Raffles (1939)
Directed by Sam Wood

Film Review

Closely based on Eugene Presbrey's popular stage play adaptation of E.W. Hornung's novel of 1899, Samuel Goldwyn's second production of Raffles is virtually a scene-for-scene remake of his first, the 1930 version which helped to establish Ronald Colman as a major Hollywood star.  Although the film was a commercial success, it was not well received by the critics.  In spite of an attractive cast, which offers the dream pairing of David Niven with Olivia de Havilland, the film is let down by its uninspired direction, lacklustre script and an all too abrupt ending, failings that bear witness to its troubled production.

Raffles marked a defining moment in David Niven's career.  Having been employed for five years as a contract player at Goldwyn Studios, the actor had become frustrated with the parts he had been given, most frequently as a loan out to other studios.  Goldwyn saw that Niven had potential and so hoped to lure him into signing a seven year contract with this film, with a role which he knew would appeal to the young English actor.  Niven, the epitome of Englishness, was perfect for the part of the suave gentleman thief and had no qualms about swallowing Goldwyn's bait.  Raffles is where Niven's career began proper, the actor establishing his inimitable screen persona in a part that could well have been written for him.

The film was directed, with an evident lack of enthusiasm, by Sam Wood, who was physically and artistically drained after working on Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) and Gone with the Wind (1939).  Wood's difficulties were compounded when the Germans thoughtlessly invaded Poland in September 1939, just after the film had gone into production.  The on-set anxieties were exacerbated by Niven's growing unease at being cooped up in Hollywood when his real duty lay elsewhere, serving in the armed services of his own country, which had just declared war on Nazi Germany.

With his entire cast and production team visibly on edge, Goldwyn became concerned that the film was going to fall flat and so roped in other writers to pep up the script.  The eminent author F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of the beneficiaries of Goldwyn's desperation, pocketing $1,200 for a week's work and no screen credit.  (This is the same Sam Goldwyn who was known to carefully decant undrunk wine back into the bottle after dinner parties.)  When the film proved to be a hit, Goldwyn was unable to capitalise on the success of his new protégé immediately, since Niven was already on his way back to England to serve in the RAF.  The war would provide only a temporary break in Niven's career, however....

Film Synopsis

As London is hit by a spate of thefts no one would ever suspect that these are the work of one man, the celebrated cricketer A.J. Raffles.  The very idea that this respectable man about town, the very embodiment of English fair play and decency, should be a criminal is so preposterous that Raffles remains beyond suspicion - at least for the moment.  If Raffles had been in need of an excuse to give up his felonious hobby he has just that when Gwen Manders, a highly desirable socialite, enters his life.  Such is his love for her that he willingly opts to become an honest citizen once more and renounce his life of crime.

Raffles has second thoughts when he learns that Bunny Manders, Gwen's brother, has managed to ratchet up gambling debts of a thousand pounds.   To save his friend from ruin and disgrace, the cricketer has no choice but to resume his criminal activities, the only question being where he should strike next.  An ideal opportunity presents itself when he is invited to spend a weekend at Lord Melrose's ample country estate.  Here, he discovers that another thief, Crawshay, plans to steal Lady Melrose's precious necklace.

Realising that his enemy Inspector MacKenzie of Scotland Yard is in the vicinity Raffles sees an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.  After Crawshay has successfully purloined the jewels, Raffles takes them off him just before the police make their arrest.  MacKenzie has his petty pilferer and Raffles has the necklace, which he can then sell to bail his friend out.  Unfortunately, he has underestimated the cunning of his police adversary.  It will take some quick thinking if Raffles is to avoid the next trap that MacKenzie has laid for him...