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"That's What We're Here For - To Be Gay", 30 March 1999
Author:
Michael Coy (michael.coy@virgin.net) from London, England
"Raffles" was produced by Sam Goldwyn and photographed by Greg
Toland,
the genius who was to help create "Citizen Kane" eleven years after
this.
Raffles the English gentleman has a discreet sideline as a burglar
and
jewel thief. The press has dubbed him 'The Amateur Cracksman', and as
such
he has become a household name. Now that he has fallen in love with the
sophisticated Gwen (Kay Francis) and proposed marriage to her, Raffles has
decided to retire from crime. However, his old pal Bunny is in a spot of
bother. Bunny has been playing cards again, and has run up a gambling
debt
of £1,000. If Bunny is to be rescued from his predicament, Raffles will
have to take on the Melrose 'job' ...
Ronald Coleman gives us his trademark suave Englishman in the title
role. We see him burgling a jeweller's shop wearing a top hat (note the
excellent Toland touch of the policeman silhouetted against the window
drape). Our first real glimpse of the hero comes on the dance floor as he
sweeps Gwen around in a romantic waltz. On the cricket field at Lord
Melrose's place, Raffles is of course dashing, and wins the game (even
though he was not supposed to be playing - he invited himself along for
the
weekend at the last minute). Even when Inspector Mackenzie has him on the
ropes, Raffles remains the epitome of poise and wit.
"All bubbles and froth - no taste," says Lord Melrose, giving his
verdict on champagne. It is a reasonable comment on the film itself,
which
for all its pretensions to style is basically an inelaborate crime flick.
We have the 'two Englands' crudely juxtaposed - one urban and ugly (the
cloth-capped burglars from the pub, the 'pea soup' fog in London) and the
other bucolic and 'refayned' (Lady Melrose's soiree). The film takes it
for
granted that the lower classes are unpleasant.
However, there are good things in this movie. The cricket match is
fun, and tolerably well done, though Raffles' bowling action is highly
dubious and the umpire's position would make lbw decisions interesting to
say the least. The skylight scene on Raffles' apartment roof is an
arresting image.
There is also a large portion of baloney. Does Scotland Yard protect
country houses against burglary? Is this best done by surrounding them
with
a dozen detectives throughout the night? Why don't these detectives catch
the various burglars who enter the premises? If closing the sash window
is
enough to stop the burglar alarm from ringing, then it isn't much of a
burglar alarm. The 'common' burglars crouch in the shrubbery and talk
aloud, spelling out their plans in pedantic detail, conveniently allowing
Raffles to overhear. Is it not slightly more probable that they would
have
worked out what to do before entering the property?
The film ends in a flurry of increasingly silly activity.
Blatant
undercranking of the camera makes Raffles' escape dash look ridiculous,
and
his place of concealment is laughable.
Verdict - An enjoyable crime caper with absurd elements.
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