KING’S THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 181, 27 April 1940, Page 16

KING’S THEATRE

Opening op Scotland Yard greatly troubled by the activities of "The Amateur Cracksman,” “Baffles” is in the third week of a season at the King's Theatre. Valuables are being stolen, and turning up again unexpectedly with pleasant little cards from the cracksman; the Medici Venus, specially loaned for an art exhibition, disappears uncannily despite the many guards, and then, just when the Yard hierarchy is “passing the buck” down the ranks of policemen, it turns up on the commissioner's desk, brought in by an innocent, old. retired actress, who benefits - by the large reward offered for its return. When A. J. Baffles, famous cricketer and man-about-town —alias “The Amateur Cracksman” —falls in love witli Gwen, he decides— nothing definite, of course —to mend his ways; but the ways refuse to be mended. He commits .another robbery from a jewel store, with the pretty assistance of a kitten which sets off the burglar alarm for him. and goes down to Lord Melrose s place in the country for the weekend. He plays cricket for the villagers, and, generally, makes himself very popular and innocentseeming with everybody. Nemesis is comino- close behind, however. The xara has a"clue in the cigarette box in which the last lot of stolen jewels was returned. All this is very difficult for the reforming Baffles ; and when Gwen’s brother in the army confesses to gambling

looses of more than £lOOO, which will get him cashiered and disgraced unless he can repay by Monday, Raffles feels that he must'help his prospective brothernnlaw. Lady Melrose’s hideous but priceless'jewels provide the answer, bpt not an answer without risk. With a inspector not only on the doorstep but right inside the house, robbery is made difficult—though not impossible. After a tussle with an outside burglar, the loot is carried off. That was a had day for Raffles. Hasty work, and the drive of. desperation gives him away point by point to tlie canny man from the Yard. Ruffles is caught, trapped, and he knows it; but he gives the Yard a good run before he accepts tlie inevitable. David Niven is a worthy Raffles, and Olivia De Havilland a satisfactory Gwen.