Bored young baroness Teri just wants a massive new 28-carat diamond ring, but just when she’s convinced her feeble elderly husband to purchase it, a debonair robber sweeps into the store and lifts all of the goods. He’s so smooth that he’s even able to convince the addled store security guard to lug all of the loot out to his waiting getaway car without raising suspicion. Encountering such a dashing figure, Teri immediately falls under his spell in spite of her marriage, leading to a light-hearted romp that teases whether she’ll escape to an exciting new life or put the crook away for good.
Buy Jewel Robbery from Movie ZyngThe film is set in Vienna for no discernible reason other than Teri’s baroness title, even though the dialects and settings remain distinctly American. Although William Powell has top billing as the thief, he doesn’t make his entrance until nearly a quarter of the way through the scant 68-minute film, giving Kay Francis plenty of opportunity to shine as the baroness. She’s up to the task, offering a zany, unrestrained performance that reinforces her character’s chafing against the expectations of stuffy high society. It’s easy to see why Teri is so taken with Powell’s unnamed robber, just as his character is surely drawn to the unconventional young socialite.
The film is fairly tame by Pre-Code standards save for two aspects: a couple of leering dressing-room costume changes designed to titillate, and the robber’s offer of “special, relaxing cigarettes” to potential foes to remove them as obstacles. It’s hilarious to watch the straight-laced targets quickly lose all inhibitions, an early PSA for the wonders of suspicious smoke.
As the chase for the robber and his team intensifies, Kay has to choose between her flighty heart and justice, just as the robber has to determine if she’s truly into him or just running her own con to get back her ring. Their romance is tenuous as they grapple with trust issues and the ever-searching authorities, making for a thoroughly engaging caper with an obvious but enjoyable conclusion. It’s a thin setup with a slight runtime, but Powell and Francis make it well worth the ride.
Buy Jewel Robbery from AmazonThe Blu-ray presents the black-and-white film in 1.37:1 aspect ratio with DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono sound. Film details and contrast are well defined with minimal flaws, although sound is a bit scratchy at times. Overall sound design shows the growing pains of the early sound era, with volume levels varying between set changes and occasional total dropouts during silent moments, removing environmental context. Overall though, the film has held up quite well considering its nearly century-old age, with the Blu-ray offering welcome preservation of this gem for generations to come. The disc is rounded out with two Warner Bros. cartoons of the era, along with the original theatrical trailer.
