GREAT DETECTIVES & PEOPLE OF MYSTERY #5

A. J. RAFFLES

 Raffles was the greatest "cracksman" in the literature of rogues.  For the uninitiated, as I was, "cracksman" is an archaic term that means burglar or safecracker.  Raffles could have succeeded at any career but he chose a life of crime.  Once, penniless and desperate in Australia, he realized that his only salvation was to steal.  He had intended that the robbery would be his only such experience, but he had "tasted blood" and loved it.  "Why settle down to some humdrum, uncongenial billet." he once asked Bunny Manders, his devoted companion, "when excitement, romance, danger and a decent living were all going begging together?  Of course, it's very wrong, but we can't all be moralists, and the distribution of wealth is very wrong to begin with."

In England his fame as one of the finest cricket players in the world, combined with his charming personality, brilliant wit, and remarkably handsome appearance, made him a welcome guest at the homes of the country's wealthiest families.  He is comfortable in these surroundings, wearing evening clothes as if he were born in them, and is delighted to make the acquaintance of owners of fabulous fortunes.  Raffles is described as having piercing steel-blue eyes, curly black hair, pale skin, an athletic build, a strong unscrupulous mouth, and was always clean shaven.  He was constantly lifting jewels from the undeserving as he literally outclassed his criminal rivals and frustrated his nemesis, the dour Inspector Mackenzie.

No criminal could match Raffles for courage and the ability to stay cool under the most difficult circumstances.  In fact, he seemed to relish situations that would unnerve many men, enjoying the thrill of the sport as much as the reward that awaits behind the door of a safe.  He plans most of his escapades down to the finest detail, but he is also capable of acting on the spur of the moment and pulling off a crime almost as a joke.  Although he sometimes steals merely for sport, he usually has a motive - to help a needy friend, to keep the creditors from his door, or to right a wrong that the law was unable to handle.  Raffles lives alone in expensive rooms in the Albany with his friend Bunny Manders just a short distance away.  He has expensive tastes, such as smoking Sullivan cigarettes.  Living by his wits and skill as a thief, he seems quite happy with his hedonistic life of absolute luxury.

Raffles first appeared in a series of stories published in The Strand magazine.  The fixed point in all of the stories is Bunny, Raffles' former schoolmate who, in those days, had idolized "A. J.".  When he and Raffles meet again as adults, Bunny has attempted suicide to avoid financial disgrace.  Raffles saves his life and steals enough to get Bunny out of debt, earning his undying devotion in the process.  Bunny hates the illegal life and often tries to dissuade his friend from committing a crime, but once involved he is fearless and loyal.  Bunny is typically English in appearance and is less than brilliant, but his journalistic background enables him to chronicle Raffles' adventures in a lively style.  He becomes Raffles' "Watson-like" sidekick.

This is the Raffles who appeared in three short story collections and one novel by Ernest William Hornung.  Born in Middlesborough, Yorkshire, in 1866, Hornung suffered from poor health and at age 18 moved to Australia in hopes that the climate would be beneficial.  He remained there less than three years but absorbed the physical surroundings and atmosphere, using them as the background for many books.  When he returned to England he married Constance Doyle, the sister of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes.  It was this association that inspired Hornung to create Raffles.  He never enjoyed full health but served in World War I anyway.  Hornung's only son Oscar (his real name was Arthur for his uncle and godfather) also served in the war and was killed by a shell in France.  Shortly after the war Hornung accompanied his wife to Saint-Jean-de-Luz and contracted a fatal chill.  He died in 1921.  The Raffles books by E. W. Hornung were:

1899 "The Amateur Cracksman" (s.s.); 1901 "The Black Mask" (s.s.) - U.S. title "Raffles: Further Adventures of the Amateur Cracksman"; 1905 "A Thief in the Night" (s.s.), concludes with Raffles redeeming his misdeeds by dying in the service of his country during the Boer War; 1909 "Mr. Justice Raffles", the only novel.

A somewhat different Raffles appeared on the scene in 1932 when mystery writer Barry Perowne revived the gentleman thief, by agreement with the Hornung estate, as a contemporary two-fisted adventurer in a long series for The Thriller a popular British magazine.  WWII ended the life of the magazine and, temporarily, of Raffles.  Beginning in 1950 Perowne again wrote tales of the amateur cracksman for Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and The Saint Mystery Magazine, only this time the adventures occurred in the late Victorian/early Edwardian times in which they belonged.  Here too Raffles pursues a hedonistic way of life, but he is now more socially aware.  He commits crimes primarily to correct injustices and personal profit is a secondary motivation.  His ethical standards are a little higher than they were when Hornung recounted his exploits.  The Raffles books by Barry Perowne were:

1933 "Raffles After Dark" - U.S. title "The Return of Raffles"; 1934 "Raffles in Pursuit"; 1934 "Raffles under Sentence" (s.s.); 1936 "She Married Raffles"; 1937 "Raffles vs. Sexton Blake"; 1939 "The A. R. P. Mystery"; 1939 "They Hang Them in Gibraltar"; 1940 "Raffles and the Key Man"; 1974 "Raffles Revisited: New Adventures of a Famous Gentleman Crook" (s.s.); 1976 "Raffles of the Albany" (s.s.); 1979 "Raffles of the M. C. C." (s.s.).

PLAYS

Creator E. W. Hornung collaborated with Eugene Presbrey on a successful drama "Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman: A Play in Four Acts".  It opened on Broadway at the Princess Theater on October 27, 1903 with handsome matinee idol Kyrle Bellew in the lead role.  The show had a successful run of 168 performances.  The play opened in London on May 12, 1906 with Gerald du Maurier and in Paris in 1907 with Andre Brule.  Eille Norwood played Raffles in a 1909 touring version.  Hornung collaborated with Charles Sansom on a second play "A Visit From Raffles" in 1909 with actor H. A. Saintsbury as Raffles.  Graham Greene wrote a comedy "The Return of A. J. Raffles" that was produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, opening in London in December 1975 with Denholm Elliott as Raffles.

FILMS

Raffles' first appearance in film was in a 1905 American short starring J. Barney Sherry, and the gentleman thief was featured in Danish and Italian serials in 1911.  Reggie Morris played Raffles in the 1913 film "The Van Nostrand Tiara".  The great John Barrymore portrayed him in 1917 in "Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman" produced by Hiller-Wilk.  Gaston Quiribet directed the 1921 film "Mr. Justice Raffles" that starred Gerald Ames as Raffles and Lionel Watts as Bunny.  Universal released "Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman" in 1925, directed by King Baggot with House Peters as Raffles "a gentleman by birth" who takes only from the rich.  Freeman Wood played Bunny.

"Raffles" United Artists, 1930.  Ronald Colman (Raffles), Kay Francis, Bramwell Fletcher (Bunny), David Torrence (Inspector Mackenzie), Alison Skipworth.  Directed by George Fitzmaurice.  Based on the 1903 play by Hornung & Presbrey.  Raffles promises to reform but a dear friend comes to him for aid.  He needs a large amount of money in a hurry and the only answer is for Raffles to steal a necklace during a country weekend party.

"The Return of Raffles" Williams & Pritchard (UK), 1932.  George Barraud (Raffles), Camilla Horn, Claud Allister (Bunny).  Directed by Mansfield Markham.  Based on the play by Hornung & Presbrey.  Again reformed, Raffles attends a house party where he is framed for the theft of a necklace actually stolen by a gang.

"Raffles" United Artists, 1940.  David Niven (Raffles), Olivia de Havilland, Douglas Walton (Bunny), Dame May Whitty, Dudley Digges (Mackenzie).  Directed by Sam Wood.  Based on the Hornung & Presbrey play.  At the now familiar weekend party Raffles agrees to steal a necklace to help the brother of the girl he loves, but a gang beats him to it.

Rafael Bertrand played a Mexican version of the character in the 1958 Spanish-language film.

RADIO

Frederic Worlock starred in the 1934 "Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman" that aired on CBS.  Malcolm Graeme played Raffles in an adaptation of the story "Ides of March", December 9, 1941, on the BBC.  Horace Braham was Raffles in several CBS productions that aired 1942-1945.  Frank Allenby played Raffles in 6 episodes on the BBC that aired December 3, 1945 to January 14, 1946.  Austin Trevor starred in "Mr. Justice Raffles" on the BBC on February 8, 1964.  The BBC also produced a drama series 1985-1993 with Jeremy Clyde in the lead role.  John Armstrong is "Raffles, the Gentleman Thief" on American radio 2004-present.

TELEVISION

In 1973 Hammer Film Studios announced that its entry into television production would include a series based on Raffles that would be set in the turn-of-the-century era.  A pilot, "Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman", did not air on the BBC until 1975 and I'm uncertain if this was the proposed Hammer project.  Anthony Valentine played Raffles, Christopher Strauli was Bunny, and James Maxwell portrayed Mackenzie.  A 13-episode series with the same cast did not air until 1977.  In a 1991 episode of "Sherlock Holmes: The Golden Years", a TV miniseries, Alan Coates played Raffles hiding out in Africa after faking his death and involved with Lillie Langtry (Jenny Seagrove).  Raffles is uncharacteristically innocent of all wrongdoing for once and rescued by Holmes (Christopher Lee) from an unjust charge.  Nigel Havers last portrayed Raffles in a 2001 TV film "Gentleman Thief" that aired June 24 on the BBC.