Raffles (1930)

What a waste of my time!!!

This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

disgusting, overrated, pointless

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Ronald Coleman -- oh, so suave, so debonair, so -- so FORMIDABLE -- hold together this otherwise routine B movie about a jewel thief who tries to reform but must commit one more burglary for a good friend.It's pretty clumsy because, of course, it's an early sound movie. Footsteps thump, a burglar alarm pounds your tympani with mallets, speakers stutter, the staging is obvious.But, withal, it's kind of fun. I understand Ronald Coleman was a movie icon during the 30s. I know several guys born in that period and named "Ronald." I don't swoon over him the way ladies did but he's a likable enough actor with a voice that's easy to parody.It's a diverting bon-bon, worth seeing but not worth dwelling on.

Considering that this film came out in 1930, you need to cut its sound a bit of slack. While it's pretty easy to understand the actors talking (better than many 1930 films), because the sound technology was so new it was still far from perfect. The film has a strong and very definite hissing sound to much of it. And, like other films of the early sound era, it's rather quiet because there isn't the usual incidental music in much of the film. This is not a complaint--just an observation. They used such music very sparingly because back in 1927-1930 to get incidental music you literally had to have an orchestra just off camera performing live while the scene was shot--they hadn't yet learned how to add the music later. So, cut the film a bit of slack in this department--it IS pretty good for 1930 and the sound in many films of this and the previous years was a lot worse (such as 1929's "Coquette" which is almost unwatchable due to its WILDLY fluctuating sound)."Raffles" is about a gentleman who is also an amateur thief--and a very talented one. While his society friends adore Raffles (played by Ronald Colman at his charming best) because of his wit, sporting skills and fine manners, they don't realize HE is this thief. Much of the film concerns his attending a particular weekend party in order to steal a necklace so he can use the money to help a friend in dire straits. However, along the way he meets up with a swanky lady (Kay Francis) and he's torn between his life of crime or becoming 100% legitimate for her sake. What will Raffles do? And what will Raffles do when ANOTHER crook shows up as well?! All in all, "Raffles" is a pleasant and a bit too talky film. Personally, I think it would have been better with more outdoor scenes and action. But again, 1930 was still a transitional year for sound and the stagy production was pretty typical. I also thought Raffles' 'brilliant' escape at the end was anything but. However,the acting was good and it was nice to see a detective who was NOT stupid (a common and rather dumb cliché of the 1930s and 40s). Well worth seeing but not among Colman's best work.

Ronald Colman is Mr. Raffles, a gentlemen, a respected citizen of the community. But, what many don't know is that he's "The Amateur Cracksman," a jewel thief. Apparently, that's how he makes his way. But when he does a job, in order to help a friend out of a jam, things get sticky, as the job's under less than ideal circumstances. Kay Francis is his loving fiancée, whose devotion may be tested when she learns of his deceitful ways. Alison Skipworth portrays the wealthy lady of the house, whose jewels are the apple of his eye. He has even her fooled, as she singled him out as one of her favorite people at her party, where the heist is supposed to take place. To add to the mix, real burglars enter the house and run into Mr. Raffles.Honestly, Ronald Colman has never been one of my favorite actors, as it seems to me that he overacts. The only movies I like with him in it are adventures or historical types, like If I Were King, which is one of my favorite of the genre, and The Prisoner of Zenda. The Talk of the Town and Champagne for Caesar are good, too, but I can think of others I didn't care for, which I won't list here. But the point I was making was that, I really loved this film, because the viewer is immersed into his predicament and the director made good use of time and place. Frankly, I saw this because Kay Francis was in it. But I'm glad I discovered it. I hope you will, too.

A good yarn to yawn all over and eventually to fall asleep. Fortunately, it's an hour and 10 minutes so you can get over it quite rapidly.This is certainly not a far, far better thing that Ronald Colman has done. Co-star Kay Francis looks like she is ready to burst out in tears any moment for just being involved in this very dull period piece of a suave, debonair gentleman who is a thief but tries to go straight for the woman he loves.When he is forced to go astray to help a friend who has passed a bad check, all begins to unravel for Colman. Unfortunately, the unraveling of the film takes place way too early amid the London fog.