Raffles (1930)

 

RAFFLES (1930)

By Ralph Santini - ***

Samuel Goldwyn’s production of adapting Ernest William Hornung’s collection of short stories from his “Amateur Cracksman” series, titled “Raffles”, is one of the more delightful pre-code talkies of its dominant beginning. Many pre-code talkies at that time were usually considered racier and saucier, particularly those of Warner Bros., but because Sam Goldwyn was not interested in that kind of motion picture, preferring to make classier features than those of Warners, he knew how to make more decent features that usually pleased the production code whom they were responsible for ruling all film content. And Raffles is no exception, it does not contain brutal murders, nor scandalous adultery, nor anything that displeases codes nor especially, censorship boards. It rather focuses on a good-natured burglar who merely commits those crimes for the fun of it and not for lethal causes. 

The movie stars long-time leading man, not long after silent films faded, Ronald Colman who unlike some others (especially John Gilbert), did manage to speak with a well-trained voice in a suave and dashing way; as the title role of A.J. Raffles, known secretly in the news as “The Amateur Cracksman”, because he does have the clever abilities of safecracking secretly guarded items worth a lot of money. The news of this gentleman are popular among many people but disdainful to others, especially strict policemen and jealous petty criminals. However when we first see him do one of his tricks he writes a note for his alleged “final” burglary so that he can go straight to fall desperately in love with his fiancée Lady Gwen, portrayed in this version by statuesque (5’9) beauty Kay Francis. However a close friend named Bunny (Bramwell Fletcher) attempts suicides because he is morally desperate over a debt he considers “impossible to solve”.

So, Mr. Raffles decides to make one more burglary in order to save his young friend’s life as he is invited by the wealthy Melrose family to a party in their glitzy mansion somewhere in England, where the “Amateur Cracksman” stories are set. The Melrose family consists of the man of the house, Lord Harry (Frederick Kerr who may be best remembered from “Frankenstein” [1931] as the title role’s father, the baron), who seems to always have faith in Mr. Raffles, Lady Kitty (Alison Skipworth, the character actress typed in disapproving old society ladies), who doesn’t want any help from her husband when she is desperate and lets Mr. Raffles handle it, and the lord’s beautiful young stepdaughter (Frances Dade, one of the several victims of Count Dracula from the original 1931 sound film that starred Bela Lugosi).

During that party, the Melrose family and their guests are visited by Scotland Yard inspector McKenzie (Veteran and prolific character actor David Torrence, who gives wonderful support in the shape of antagonism towards our hero) and informs them that there might be some serious type of burglary committed in the mansion. It turns out that Lady Kitty owns a priceless diamond necklace and Mr. Raffles would like to snitch it away for his little burglary. However a petty thief known as Cranshaw (John Rogers) has sneaked in the mansion the same night as Mr. Raffles and he later confronts him but spares him to make a deal with him.

This film has so many nice features that the results of it are entertaining. Mind you, this is not “All Quiet On The Western Front”, the film that won the Oscar® for best picture of the year but still this film, as stated by and agreed with critic Leonard Maltin is “good fun all the way” (1987 pt. 1) because I think there is very little to miss with in this vintage, rare gem. Colman’s portrayal is as charming as usual and makes the A.J. Raffles, so gentle and elegant, “you can’t help liking him” as Inspector McKenzie would say in this film.