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.

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.

Ronald Colman is "Raffles," a gentleman burglar who wants to retire but can only manage to do it for a couple of hours. Colman's costar is Kay Francis as Raffles' lady friend Gwen, and Bramwell Fletcher plays Bunny, a young man Raffles wants to help.In the 1939 version, maybe because of the code, Raffles is a Robin Hood type who robs for the excitement and fun of it but then helps someone in need with the money or returns the merchandise. In this version, he steals, period, and in fact presents Gwen with a bracelet from one of his crimes. This film skips the whole beginning of the '39 film showing Raffles' acts of kindness, but the rest of the story is the same. Raffles decides to retire and start life anew with Gwen, but his friend Bunny shows up with a gambling problem and needs to cover a 1000 pound check by Monday. Raffles, alas, needs to do one more job.Ronald Colman is delightful as Raffles, dashing, charming, and handsome as he cleverly attempts to escape the clutches of Scotland Yard. It's a wonderful role for him, as it was for David Niven in 1939. Kay Francis is wasted but is a good match for Coleman.Fun film with a fine performance by Colman.

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.