Had not seen "Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman" (1917) in well over a decade or more, so I watched it again. Starring John Barrymore in only his sixth feature film, this also has Christine Mayo, Frank Morgan, Frederick Perry, Kathryn Adams, H. Cooper Cliffe, Mathilde Brundage, Dudley Hill, and even Evelyn Brent in an almost non-existent part, with others in smaller parts. The story of the bored, rich cricket champ who cracks safes or whatever for fine jewelry just as a lark, then gives most of the proceeds to the poor - a modern Robin Hood - this story and play by E. W. Hornung has been made into several films and television shows. Perhaps the best film was the 1930 version with Ronald Colman. Nigel Havers made a 2001 British television film of the story, and a 12 episode series had been made in 1975-77 with Anthony Valentine. House Peters (1925) and David Niven (1939) also have essayed the character on film, along with others less notable. The story seems not to have lost its appeal since its inception in 1899 as a collection of short stories by Hornung.
Barrymore is gracious in his characterization, slightly too stylized, and, in the end, actually somewhat boring. There are enough intertitles in this presentation to choke a horse! I couldn't believe how much talk goes on in this supposed - thriller. Just far too many. It's not a bad movie, and Barrymore's very watchable, but this film belongs back in 1917, or, if you need to watch it now, it's because you're a genuine movie buff, love E. W. Hornung, or are a Barrymore completist. Watch the Colman version to really be enthralled by this. Plus, there's Kay Francis and a needling David Torrence in the 1930 version to keep you smiling. Here, the best thing in the picture is probably Frederick Perry as the pursuing Captain Bedford. You'll almost hope he catches Barrymore just to keep Barrymore from having to make any more eyebrow raisings which become annoying. However, you WILL enjoy the last line of the film. IT IS SO-O-O BRITISH, so deucedly British! You'll have to watch now, won't you.
My print is the 2007 ReelClassicsVideo DVD.
