A Viennese baroness (Kay Francis) is charmed by a suave gentleman thief (William Powell) after being caught in a daring robbery at a jewellers.
Jewel Robbery (what an unoriginal title) has been hailed as a pre-code masterpiece, but I found it a slightly entertaining time-waster. Powell and Francis are good in their roles, and, being only 68 minutes, the film doesn't overstay it's welcome. The film is incredibly pre-code, with infidelity, marijuana and criminals escaping justice.
This was obviously Warner's attempt to make a Lubitsch-like film, but William Dieterle is no Lubitsch. Lubitsch's Trouble in Paradise, released the same year and having roughly the same plot, is a much better film. Indeed, Powell and Francis' other 1932 film, One Way Passage, is also much better.
Overall, Jewel Robbery is entertaining, but it definitely could have been better.
Jewel Robbery (what an unoriginal title) has been hailed as a pre-code masterpiece, but I found it a slightly entertaining time-waster. Powell and Francis are good in their roles, and, being only 68 minutes, the film doesn't overstay it's welcome. The film is incredibly pre-code, with infidelity, marijuana and criminals escaping justice.
This was obviously Warner's attempt to make a Lubitsch-like film, but William Dieterle is no Lubitsch. Lubitsch's Trouble in Paradise, released the same year and having roughly the same plot, is a much better film. Indeed, Powell and Francis' other 1932 film, One Way Passage, is also much better.
Overall, Jewel Robbery is entertaining, but it definitely could have been better.