One of the rare Pre-Code films set in Europe, Jewel Robbery is the story of a Viennese lady (the mischievous Kay Francis) caught in the midst of a diabolical jewel heist by a gentleman thief, played by the ever-charming William Powell. Casually wreathing its characters in marijuana smoke and unabashedly mentioning their extramarital affairs, the Warner Brothers tagline for the film teased: ‘He stole her jewels…. but that’s not all!’
Francis, terminally bored by her older, wealthy husband, gets a rapturous glint in her eye at the thought of a scandal, never mind the dangerous flirtation with Powell that ensues. At a bite-sized 70 minutes, this heist caper is the kind of sultry amuse-bouche that leaves you wanting more in the best way.