Here's a genuine find! This film was actually based on a stage play (not a story as most references have it). Admittedly, this stage origin is not readily noticeable, even though very little attempt has been made to open it out. The reason the movie succeeds so well, lies in the super-fast and most ingratiating manner in which the players, particularly William Powell, deliver their clever, witty lines. Miss Francis does reasonably well too, although she is no match for Powell and is even overshadowed by Henry Kolker (I loved his amusing bit with the ring in his mouth) and Spencer Charters (who – in one of the biggest roles of his career – so delightfully plays a dumb night-watchman). Dialogue director William Keighley's insistence on fast dialogue delivery is matched by the equally fast camera movement demanded by director William Dieterle. Crisp film editing and some wonderfully Germanic lighting and atmospheric sets all contribute. In fact the movie often has a real European look about it. Best of all, it runs less than 80 minutes, and there is not a single slack moment from go to whoa.
Review of Jewel Robbery
