Crackerjack (1938)
1h 16m | PG-13
London has become enthralled by the antics of the contemporary Robin Hood, but when a band of bad guys start framing him for their misdeeds, the hero has to catch the criminals and clear his name.
Director: Albert de Courville
Studio: Gainsborough Pictures
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Video: 720p
Cast
Tom Walls
as Jack Drake
Lilli Palmer
as Baroness Von Haltz
Noel Madison
as Sculpie
Leon M. Lion
as Hambro Golding
Edmund Breon
as Tony Davenport
Jack Lester
as Boyne
Reviews
This is quite an enjoyable "Raffles" style crime caper with Tom Walls as "Jack Drake" - a debonaire, sophisticated English gentleman who also happens to be a safe-cracking jewel thief who gives much of the proceeds of his antics to hospitals, children and other worthy causes. When someone else adopts his "Crackerjack" moniker to carry out some ingenious crimes of their own, he sets out to identify this fraudster - without giving away his own true identity. It's a bit of a farce, the humour is just a bit too predictable, but Lilli Palmer is quite good as the "Baroness" as is H.G. Stoker as the pursuing police superintendent "Benting". The script is fast paced, the direction - and nightclub musical numbers - keep it moving along well and there are just about enough red herrings to keep it interesting for an hour.