Raffles | |
---|---|
Directed by | George Fitzmaurice Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast (uncredited and replaced by Fitzmaurice) |
Written by | Sidney Howard |
Based on | The Amateur Cracksman 1899 novel by E. W. Hornung Eugene Wiley Presbrey (1906 play) |
Produced by | Samuel Goldwyn |
Starring | Ronald Colman Kay Francis |
Cinematography | George Barnes Gregg Toland |
Edited by | Stuart Heisler |
Production company | |
Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date | July 24, 1930 |
Running time | 72 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
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.
Famed cricketer A.J. Raffles by day is the notorious gentleman jewel thief the "Amateur Cracksman" at night.
After falling in love with lovely 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 has the same thing in mind. Tipped off to their plan, Inspector Mackenzie of Scotland Yard 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 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 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 her self 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.
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 ]
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.
A. J. Raffles is a British fictional character – a cricketer and gentleman thief – created by E. W. Hornung. Between 1898 and 1909, Hornung wrote a series of 26 short stories, two plays, and a novel about Raffles and his fictional chronicler, Harry "Bunny" Manders.
Raffles is a 1939 American crime comedy film starring David Niven and Olivia de Havilland, and is one of several film adaptations of an 1899 short story collection by E. W. Hornung, The Amateur Cracksman.
Raffles is a 1977 television series adapted from the A. J. Raffles stories by E. W. Hornung. The stories were adapted by Philip Mackie.
Mr. Justice Raffles is a 1909 novel written by E.W. Hornung. It featured his popular character A. J. Raffles a well-known cricketer and gentleman thief. It was the fourth and last in his four Raffles books which had begun with The Amateur Cracksman in 1899. The novel was published in the UK by Smith, Elder & Co., London, and in the US by Scribner's, New York.
Harry Manders is a fictional character in the popular series of Raffles stories by E. W. Hornung. He is the companion of A. J. Raffles, a cricketer and gentleman thief, who makes a living robbing the rich in late Victorian British High Society.
"The Gift of the Emperor" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in October 1898 by Cassell's Magazine. The story was also included as the eight and last story in the collection The Amateur Cracksman, published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899.
The Amateur Cracksman is an 1899 short story collection by E. W. Hornung. It was published in the UK by Methuen & Co., London, and in the US by Scribner's, New York. Many later editions expand the title to Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman. Some editions such as Penguin Books, 1948, retitle the collection simply, Raffles.
"A Trap to Catch a Cracksman" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was published in July 1905 by Pall Mall Magazine in London. The story was also included as the seventh story in the collection A Thief in the Night, published by Chatto & Windus in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1905.
"The Criminologists' Club" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was published in March 1905 by Collier's Weekly in New York, and in April 1905 by Pall Mall Magazine in London. It was also included as the fourth story in the collection A Thief in the Night, published by Chatto & Windus in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1905.
Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman (1925) is a feature length silent adventure crime drama/romance motion picture starring House Peters, Miss DuPont, Hedda Hopper, Fred Esmelton, and Walter Long.
Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman is a 1917 American silent film starring John Barrymore and Evelyn Brent. The movie also co-stars Frank Morgan and Mike Donlin, and was directed by George Irving. The film has been released on DVD.
Arthur J. Raffles is a fictional character created in 1898 by E. W. Hornung, brother-in-law of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Raffles is, in many ways, an inversion of Holmes – he is a "gentleman thief", living at the Albany, a prestigious address in London, playing cricket as a gentleman for the Gentlemen of England and supporting himself by carrying out ingenious burglaries. He is called the "Amateur Cracksman" and often, at first, differentiates between him and the "professors" – professional criminals from the lower classes.
"The Ides of March" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and the first appearance of the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in June 1898 by Cassell's Magazine. The story was also included in the collection The Amateur Cracksman, published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899.
"A Costume Piece" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in July 1898 by Cassell's Magazine. The story was also included in the collection The Amateur Cracksman, published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899.
"Gentlemen and Players" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in August 1898 by Cassell's Magazine. The story was also included in the collection The Amateur Cracksman, published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899.
"Le Premier Pas" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published as the fourth story in the collection The Amateur Cracksman, published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. This and "Wilful Murder" were the two stories in the collection not published previously in magazine format.
"Wilful Murder" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published as the fifth part of the collection The Amateur Cracksman, published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. This and "Le Premier Pas" were the two stories in the collection not published previously in magazine format.
"Nine Points of the Law" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in September 1898 by Cassell's Magazine. The story was also included as the six story in the collection The Amateur Cracksman, published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899.
"The Return Match" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in October 1898 by Cassell's Magazine. The story was also included as the seventh story in the collection The Amateur Cracksman, published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899.
"To Catch a Thief" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in Scribner's Magazine in May 1901. The story was also included as the fifth story in the collection The Black Mask, published by Grant Richards in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1901.