Jewel Robbery (1932)

While a Viennese Baron is buying a diamond ring for his young wife (Kay Francis), the jeweler is robbed by a dashing jewel robber (William Powell). She is smitten and gets herself entangled in the affair.

Not a whole lot to this 68 minute romp but it is surprisingly charming and witty. It’s also loaded with pre-code banter. Powell (his character goes unnamed) offers cigarettes to his victims and we learn that they are something other than tobacco. Baroness Teri’s friend finds it scandalous that she is receiving a gift of jewelry from her own husband. The risque banter is almost non-stop.

Kay Francis was a pretty big star in the early thirties. When her box office began to teeter in the late 1930’s, she was relegated to lesser pictures or lesser roles. Her minor speech impediment didn’t help. She continued to work until the mid 1940’s then retired for good.

Jewel Robbery is a very by the numbers film. The rich woman falling for the suave jewel thief is almost a trope. I was half expecting that the story would go a step deeper and reveal a bigger twist, but it is what it is. The pre-code banter and Powell’s smooth performance, however, makes it memorable. AMRU 3.5.