Raffles [VHS]
by George Fitzmaurice, Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast
![Raffles [VHS]](/images/Raffles-VHS-B00000FAXT-L.jpg)
Our Price: $88.00
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $22.82 (click here)
Category: VHS Video
See more movie releases
Buy this VHS video movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Product details
Actor: Bramwell Fletcher, David Torrence, Frances Dade, Kay Francis, Ronald ColmanDirector: George Fitzmaurice, Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Original Language), Analog
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Dolby, NTSC
Release Date: 1997-09-23
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Publisher: Hbo Home Video
Studio: Hbo Home Video
VHS Movie Reviews of Raffles [VHS]
Movie Review: An Amateurish Cracksman Film
Summary: 3 Stars
Ronald Colman stars in this 1930 version, based on Ernest William Hornung's short stories, of THE AMATEUR CRACKSMAN (1899). Raffles, played by Colman; mixes cricket and crime, eludes the police, and uses his famous voice to full romantic effect.
However, after viewing the film, you may not be surprised to learn that there were directorial difficulties. Apparently, Goldwyn found Harry D'Arrast's pacing too fast and replaced him with George Fitzmaurice. The result, in my opinion, is a little uneven. It takes awhile for this one to get going.
But what is really lacking here are the dialogue and situational comedy between Bunny and Raffles. They are, after all, key elements that make the short stories so magical and endearing.
That aside, it is still a treat for 1930s film buffs: Ronald Colman, a mansion dinner party, Scotland Yard, a jewel theft, and some George Barnes/Gregg Toland cinematography. Nevertheless, it could have been a much better picture, especially with respect to all the talent involved.
Movie Review: The Inimitable Colman
Summary: 5 Stars
The slightest touch of arthritis in parts of the plot, a couple of subordinate players not quite ready for talkies, but, undeniably, another wonderful outing with the indefatigable Ronald Colman.
There need be no talk of better or poorer actors between that pioneer generation and our current one; what is undeniable is that they created acting persona's different from those available to someone trained in the modern school trying to appeal to the contemporary public. Colman is The English Gentleman with none of the underlying irony and self-awareness that Rex Harrison brought to the role.
At the same time as William Powell was perfecting The American Gentleman in a series of amateur detective mysteries, Colman was perfecting his character of the debonair, impossible to be other than straight arrow, hero in Raffles, Bulldog Drummond and other outings.
The film looks and sounds good so that nothing will interfere with the pleasure of watching a workmanlike crew performing to no other purpose than giving us a bit of uncomplicated gratification,
Movie Review: "Who knows what he is, where he is, or who he is."
Summary: 3 Stars
Ronald Colman tackles the famous literary character A.J. Raffles in this decent adaptation of the stories by E. W. Hornung.
Revered cricket player, dashing gentleman, and doting fiancee of lovely Kay Francis, Raffles seems to have it all, except that most of it doesn't belong to him. He's a thief, a jewel thief to be exact, but after deciding to marry Francis he's through with the underworld for good. That is, until old friend Bunny Manders shows up in desperate need of a thousand pounds, and within the next two days to boot. What's a true friend to do?
The screenplay doesn't follow the plot of any of the specific Raffles stories, just pulls bits and pieces from here and there. That's too bad, because virtually any one of the stories would have made for a better, tighter plot line. As it is, the film is saved by the always delicious Colman doing his usual suave thing. Fans of the stories themselves will want to check out the '70's BBC show starring Anthony Valentine, as it is a much, much better adaptation (and Valentine is no slouch in the suave department either). But if you like early talkies, period films or are a Colman fan this movie is not too bad.
If you do see it, watch for the scene where Colman asks Francis to marry him. That's probably the most casual acceptance Colman ever got!
GRADE: B-
Movie Review: A GOLDWYN - COLMAN HIT.
Summary: 4 Stars
In a fine performance which showcased his famous voice, Ronald Colman plays A.J. Raffles, a famed British cricket player who is also the "Amateur Cracksman" an equally famous criminal who constantly eludes Scotland Yard. Based upon the 1899 novel THE AMATEUR CRACKSMAN by Ernest William Hornung, the cast includes Kay Francis as Lady Gwen Manders (later played by Olivia de Havilland in the inferior 1939 version starring David Niven), the now-forgotten Frances Dade and, as Lady Kitty Melrose, Alison Skipworth. The direction of this film was done by two men: the French D'Arrast was fired by Goldwyn after endless bickering; he was replaced by George Fitzmaurice. This film received almost unanimously favourable reviews when it was released in 1930; both Samuel Goldwyn and Ronald Colman benefitted by the advent of sound in the movies: Goldwyn would produce some of the finest, most prestigious films in Hollywood, and Colman would make women swoon with his perfectly modulated English speaking voice (he could also act as well).Movie Review: More Colman
Summary: 4 Stars
Buy it..watch it..enjoy it..savor it. Yes, another Colman film for the old collection. So you are running out of shelf space. One can always find space for another RC movie. Do it, you won't be disappointed.
Classics Video
Video Genres
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in Classics Video
![Wuthering Heights (1939) [VHS] Image](/images/Wuthering-Heights-1939-VHS-6302278929-X.jpg){kind=small}
Wuthering Heights (1939) [VHS]Hbo Home Video; Release date: 1994-12-12; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops:
![Follow the Sun: The Ben Hogan Story [VHS] Image](/images/Follow-the-Sun-The-Ben-Hogan-Story-VHS-6303082874-X.jpg){kind=small}
Follow the Sun: The Ben Hogan Story [VHS]20th Century Fox; Release date: 1995-06-06; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $26.99
![Back Street [VHS] Image](/images/Back-Street-VHS-6300183874-X.jpg){kind=small}
Back Street [VHS]Universal Studios; Release date: 1993-02-03; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $42.49
![Gallant Hours [VHS] Image](/images/Gallant-Hours-VHS-6302413370-X.jpg){kind=small}
Gallant Hours [VHS]MGM (Video & DVD); Release date: 1998-09-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $145.99
![The Egyptian [VHS] Image](/images/The-Egyptian-VHS-6301412796-X.jpg){kind=small}
The Egyptian [VHS]20th Century Fox; Release date: 1995-03-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $44.50
![To Kill a Mockingbird (Widescreen) [VHS] Image](/images/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird-Widescreen-VHS-0783222955-X.jpg){kind=small}
To Kill a Mockingbird (Widescreen) [VHS]Universal Studios; Release date: 1998-02-24; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
![Romeo & Juliet (1968) [VHS] Image](/images/Romeo-Juliet-1968-VHS-6300216039-X.jpg){kind=small}
Romeo & Juliet (1968) [VHS]Paramount; Release date: 1996-09-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
![To Sir, with Love [VHS] Image](/images/To-Sir-with-Love-VHS-0800104803-X.jpg){kind=small}
To Sir, with Love [VHS]RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video; Release date: 1994-07-08; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $17.50
![Gone with the Wind [VHS] Image](/images/Gone-with-the-Wind-VHS-6305123616-X.jpg){kind=small}
Gone with the Wind [VHS]MGM; MGM (Video & DVD); Release date: 1998-10-27; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $3.73
Price in other shops:
![The Ten Commandments [VHS] Image](/images/The-Ten-Commandments-VHS-6300215830-X.jpg)
The Ten Commandments [VHS]Paramount; Release date: 1992-12-07; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.24
Price in other shops:
Similar Video, DVDs, Audio CDs
![Crowd, The [VHS] Image](/images/Crowd-The-VHS-6301965744-X.jpg){kind=small}
Crowd, The [VHS]Warner Home Video; Release date: 1998-09-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $8.49
Price in other shops:
![Our Dancing Daughters [VHS] Image](/images/Our-Dancing-Daughters-VHS-6302048982-X.jpg){kind=small}
Our Dancing Daughters [VHS]Warner Home Video; Release date: 1996-08-20; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $69.95
![Disraeli (1929) [VHS] Image](/images/Disraeli-1929-VHS-6302658497-X.jpg){kind=small}
Disraeli (1929) [VHS]MGM (Video & DVD); Release date: 1994-12-21; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $23.99
![Romance (1930) [VHS] Image](/images/Romance-1930-VHS-6302224373-X.jpg){kind=small}
Romance (1930) [VHS]MGM (Warner); Release date: 1998-09-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $79.99
![Woman of Affairs (Silent) [VHS] Image](/images/Woman-of-Affairs-Silent-VHS-6302004497-X.jpg){kind=small}
Woman of Affairs (Silent) [VHS]MGM (Warner); Release date: 1998-09-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $70.00
The Broadway Melody (Special Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2005-02-01; DVD
Best price: $3.97
Price in other shops:
Lost HorizonCOLEMAN,RONALD; Release date: 1999-08-31; DVD
Best price: $12.44
Price in other shops:
Broadway Melody of 1936 / Broadway Melody of 1938DVD
Best price: $12.99
![If I Were King [VHS] Image](/images/If-I-Were-King-VHS-0783227612-X.jpg){kind=small}
If I Were King [VHS]Universal Studios; Release date: 1998-08-04; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $44.50
![Bulldog Drummond [VHS] Image](/images/Bulldog-Drummond-VHS-B00004Y87C-X.jpg){kind=small}
Bulldog Drummond [VHS]MGM (Video & DVD); Release date: 2000-11-07; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $19.99