Man about town and First Class cricketer A.J. Raffles keeps himself solvent with daring robberies. Meeting Gwen from his schooldays and falling in love all over again, he spends the weekend with her parents, Lord and Lady Melrose. A necklace presents an irresistible temptation, but also in attendance is Scotland Yard's finest, finally on the trail.
Acting
Niven's smile does 80% of the character work. De Havilland's eyes do the rest.
Costume
White tie burglary: because why shouldn't crime look this good?
Writing
Wit so dry you could use it to age Scotch.
Director
Sam Wood
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Niven's first starring role after nearly dying in a 1937 plane crash that killed his passenger.
The 'Raffles' character invented the gentleman thief archetype in 1898; this adaptation softens his original death-ending for wartime optimism.
US
