Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman

It's always such a treat to see movies that are more than 100 years old. Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman was made in 1917, and it was the first of six film adaptations about the gentleman cat burglar. John Barrymore stars as Raffles in this one, and his famous profile is put on full display in several comical close-ups. He steals jewelry, sells the stones without detection, and gives the money to those less fortunate; by day, this Robin Hood plays cricket and attends lavish house parties. This is a light, fluffy story, so don't expect an intense crime drama.

Among the partygoers in the featured party that tempts Raffles into stealing a large, valuable necklace, is a young Frank Morgan. You won't even recognize the Wizard of Oz in this movie! He has a thick head of brown hair, and he's chasing after a girl. It's very fun to see him in one of his first movies, and to see him in a silent movie where he's without his classic bumbling dialogue. Besides seeing the two men in a silent flick, this movie isn't that great by today's standards. I've seen three versions of Raffles, and this one isn't as good as the 1925 of 1939 adaptations. It's not bad for 1917, but for 2020, you'll probably want one that's been better preserved and doesn't seem so incredibly dated.