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7.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Jewel Robbery remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, it depends on how much you like William Powell being suave. If you enjoy 1930s charm and snappy dialogue, you'll have a blast. If you need a fast-paced thriller, you’ll probably find yourself checking your watch by the twenty-minute mark.
The whole thing feels like a stage play that someone forgot to take off the stage. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it doesn't try to change the world. Sometimes that's exactly what I need on a Tuesday.
William Powell plays the thief, and he’s clearly having the time of his life. He isn't sweating the robbery at all. He’s too busy trying to convince Kay Francis that being held at gunpoint is actually quite romantic.
The chemistry between them is weirdly relaxed. It’s like they both know the cops are incompetent, so why bother rushing? They just keep talking.
I found myself staring at the background extras in the jewelry shop scene. One of them is just standing there with a tray of pearls, looking like he’d rather be literally anywhere else. It’s the small, messy things that make these old films feel real.
It definitely lacks the grit you might see in The Whirlwind of Youth. There’s no real danger here, just a lot of tuxedoes and polite laughter. At one point, the pacing just stops entirely so a character can finish a cigarette. It’s bold, in a way.
The ending isn't exactly a surprise, but it feels earned because the movie never pretended to be anything other than a lighthearted romp. It reminded me a bit of the mood in The Primitive Lover, though it’s much sharper. Not a classic, maybe, but it’s got a pulse. 💎