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Raffles, the Amateur Detective
Also known as [Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman], [Raffles, the Gentleman Crook]
(1905) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 1050 feet
Directed by [?] J. Stuart Blackton?
Cast: Jimmy Sherry (J. Barney Sherry) [A.J. Raffles], Paula Dean (Paula Blackton)
The Vitagraph Company of America production; distributed by The Vitagraph Company of America. / © 23 August 1905 by The Vitagraph Company of America [H64825]. Released 23 September 1905. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / [?] Slide-Early p. 15 lists the title as The Adventures of Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman. [?] Bardèche-History p. ? lists the title as Raffles, the Gentleman Crook. [?] Blum-Silent p. 9 and Website-AFI list the film as directed by G.M. Anderson (Gilbert M. Anderson).
Drama: Crime.
Synopsis: [From Charles Urban promotional materials] Raffles and his pal Bunny are introduced to the audience in a close range portrait which shows them in animated conversation discussing some of their exploits. A lawn party is in progress at the residence of the rich Mrs. Vandergrist, and Raffles assisted by Bunny, is seen plying his profession and cleverly relieving the guests of their valuables. He extracts watches from the gentlemens pockets, politely relieves the ladies of their diamonds and jewelry, and then diverts suspicion to one of the waiters by placing his own watch in the waiter’s pocket, then raising an outcry that he has been robbed. Immediately several others discover that they too, have been robbed, and the luckless waiter, upon being searched, is found to have Mr. Raffles’ watch in his pocket and is, of course, believed to be the guilty party, and is hustled off by a burly policeman, while Raffles and Bunny slip away in the confusion. The guests are now leaving the lawn party, being driven away in carriages and automobiles. Raffles has marked for his next victims a prominent society couple, and proceeding to where their private carriage is waiting he throttles the coachman into insensibility and dresses himself in the coachman’s livery. He then boldly drives up to the house, and Bunny, his confederate, politely escorts the victims to the carriage. They drive away, and in a lonely portion of the road the carriage stops and its occupants find themselves looking down the barrel of a revolver held by a masked highwayman. Raffles quickly relieves them of their jewelry and valuables, the lady promptly faints, and the cracksman mounts to the box and drives away. Part 2: The cracksman and his pal are seen cautiously approaching a house which they intend to burglarize. Bunny scales a ladder, pries open the window, and hands out the “swag” to Raffles. A maid servant discovers them and gives the alarm, just as they are about to leave with their booty. A gardener and a footman suddenly appear around the corner of the house and a fierce struggle ensues in which Bunny is finally captured, but Raffles escapes. Running through the grounds, he hides behind some shrubbery and, opening his bag, brings forth a policeman’s helmet and uniform, which he rapidly dons, and then rushes back to the scene of action. Bunny is still struggling with his captors, who turn him over to the supposed policeman. Raffles directs them to alarm the household and drags Bunny away. When out of sight Raffles quickly removes his uniform, and they make their escape. Those who have read the Raffles stories will remember that Mr. Raffles moves in the very best society and is never for a moment suspected of being a highwayman. This scene shows him leaving one of the swell clubs of which he is a member, accompanied by a rich clubman. They part at the foot of the steps and Raffles, hastening around the block, quickly disguises himself and when the clubman approaches suddenly steps out from the doorway and, at the point of a revolver, relieves him of his watch, diamonds and spare cash, His victim, however, decides not to submit tamely to being robbed and is, therefore, promptly “knocked out” and, while he is lying insensible on the pavement, Raffles rapidly removes his disguise and calls for help. See comes up on a run and is directed down the street, while Raffles and a bystander assist the clubman into a conveyance. Part 3: A messenger is seen leaving a bank carrying a bag of money. Raffles and Bunny follow him, having previously prepared a bag of exactly similar size and appearance. Passing through a quiet street, they approach the bank messenger and Bunny roughly collides with him, throwing him to the ground. The bag falls from his grasp for an instant and Raffles deftly changes the bags, assisting the messenger to his feet and handing him the dummy bag, while Bunny gets away with the money as fast as his legs can carry him. The messenger, however, is suspicious and, opening the bag, discovers he has been duped. He raises a terrible outcry and starts after Raffles and Bunny, calling “Stop thief!” while a motley crowd follows behind. The fugitives are being hard pressed, so Raffles leads the chase after himself, while Bunny doubles down a side street and escapes. Raffles then rounds the corner and makes a lightning and sensational change in his appearance. The audience see him deftly transform himself into an old and decrepit looking man with a white beard, black glasses and a slouch hat. As the crowd, with the policeman at its head, surge around the corner they meet an infirm looking old gentleman who mumblingly tells them that the man they are chasing. has gone on down the street. They dash by and Raffles goes in the opposite direction, removing his disguise as he runs. Unfortunately he drops the white beard and the policeman, returning after a fruitless chase, finds it and realizes that he has been foiled. He immediately runs in the direction taken by Raffles and is just in time to see him letting himself into his apartments. The policeman telephones for assistance and they arrange to capture Raffles in his rooms. Raffles safely regains his apartments, thinking he has eluded his pursuers. He removes his hat and coat and is just lighting the inevitable cigarette when the door is burst open and he finds himself confronted by three stalwart policemen and the bank messenger. With his customary coolness he says, “Well, gentlemen, you have caught me at last,” and asks permission to put on his hat and coat signifying that he will go with them. Stepping forward to the hat rack he reaches for his garments and then with lightning-like; rapidity, darts into the door of the cupboard, which he slams behind him and securely fastens on the inside. he police try in vain to open the door and finally shatter the panels, smashing the door from its hinges. They dash through the opening and as they disappear, Raffles calmly steps out of the wardrobe, which is connected with the cupboard by a secret panel. Stopping long enough to pick up the bag of money which they, in their excitement have left on the floor, he waves them an ironical adieu and disappears through the door leading to the street.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Characters: A.J. Raffles
Listing updated: 14 December 2024.
References: AFI-F1 n. F1.3622; Bardèche-History pp. 31, 59; Blum-Silent p. 8; Hirschhorn-Universal p. 49; Pohle-Holmes p. 26; Robinson-Palace p. 125; Slide-BigV p. 172; Slide-Early p. 15; Steinbrunner-Encyclopedia p. 338 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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