15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Superb early talkie, excellently restored!, June 14, 1999
This review is from: Raffles [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I just saw this excellent restoration of a 1930 talkie from Goldwyn Studios. The black and white camera work is good; even the sound is good! It has been digitally reprocessed for surround sound. Ronald Colman is suave as ever as Raffles, the amateur cracksman. Kay Francis is also charming as Colman's love interest. Colman and Francis would team again two years later in the shamefully neglected film, Cynara (1932). Hopefully, Goldwyn Studios will restore it also. I know some critics might call a movie such as Raffles a trifle dated, but therein lies its charm! Having just seen the new Austin Powers film, it was nice sitting back, relaxing, and watching this chamber drama from another era. Highly recommended! I give it 3 stars only in comparison to some of Colman's other great films.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A GOLDWYN - COLMAN HIT., August 30, 2002
This review is from: Raffles [VHS] (VHS Tape)
In a fine performance which showcased his famous voice, Ronald Colman plays A.J. Raffles, a famed British cricket player who is also the "Amateur Cracksman" an equally famous criminal who constantly eludes Scotland Yard. Based upon the 1899 novel THE AMATEUR CRACKSMAN by Ernest William Hornung, the cast includes Kay Francis as Lady Gwen Manders (later played by Olivia de Havilland in the inferior 1939 version starring David Niven), the now-forgotten Frances Dade and, as Lady Kitty Melrose, Alison Skipworth. The direction of this film was done by two men: the French D'Arrast was fired by Goldwyn after endless bickering; he was replaced by George Fitzmaurice. This film received almost unanimously favourable reviews when it was released in 1930; both Samuel Goldwyn and Ronald Colman benefitted by the advent of sound in the movies: Goldwyn would produce some of the finest, most prestigious films in Hollywood, and Colman would make women swoon with his perfectly modulated English speaking voice (he could also act as well).
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Raffles (1930) ... Ronald Colman ... George Fitzmaurice (Director) (1997)", August 6, 2011
This review is from: Raffles [VHS] (VHS Tape)
United Artists presents "RAFFLES" (1930) (72 min/B&W) -- Starring Ronald Colman, Kay Francis, Bramwell Fletcher, Frances Dade, Alison Skipworth & David Torrence
Directed by George Fitzmaurice
The third in a succession of film adaptations of author E.W. Hornung's novel Raffles, the Amateur Cracks man, this version was the first to also be produced in sound. Ronald Colman stars as A.J. Raffles, an utterly unflappable British gentleman cricket player who by night is secretly a thief known in the press as The Amateur Cracks man and causing apoplectic fits at Scotland Yard.
Raffles has fallen in love with society girl Gwen Manders (Kay Francis) and intends to give up his criminal pursuits, but first he must help an indebted pal, Bunny (Bramwell Fletcher) by stealing a valuable necklace owned by Lady Melrose (Alison Skipworth) at a weekend soirée. Suspecting that Raffles and the Cracks man are one and the same, Inspector McKenzie (David Torrence) is a guest at the same party, with a keen eye peeled at Raffles. In the meantime, rival crook Crawshaw also has designs on the necklace, setting himself as an unfortunately perfect scapegoat.
Oscar Nominated for Best Sound, Recording
BIOS:
1. George Fitzmaurice (Director)
Date of Birth: 13 February 1885 - Paris, France
Date of Death: 13 June 1940 - Los Angeles, California
2. Ronald Colman [aka: Ronald Charles Colman]
Date of Birth: 9 February 1891 - Richmond, Surrey, England, UK
Date of Death: 19 May 1958 - Santa Barbara, California
3. Kay Francis [aka: Katherine Edwina Gibbs]
Date of Birth: 13 January 1905 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Date of Death: 26 August 1968 - New York City, New York
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 72 min on VHS ~ United Artists ~ (September 23, 1997)
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