Raffles, The Amateur Cracksman (1917)
Director:
George Irving
Writers:
E.W. Hornung (stories), Anthony Paul Kelly (as Anthony B. Kelly)
Stars:
John Barrymore, Christine Mayo, H. Cooper Cliffe
A. J. Raffles (Barrymore), a highly educated crook with entree to the best social circles, steals for the love of it and the thrill of the chase, enjoying outwitting the police and amateur detectives. An international swindler who has possession of a priceless ruby takes passage on a steamship and Raffles does likewise. Miles from land, Raffles determines that the swindler has hidden the gem in a cavity in his shoe. After getting the ruby, Raffles empties a cartridge from his revolver and substitutes the ruby in its place. There is an outcry over the theft, and on searching Raffles a ship's officer takes the gun and removes all of the cartridges. Raffles grabs the cartridges and places them in his mouth and then jumps overboard, swimming to land. During his escape he was seen by Mrs. Vidal (Mayo), an English society woman. Raffles reappears in London, mixing with the upper class, where he is recognized by Mrs. Vidal. She falls in love with him, and attempts to force him to love her by threatening to tell of his past theft. Raffles, who is in love with Gwendolyn (Adams), defies her. The famous jewels of Lady Melrose (Brundage) disappear while Raffles is a guest of the house. Mrs. Vidal immediately suspects that Raffles is the thief and again threatens to expose him, but he laughs at her. Captain Bedford (Perry), an amateur detective, declares that he will find the thief responsible for the Melrose robbery and even makes a bet with Raffles that the thief will be arrested. Bedford is sure that Raffles is the thief. Raffles then uses some ingenious methods to get the Melrose jewelry out of his possession, but still have them at his disposal when needed. Finally, but not until after he loses the bet, Bedford proves that Raffles is the thief and Raffles shows that he took them only to prevent a professional thief from stealing them.
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