Jewel Robbery

Released Jul 23, 1932

1h 8m

Comedy

List

80%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

68%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

Baroness Teri von Horhenfels (Kay Francis) deals with the tedium of her aristocratic life in Vienna with a long line of lovers. Her rich husband, Franz (Henry Kolker), seems not to notice. As she's just about to end her latest love affair, the baroness gets a much-needed dose of excitement when she becomes the target of a charismatic thief (William Powell). After staging a daring jewelry robbery, he makes off with the baroness's ring -- and her heart.

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Richard Brody

New Yorker

The erotic edge of looming danger, the sexual charge of a sure and confident touch, the thrilling distinction between true refinement and mere formality electrify this 1932 Hollywood drama ...

Apr 14, 2014

Full Review

Calum Marsh

Village Voice

Today, its potency persists undiminished: The film delights as more than mere escapism.

Mar 12, 2014

Full Review

Fedor Tot

Vague Visages

Underneath the light fleet-footed comic antics is a Cinema Rediscovered film that beckons the audience to cheer on Francis in all her adulterous behavior.

Jun 13, 2023

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...benefits from the affable efforts of its two stars...

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 20, 2023

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A poor imitation of Lubitsch's classic romance/comedy Trouble in Paradise.

Rated: C

Apr 14, 2003

Full Review

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Steve D

A lot of fun with Francis showing some surprise comedy chops.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/29/24

Full Review

Russ

Ordinarily, the pairing of the lovely Kay Francis and the debonair William Powell in a pre-Code B-movie quickie would be a formula for success. This was so far-fetched I gave it the Kibosh during the heist. It was just too silly and I'm not a fan of farces.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/30/23

Full Review

David K

William Powell and Kay Francis. What else can you say?

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/03/23

Full Review

Tom M

Powell and Francis make a perfect couple in this very funny romantic comedy.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/21

Full Review

paul h

Neat little movie, early on in the talking pictures era with Wm. Powell at his best, aided by lovely young Kay Francis as "the little rich girl' who falls for this jewel thief. Easy to watch and easy to enjoy. A flashy picture for its time period.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This film is entertaining enough and has its moments. Kay Francis plays a rich woman who enjoys being pampered by her servants and expensive jewelry from her husband. While she's at a jewelers picking up her latest bauble (a 28 carat diamond ring), William Powell strolls in with his crew to lead a very leisurely, dignified robbery. Naturally, the pair make goo-goo eyes at each other, and she's happy when he's not caught. One of the amusing little pre-code laughs is Powell doling out marijuana cigarettes, not referred to by name, but which after a few puffs leave those partaking to get quite silly (and Powell warning that they'll be hungry afterwards). There's also a fair bit of playful innuendo mixed in, one example of which is her friend telling her of a robbery in which a woman was "stripped right down to her teddies," and that if it happened to her, she would "let the train go on," because "When I'm travelling at the rate of 80 miles per hour, I'm not responsible for my actions." It's made clear that Francis has just broken off one affair, and she says she leads a boring, shallow life in which her schedule is "In the morning a cocktail. In the afternoon a man." And Powell all but propositions Francis when he wants to hide out in her bedroom for an evening, saying that in the morning they'll have a "secret behind them." It's all very light though, and while director William Dieterle creates a near Lubitschean feel in the playfulness of it all, there's something a bit awkward and off in the film's pacing, and the dynamic between Powell and Francis. They're certainly better together in 'One Way Passage' from the same year, but this one's passable.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

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William Dieterle

Director

William Powell

The Robber

Kay Francis

Baroness Teri

Helen Vinson

Marianne

Hardie Albright

Paul

Andre Luguet

Count Andre

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Synopsis

Baroness Teri von Horhenfels (Kay Francis) deals with the tedium of her aristocratic life in Vienna with a long line of lovers. Her rich husband, Franz (Henry Kolker), seems not to notice. As she's just about to end her latest love affair, the baroness gets a much-needed dose of excitement when she becomes the target of a charismatic thief (William Powell). After staging a daring jewelry robbery, he makes off with the baroness's ring -- and her heart.

Director: William Dieterle
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 23, 1932, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 11, 2017
Runtime: 1h 8m

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