Review of Raffles

Raffles (1939)
6/10
Raffles
23 February 2024
David Niven stars as Raffles, debonair society gent, top cricketer and 'The Amateur Cracksman' forever foiling Scotland Yard's attempts to catch him. Raffles friend Bunny introduces Raffles to his sister Gwen (Olivia de Havailland) who he had always adored and they begin a relationship. Invited to Lord and Lady Melrose's house for the weekend, Raffles plans to steal some of Lady Melrose's jewellery to help out suicidal Bunny with his gambling debt, but all doesn't go as planned as Scotland Yard are at the weekend soirée as well.

Fun and sometimes quite tense piece of well staged stiff upper lip society fluff with Niven perfect as the suave thief with a silver tongue and a heart of gold. As is often the case with these films, it's the supporting cast that are the most fun and Raffles' butler Barraclough, played by E. E. Clive steals every scene he's in as do Lionel Pape and the great Dame May Whitty as Lord and Lady Melrose. Definitely one of those 'they don't make 'em like that anymore' films.

Nice to see James Finlayson, Laurel and Harry's frequent stooge appear briefly as a handsome cab driver.
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