Jewel Robbery
But I understand what it is for “Jewel Robbery”, which is comparable (actually inferior) to “Trouble in Paradise” on so many levels, but when it comes to the pre-Code controversy, I’d agree that it’s definitely more shocking than Lubitsch’s masterpiece. I have to say that I pretty much completely agree with Jonathan Rosenbaum’s comments on the film. I know that I might be overreacting to Roger Ebert’s almost mainstreamishly bad research these days, but I cannot say often enough how much I appreciate Jonathan Rosenbaum’s knowledge on films. I might have a hard time following his ideas because he cross-references too many films I have never seen, but he never pretends to know more than he does.
Apart from what Jonathan Rosenbaum has detailed out with many words, I personally think that no good review can possibly replace seeing. It reminds me of German novels. I noticed that in a lot of these novels, characters are described in great detail – how their eyes and ears are shaped, what kind of posture they take when they are sitting, but for some reason it’s never possible to have a clear image despite the seemingly accurate description. In the same way, JR’s article tells you many things, but there are so many more levels and aspects to a film which go beyond what you can say in a review or an essay, just like any description of a face cannot capture it in its complexity.
My favorite detail in “Jewel Robbery” was Kay Francis’s finger movement when her lover walked in and kissed her hand. She was coquetting with him (and literally everybody else there), making a “come here” move with one finger. It was quite splendid to look at, and I think I have never quite seen anything like that before. Everything else about the film was mostly raunchy fun (more than any graphic sex scene could do) and lots of marijuana. In that respect, it was quite special, but in most aspects, I’d say I totally prefer “Trouble in Paradise”, and I am fascinated by these pre-Code films. Is there any way a woman can look more sexy than this?
My desire for more jewel thief stories is now fulfilled, but I’ll gladly see another one if it falls into my hands.