Arsène Lupin Returns (1938)

A woman and a man vying for a woman's affection: the usual love trio? Not quite so since the belle in question is Lorraine de Grissac, a very wealthy and alluring society woman, while one ... See full summary »

Director:

George Fitzmaurice

Writers:

James Kevin McGuinness (original story and screenplay), Howard Emmett Rogers (original story and screenplay),

Stars:

Melvyn Douglas, Virginia Bruce, Warren William

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Melvyn Douglas	...	Rene Farrand aka Arsene Lupin
Virginia Bruce	...	Lorraine de Grissac
Warren William	...	Steve Emerson
John Halliday	...	Count de Grissac
Nat Pendleton	...	Joe Doyle
Monty Woolley	...	Georges Bouchet
E.E. Clive	...	Alf Hammond
George Zucco	...	Prefect of Police
Rollo Lloyd	...	Duval
Vladimir Sokoloff	...	Ivan Pavloff
Ian Wolfe	...	A. Le Marchand - Detective (as Ien Wulf)
Tully Marshall	...	Monelle
Jonathan Hale	...	F.B.I. Special Agent

Storyline

A woman and a man vying for a woman's affection: the usual love trio? Not quite so since the belle in question is Lorraine de Grissac, a very wealthy and alluring society woman, while one of the two rivals is none other than Arsène Lupin, the notorious jewel thief everybody thought dead, now living under the assumed name of René Farrand. As for the other suitor he is an American, a former F.B.I. sleuth turned private eye by the name of Steve Emerson. Steve not only suspects Farrand of being Lupin but when someone attempts to steal a precious emerald necklace from Lorraine's uncle, Count de Brissac, he is persuaded Lupin is the culprit. Is Emerson right or wrong? Which of the two men will win over Lorraine's heart?

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Plot Keywords:

jewel thief | fbi | necklace | sequel | dancing | 

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Genres:

Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 February 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Volta de Arsène Lupin

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min 81 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of 813 (1920)

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Soundtracks

"Gone"
(1936) (uncredited)
Music by Franz Waxman
In the score during the end credits

User Reviews

Smoothly played but uneven mystery is disappointing...

MELVYN DOUGLAS is debonair, WARREN WILLIAM is clever and sophisticated, and VIRGINIA BRUCE is decorative but bland as a lovely blonde, but ARSENE LUPIN RETURNS is pretty much a replay of the original film "Arsene Lupin" with little variation in plot and theme.

The supporting cast includes such dependable actors as GEORGE ZUCCO and MONTY WOOLLEY, but the story never becomes more than a routine mystery with overtones of comedy, despite the handsome MGM production values.

It's interesting mainly to see how Douglas will evade detection as the police close in on the man suspected of being the jewel thief whose theft of a precious emerald from a safe has them on his heels, just waiting for a chance to catch him in the act. The plot takes an unexpected twist when a cast member who is the least of the suspects, turns out to be the man responsible for murder and theft.

Overall effect is that it's a watchable film, mainly because of the cast, but it's a forgettable item as a mystery.