A Rare John Barrymore Classic:
Raffles
Raffles, the dapper jewel thief of E.W. Hornung's short stories, has been brought to the screen a number of times; this 1917 version is one of the best, and is here presented in a superb, original toned print. All the versions of Raffles stick fairly close to the original plot line in which the jewel thief must choose between coming to the rescue of his sidekick, Bunny, and indulging in his favorite sideline, rich women, all the while cunningly evading Scotland Yard. Thus, as William K. Everson points out, the different films “stand or fall on the personality of the star involved. Barrymore of course is perfectly cast as the dashing amateur cracksman.... And it's amusing to note that...all of his little tricks and gestures are here: the jaunty walk, the whimsical stare with the head cocked at an angle, and the sudden transformations from bland complacency to insane rage (hardly appropriate in Raffles, but enjoyably present nonetheless). The sets and the decor are quite elegant...and the camerawork consistently good.... New York locations double for London rather well, some too-obvious glimpses of the New York Public Library excepted....”