The Great Jewel Robber (1950)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Peter Godfrey

Writer:

Borden Chase (writer)

Release Date:

15 July 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Adventure

Tagline:

His Evening Dress Was Always 'White Tie'... and a black automatic!

Plot:

Escaping from a Canadian prison farm, master thief Gerard Dennis (David Brian) makes his way to Buffalo with Peggy Arthur (Perdita Chandler)...

Plot Keywords:

Thief | Beautiful Woman

Cast

David Brian	...	Gerald Graham Dennis
Marjorie Reynolds	...	Martha Rollins
John Archer	...	Police Detective Lou Sampter
Jacqueline deWit	...	Mrs. Arthur Vinson
Perdita Chandler	...	Peggy Arthur
Stanley Church	...	Himself (mayor of New Rochelle)
Alix Talton	...	Brenda Hall (as Alice Talton)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Sweden:(Banned)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

One of 1950's Best --- Still Remembered in 2007

THE GREAT JEWEL ROBBER was released by Warner Bros as the bottom half of a double feature, an added attraction to the bicentennial documentary "50 Years Before Your Eyes." I saw it with my Dad at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC and still remember it and the lasting impression it made.

The summary on this site is honest but simply inadequate to the film's merits; the intensely convincing performance by David Brian as well as the unusual inclusion of a strong point-of view. What sticks in the mind is the jewel thief's absolute and irreversible commitment to his trade and lifestyle. The film wants you to understand that he sees no alternative at all to being a jewel thief any more than a leopard sees any alternative to being a hunter. Actually, changing the leopard's ways would be easier. The film wants you to revel somewhat in each clever success, and in association and deceit of high society people; but much more than that it wants you to appreciate the pain, misery and depression involved. Another time caught, another long prison sentence, another delay in returning to crime --- his joy in life.

Seeing this at age 12, did I then follow David Brian's lead and enter a life of crime? Not at all; the film was more of a dissuader than any other crime film. I also had strong religious training, the more important of the two.

I saw a Randolph Scott movie tonight with David Brian as the bad guy and The Great Jewel Robber was quickly remembered after 57 years. I can't recommend the movie, I suppose. Dismissed by Warners in 1950 as a B movie, I have no clue how you could see this movie, never seen it rerun, not one time.