Jewel Robbery (1932)

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

Erwin S. Gelsey (screenplay)
Ladislas Fodor (based on a story by)
(more)

Release Date:

13 August 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Romance

Tagline:

He stole her jewels -- but that wasn't all!

Plot:

A gentleman thief charms a Viennese baron's wife and also conducts a daring daylight robbery of a jewellers.

Plot Keywords:

Idle Rich | Waltz | Jewel Robbery | Jewelry | Incompetence

Cast

William Powell	...	The Robber
Kay Francis	...	Baroness Teri
Helen Vinson	...	Marianne
Hardie Albright	...	Paul
Alan Mowbray	...	Detective Fritz
André Luguet	...	Count Andre (as Andre Luguet)
Henry Kolker	...	Baron Franz
Spencer Charters	...	Lenz
Lee Kohlmar	...	Hollander
Clarence Wilson	...	Prefect of Police
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Don Brodie	...	Robber (uncredited)
Marie Burton	...	Maid (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	Jewelry Salesman (uncredited)
Charles Coleman	...	Charles the Butler (uncredited)
Sheila Darcy	...	Maid (uncredited)
John Davidson	...	Robbery Accomplice (uncredited)
George Davis	...	Polacheck - the President's Secretary (uncredited)
Paula DeCardo	...	Maid (uncredited)
Ruth Donnelly	...	Berta - Teri's Maid (uncredited)
Jay Eaton	...	Leopold - Assistant Jewelry Manager (uncredited)
Bill Elliott	...	Policeman Following Blonde (uncredited)
Norah Gale	...	Maid (uncredited)
Lawrence Grant	...	Professor Bauman (uncredited)
Robert Greig	...	Main Reading Wiener Journal (uncredited)
Eddie Kane	...	Robber (uncredited)
Ivan Linow	...	Chauffeur (uncredited)
Joyce Mathews	...	Maid (uncredited)
Harold Minjur	...	Jewelry Clerk (uncredited)
Blanche Payson	...	Masseuse (uncredited)
Alma Ross	...	Maid (uncredited)
Sheila Terry	...	The Blonde Decoy (uncredited)
Jacques Vanaire	...	Jewelry Manager (uncredited)
Blanca Vischer	...	Maid (uncredited)
Harold Waldridge	...	Jewelry Clerk (uncredited)
Leo White	...	Assistant Robber (uncredited)

Directed by
William Dieterle

Writing credits
Erwin S. Gelsey		(screenplay) (as Erwin Gelsey)
Ladislas Fodor		(based on a story by) (as Ladislaus Fodor)
Bertram Bloch		(English version)

Original Music by
Bernhard Kaun		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Robert Kurrle		(photography)

Film Editing by
Ralph Dawson		(edited by)

Art Direction by
Robert M. Haas		(as Robert Haas)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Keighley	....	associate director

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	conductor: Vitaphone Orchestra

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents)
• Vitaphone Corporation, The (presents) (as The Vitaphone Corp.)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1932) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)

Other Companies

• Vitaphone Orchestra  orchestra

Also Known As:

Runtime:

68 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved | Australia:PG

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

Based on the Hungarian play Ekszerrablás a Váci-uccában by Ladislas Fodor (copyrighted 26 Aug 1931) and on the following Broadway production: Jewel Robbery (1932); Comedy, adapted by Bertram Bloch; directed and produced by Paul Streger. Booth Theatre: 13 Jan 1932- Feb 1932 (closing date unknown/54 performances). Cast: Lionel Braham (as "Lenz"), Stuart Casey, Clarence Derwent (as "Franz"), Mary Ellis, Harold Johnsrud, Hazel Nagley, Eugene Powers, Frederick Roland, Louis M. Simon, Basil Sydney, Robert Vivian, Cora Witherspoon (as "Marianne").

Goofs:

Continuity: After the baroness pulls a gun on the robber, he distracts her by kissing her, whereupon she drops the gun on his foot. She runs to the other side of the room with the robber limping after her. The gun is on the floor as he starts toward her; when he reaches her he's holding it.

Quotes:

Robber:The last place anybody would think of looking for me is in your bedroom.
Baroness Teri von Horhenfels:Oh, so you expect to stay here until morning?
Robber:I'm forced to. Tomorrow the chase starts all over again. I must have a peaceful night.
Baroness Teri von Horhenfels:A peaceful night in *my bedroom?*

Movie Connections:

Remade as The Peterville Diamond (1943)

Soundtrack:

On the Beautiful Blue Danube (An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314)

Pre-"Reefer Madness" (and Code Insanity!)

"Jewel Robbery" reflects the comic virtuosity of actors and actresses - and directors - in an eclectic Hollywood too soon to be stifled by THE Code. Kay Francis, little known to most movie buffs today, sparkles as a liberated, adventuresome and bored wife of a doting, not doddering exactly, but boring rich hubby. Apparently only his largess keeps her hitched and she seems quite open about looking for some exciting liaisons and she ain't talking about platonic ones either. The sexual innuendos aren't subtle. Neither are they serious.

William Powell is a suave and quick-witted gentleman jewel thief. In one sentence he dismisses the violence of his American counterparts, asserting the urbane civility of the European high class criminal.

"Reefer Madness," one of Hollywood's all-time great comedies, came out in 1937. In 1932 Powell, the jewel thief, dispenses marijuana cigarettes left and right and although the name is never used, the goofy behavior of the smokers prefigures the exaggerated and demonic grass-induced St. Vitus dance of the later documentary.

A short, sprightly comedy where crime is neither dangerous nor particularly even objectionable, "Jewel Robbery" is a small gem from a long bygone Hollywood. If you can rent it, do so. You won't be disappointed.