I Am a Thief (1934) User Reviews

on the Istanbul Express

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 2 May 2013]

Diamond thieves seem to abound in "I Am A Thief," a 1934 film starring Mary Astor and Ricardo Cortez. Cortez buys the famous "Karenina diamonds" at auction, winning them from Astor. The two wind up on the Istanbul Express, where Cortez is hounded by an American who insists on buying the jewels from him. The story continues with murder, secret identities, mysterious telegrams, a paste copy of the jewels, and the jewels themselves.

Fast-moving story, like the train the characters ride, as the jewels change hands and different people are implicated.

Astor is radiantly beautiful and charming in the role of a flirt who has another agenda, and Cortez is elegant and suspect both.

Short at 1 hour plus, it's a delightful film.

Chic and Amusing

[Handlinghandel · 5/10 · 20 March 2006]

Mary Astor never gave a bad performance. From ingénues to the understanding romantic friend in the great "Dodsworth" to her supreme triumph in "The Great Lie" ... To -- Well, "The Matese Falcon" is not far from this movie's story. Then she became Judy Garland's mother in "Meet Me In St. Louis" and went on to play older-woman roles through the 1950s.

She is elegant and a little shady here. Ricardo Cortez was never a major star but he was always good to watch, as well. Together, they make this movie.

Now, if you want a truly sublime movie about jewel thieves, I direct you to "Desire." Marlene is her usual bawdy self and Cary Cooper shows a surprising and delightful gift for comedy.

This one will do, though. The supporting cast is a little lackluster. The stars have to keep it going on their own. But it's a romantic mystery. And the mystery keeps us wondering till the end.

I Am Confused

[boblipton · 6/10 · 23 November 2019]

Ricardo Cortez is a suave jeweler. He buys at auction some famous and expensive diamonds, then takes the Orient Express to Istanbul, so he can romance Mary Astor -- who eventually steals the jewels -- and keep things humming along, with a bunch of people who obviously want the gems and are willing to murder to get them. Apparently.

Robert Florey directs this at the high-speed Warner Brothers pace, even though the plot complexities, which seem to involve everyone actually being someone other than they seem to be, sometimes overwhelm the movie. Like a detective in a pulp novel, I began to suspect everyone, from Parisian chauffeurs -- a shady lot at the best of times -- to children selling gimcrack souvenirs by the side of the train. Why were they traveling on the Orient Express anyway? Don't they know it's a hotbed of espionage, murder, and Kenneth Branagh in a face-eating mustache?

Florey was always fond of Dutch angles, but he can't do much on board the railroad, even with Sidney Hickock as his cinematographer. It was fun while it lasted, but occasionally confusing, as players switched who they were playing.

All Aboard For Murderous Fun

[kartrabo · 16 May 2000]

After several spectacular jewel thefts an international group of insurance underwriters plan to trap the culprits by following the buyer of the Karenina diamonds.Enter man of mystery,jewel dealer Ricardo Cortez who makes the purchase,leaves Paris on the Orient Express,and is followed by numerous people hoping to get their hands on the gems.The viewer must figure out just who is an actual thief/murderer or those who are on the side of the law in this delightfully fast-paced thriller.A trainload of wonderful Warner Brothers contract players(Mary Astor,Robert H.Barrat,John Wray,Irving Pichel,Dudley Digges,Ferdinand Gottschalk,etc.) and the always terrific direction of Robert Florey keep the suspense right on track.

I Am a Thief (1934)

[fntstcplnt · 6/10 · 29 November 2019]

Directed by Robert Florey. Starring Mary Astor, Ricardo Cortez, Irving Pichel, Dudley Digges, Robert Barrat, Hobart Cavanaugh, Ferdinand Gottschalk, John Wray.

Valuable diamonds, an infamous jewel thief, and assorted suspicious figures involved in murder and larceny during a ride on the Orient Express; where's Hercule Poirot when you need him? Mild mystery/thriller is modestly satisfying, though immemorable; Astor and Cortez, as competing bidders for the targeted jewels, don't exactly ignite the screen with the passion of their romance. The late twists/revelations are pretty tame (for a movie that's only a shade over an hour long, there are quite a few complications and red herrings), and the resolution in the denouement is rather laughable, but those with a fondness for these sorts of mannered, Agatha Christie-like mystery programmers might enjoy it. Digges does a blustery caricature that would make Yosemite Sam proud.

59/100

Very talky and contrived.

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 24 August 2013]

"I Am a Thief" is a film with some nice actors and lovely settings, but it ultimately turns out to be very talky and the plot amazingly contrived and unsatisfying.

The film begins in Paris and the police have been frustrated by a series of high-end jewel robberies. So, they plan on pulling out all the stops to catch the members of this gang.

In the next scene, Pierre (Ricardo Cortez) is buying some hugely expensive diamonds at an auction. Two others, Odette (Mary Astor) and Colonel Jackson (Dudley Diggs) are also very interested in the stones. Eventually, the three end up, not accidentally, on a train bound for Istanbul--during the course of which, the stones are stolen and the police question everyone....a procedure that takes up a huge chunk of the film. In the end, the members of the gang reveal themselves and someone does something a bit heroic.

This film is way too mannered and talky. Everyone acts so calm, sophisticated and civilized through much of the film--so much so that it's a bit irritating. It's also irritating that there really doesn't seem to be any way for the audience to have clues as to who the crooks really are--and the ending seems very random. All in all, the film lacked energy and just became a tad tedious after a while--a shame as the actors seemed better than the material. And, speaking of the actors, there is a bit of a coincidence in the casting. All three played "The Maltese Falcon"--Cortez and Diggs in the 1931 version and Astor in the more famous 1941 version.

Suspense, Mystery, and Romance as Jewel Thieves Mix it Up on the Orient Express

[movingpicturegal · 8/10 · 16 March 2006]

Well-done, fast-paced, slick, and fun mystery story about a pack of jewel thieves and assorted other characters aboard the Orient Express, all in hot pursuit of the famous "Karenina Diamonds". In Paris, the insurance companies are upset about the glut of jewel robberies happening in the city lately, so put up for auction the exquisite Karenina diamond necklace in hopes of luring out the thieves from hiding. Dealer Ricardo Cortez bids and wins the diamonds and is soon traveling by train to Istanbul with many others chasing him and, more importantly, chasing the prized jewels including smartly-dressed Mary Astor, a lady of mystery.

Most of this film takes place aboard the train, in state rooms and dining car, with plot twists and turns that remind me of an early Hitchcock film. It also reminds me of an Agatha Christie style mystery story including gathering of all characters in the dining car for interrogation by smart police detective. This movie does not disappoint - with top-notch acting all-around and an interesting, suspenseful plot, this is really an excellent film.

what a great surprise!

[bailodhia · 10/10 · 17 March 2006]

I never heard of this movie until I caught it today by accident on TCM. It was a total surprise - once I began watching, I couldn't leave til the finish. A short film (an hour), very fast paced and exciting. Extremely well-done. The plot was exceptionally clever - it really kept you guessing for moment to moment who the true criminals were. The second unit location photography in Paris, Laussane, and the Balkans was superb and so generously dispersed throughout the film that you really felt you were there. Robert Florey is a master of this type of movie, and his direction added a very elegant and sinister tone. Watch it - you'll love it. I hope it gets remake someday.

Everyone wants the Karenina diamonds

[jodilyn · 9/10 · 16 March 2006]

The Istanbul Express is the setting for murder and mayhem by all those who want these beautiful diamonds. They will stop at nothing to get these diamonds and will use murder, insanity, careful and shrewd planning and imitation copies to get them. This is the time when elegance and mystery abounds in this classic film noir. There is a grouping of wonderful actors and actresses in this movie including Mary Astor, Ricardo Cortez, Dudley Diggs and Florence Fair. If you like Mary Astor, then check out this enjoyable murder mystery. She is at her witty best here especially when her pretty little neck is being threatened.

Jewel robbers on a train

[csteidler · 8/10 · 25 September 2019]

A string of sensational jewel robberies has rocked Paris. Unnerved insurance executives hatch a plan. They will lure the thieves into the open by auctioning off the famous Karenina diamonds....

Mary Astor and Ricardo Cortez are outstanding in this wild tale of jewel robbers chasing each other across Europe. Cortez outbids Astor and purchases the famous diamonds ("Impertinent fellow but very handsome," she comments), but Astor remains intensely interested in the jewels. Indeed, she sneaks into his hotel room in the middle of the night--only to find his bodyguard knocked unconscious and a would-be thief just leaving. Not surprisingly, Cortez has hidden the diamonds in a safer place than his hotel room, and laughs off the whole attack.

Very soon Cortez is en route to Istanbul to sell the diamonds. Astor hops on the same train carrying a duplicate set of the same jewels. A pushy baron (Robert Barrat), a sly count (Irving Pichel), and a rich American (Dudley Digges) also make the trip in pursuit of the Kareninas. The various characters appear to form rivalries and alliances....But who is really who?

Part of the fun is guessing--and the exciting climax features a couple of gasp-inducing moments. A fast-paced and stylish adventure.