A.J. Raffles by day is the notorious gentleman jewel thief the "Amateur Cracksman" at night. After falling in love with lovely aristocratic Gwen - and gifting her his latest theft, a diamond bracelet - he decides to give up his criminal ways. However, when his friend Bunny tries to commit suicide because of a 1,000 pound gambling debt he cannot repay, Raffles offers to get him the needed money. He asks to join Bunny as a weekend guest of Lord and Lady Melrose, intending to steal the celebrated Melrose necklace. Complications arise when a gang of thieves also has the same thing in mind. Tipped off to their plan, Inspector Mackenzie of

Scotland Yard Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's London boroughs, 32 boroughs. Its name derives from the location of the original ...

arrives at the Melrose estate with his men. Unexpectedly, Gwen shows up there and joins the rolling party. Head burglar Crawshaw breaks into the house and succeeds in stealing the necklace, only to have Raffles take it away. The alarm is sounded and Crawshaw is caught empty-handed by the police, but remains silent, hoping to settle his score yet with Raffles. When and the necklace is not found in the house, Mackenzie confines all the guests to it, then quickly changes his mind. Gwen, who has developed her own suspicions, overhears him tell one of his men that he intends to let Crawshaw escape, expecting the crook to lead him to Raffles. She follows Raffles back to London to warn him. Mackenzie appears at Raffles’ home, finding Gwen in hiding in its guest room, “compromising” her reputation. She learns Raffles has the necklace, but not why. Crawshaw shows up on Raffles’ rooftop, drawing Mackenzie away 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 put on by Raffles fails and Lord Melrose shows up, Makenzie accuses Raffles of being the Amateur Cracksman. Cornered and bound for jail, Raffles reminds Melrose of the 1,000 pound reward he offered for the necklace's return. Indicating only that Bunny could use that amount, he then has his nonplussed friend produce and hand it over. Lord Melrose presses for the matter to be dropped, but MacKenzie reveals the warrant he has for Raffles’ arrest is for the theft of a diamond bracelet. Saying he is in no position to restore it the way he has the necklace, Raffles stands silent as Gwen removes it from her wrist and hands it to MacKenzie. She declares herself compromised in front of a distraught Lord Melrose, who leaves, dumbfounded and grumbling at the unsavory developments. Springing another gambit, Raffles again outwits Mackenzie, and seeks to flee alone to the life of a perpetual fugitive. Gwen interrupts him, professes her love 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 disguised in McKenzie’s frock coat and hat.

Cast

as A.J. Raffles * Kay Francis as Gwen * Bramwell Fletcher as Bunny * Frances Dade as Ethel Crowley * David Torrence as Inspector McKenzie *

Alison Skipworth Alison Skipworth (born Alison Mary Elliott Margaret Groom; 25 July 18635 July 1952) was an English stage and screen actress. Early years Skipworth was born in London. She was the daughter of Dr. Richard Ebenezer Groom and Elizabeth Rodgers, an ...

as Lady Kitty Melrose * Frederick Kerr as Lord Harry Melrose * John Rogers as Crawshaw *

Wilson Benge George Frederick "Wilson" Benge (1 March 1875 – 1 July 1955) was an English actor who mostly featured in American films from the silent days. He appeared in over 200 films between 1922 and 1955. Along with actors Charles Coleman and Robert ...

as Barraclough

Production

According to Robert Osborne, host on

Turner Classic Movies Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie channel, movie-oriented pay television, pay-TV television network, network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcas ...

, ''Raffles'' was the last film that

made in both a silent and talking version.

Cultural references

The film is mentioned in an episode of ''

Dad's Army ''Dad's Army'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom about the United Kingdom's Home Guard (United Kingdom), Home Guard during the World War II, Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft (TV producer), David Crof ...

'', 'No Spring for Frazer', when several of the characters are breaking into a house.

References

External links

* * * {{Samuel Goldwyn 1930 films 1930 comedy films 1930s comedy mystery films 1930s crime comedy films 1930s heist films American black-and-white films American comedy mystery films American crime comedy films American romantic comedy films American films based on plays American heist films Films based on adaptations Films directed by George Fitzmaurice Films set in London Films set in country houses Samuel Goldwyn Productions films Transitional sound films Works based on A. J. Raffles 1930s English-language films 1930s American films English-language crime comedy films English-language comedy mystery films