I Am a Thief (1934)

A variety of suspicious characters try to get their hands on a priceless diamond necklace aboard the Orient Express.

Director:

Robert Florey

Writers:

Ralph Block (story), Doris Malloy (story)

Stars:

Mary Astor, Ricardo Cortez, Dudley Digges

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Mary Astor	...	Odette Mauclair
Ricardo Cortez	...	Pierre Londais
Dudley Digges	...	Colonel Jackson
Robert Barrat	...	Otto 'Baron' Von Kampf
Irving Pichel	...	Count Trentini
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Daudet
Arthur Aylesworth	...	Francois
Ferdinand Gottschalk	...	M. Cassiet
Florence Fair	...	Mme. Cassiet
Frank Reicher	...	Max Bolen
John Wray	...	Antonio Porricci
Oscar Apfel	...	Auctioneer

Storyline

An insurance company hurt by a string of jewel thefts decides to smoke out the international community of thieves by putting the priceless Karenina diamond necklace up for auction. There are many interested parties, but jewel dealer Pierre Londais ultimately wins the bidding. Among the suspicious characters interested in the diamonds are a young woman named Odette Mauclair, a wealthy American named Colonel Jackson, and the mysterious Baron Von Kampf. There are robbery attempts at Londais's Paris hotel and later aboard the train to Istanbul. When the diamonds go missing, everyone aboard the train is a suspect.

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Plot Keywords:

diamond | necklace | train | robbery | orient express | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Russian

Release Date:

24 November 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ladrões Internacionais

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

64 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The idea of setting the film on the Orient Express may well have been inspired by Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express," which was published earlier that year.

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Goofs

Istanbul is misspelled as "Istambul" on the train's destination board.

User Reviews

Chic and Amusing

Mary Astor never gave a bad performance. From ingénues to the understanding romantic friend in the great "Dodsworth" to her supreme triumph in "The Great Lie" ... To -- Well, "The Matese Falcon" is not far from this movie's story. Then she became Judy Garland's mother in "Meet Me In St. Louis" and went on to play older-woman roles through the 1950s.

She is elegant and a little shady here. Ricardo Cortez was never a major star but he was always good to watch, as well. Together, they make this movie.

Now, if you want a truly sublime movie about jewel thieves, I direct you to "Desire." Marlene is her usual bawdy self and Cary Cooper shows a surprising and delightful gift for comedy.

This one will do, though. The supporting cast is a little lackluster. The stars have to keep it going on their own. But it's a romantic mystery. And the mystery keeps us wondering till the end.