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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"The risk? Ah, the risk is half the fun.", December 10, 2004
This review is from: Raffles: The First Step, Pt. 1 & 2 (DVD)
Actually, for Raffles, the risk is pretty much all the fun. Meet A.J. Raffles; Gentleman, renowned cricket player, adored ladies man, completely audacious jewel thief. Along with his shy best friend Bunny Manders, Raffles steals from the rich and gives to the poor (the poor being him and Bunny), always keeping just one step ahead of his nemesis, Inspector MacKenzie.
Played to perfection by Anthony Valentine (who has what Tallulah Bankhead used to call "ugly beauty"), this collection has Raffles pulling off a daring bank heist ("The Silver Chest"), thwarting an evil Ambassador ("The Last Laugh"), showing up a vulgar American boxer ("A Trap to Catch a Cracksman") and in my favorite episode, matching wits with a club of criminologists ("The Gold Cup").
Well worth checking out for mystery fans and Anglophiles alike, both the first and second DVD collections are first-rate. Witty, frothy, and surprising, "Raffles" is a treat and should not be missed.
GRADE: A
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Tales of A Gentleman Thief, April 26, 2003
This review is from: Raffles: The First Step, Pt. 1 & 2 (DVD)
I've always been a great admirer of things that are somewhat different in the realm of entertainment. I've appreciated things that are genuinely entertaining, strictly for being different from the norm. And this short-lived, but absolutely delightful series based on the stories of E.W. Hornung is one of them. These are the adventures of A.J. Raffles, who in every aspect is the personification of a gentleman, except for one small detail, he happens to be a thief. It was that intriguing aspect that drew me to this series, and I have not regretted my decision at all. Anthony Valentine is perfect as the title character, giving a keen intellect, sharp wit, good looks, suave sophistication, and a gentlemanly manner in his treatment of women, while at the same time giving great moments of being quite debonair and adventurous. Bunny is equally a charming character, perhaps a bit dim at times, but very loyal, and of course quite the worry-wart. It's enticing to see how Raffles will come out on top again, that is the charm of this series. In some ways, Raffles and Bunny kind of remind me of Holmes and Watson, it is quite an extraordinarily charming series.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a rogue to root for, April 20, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Raffles: The First Step, Pt. 1 & 2 (DVD)
Anthony Valentine brings Raffles to life - a roguish aristocratic thief who you can't help liking. Christopher Strauli, Raffles' well-named friend Bunny, constantly has to have things explained to him. With the convoluted twists and turns of the plot, we are often grateful for Bunny's questions. Bunny is also the conscience of the piece most times. The viewer is intrigued with how Raffles is going to get away with it without being caught - not a necessarily moral stance. Excellent fun for those who like English period mystery at its best. It comes in two double disc sets: The First Step and To Catch a Thief.
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