Sob o Manto da Noite

Yep, that is the motto of jewel thief David Brian (Gerry) for any situations that may involve incarceration.

This is the story of real-life gentleman thief Gerald Dennis who burgled the wealthy and the famous and carried out a blitz in Hollywood that included stars such as Joan Crawford and Errol Flynn. When he was caught, police found a list of his next targets that included Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Ginger Rogers and Louis Mayer! He was prolific. I guess he just liked jewels and furs!

The film cracks on at a good pace and Brian is good in the lead role and convincing as a smooth conman who plays on his charms so that women let him into their confidence. We have episodes with five different women in this film, six if you count Cleo Moore as the blonde at the end when he gets caught.

Some people like windows and become window-makers. This guy liked jewels and furs, so he immersed himself in that particular industry. Let's face it, they are expensive!

He gets around, I'll give him that.

David Brian is The Great Jewel Robber, a 1950 film that begins with an intro from the real guy. Gerard Dennis was known as The Hollywood Raffles because he stole from big Hollywood stars.

Dennis (Brian) is in love, we think, with a young woman. At this point, he is in a Canadian prison farm. They plan to marry, but he complains she's not receiving his letters. The warden has a few choice words for him.

Gerard escapes and makes his way back to his one true love who gives him money and some jewelry. He leaves and says he'll return when he has what he needs for both of them to leave town.

Then he connects with his other true love, Peggy (Perdita Chandler) - more money for forged papers. This time Peggy, as big a worm as he is, and a bartender they plan on cheating, go to rob a house.

Dennis almost doesn't make it out of the place, and when he does, Peggy and the bartender are gone. Later, during a confrontation with him, he's badly beaten.

Later, confronting them, he is badly beaten and is taken to a hospital where he meets nurse Martha Rollins (Marjorie Reynolds). After three weeks under her care, it's love. She mistakenly tells him a story about a wealthy family. He immediately goes to rob the house and is shot.

Martha now knows the truth. She removes the bullet. He promises to go straight.

Right. And the pattern continues. He breaks hearts and breaks into safes.

I guess I should be more enthusiastic about this film. It's okay. Brian often played tough guys opposite women such as Joan Crawford. He had the physical presence and a tough voice.

The character is totally committed to a life of crime, and that's really all he cares about. The seduction is a means to an end. He's a clever escape artist, constantly bamboozling the police. In this film, it seemed easy to do!

It's 90 minutes, and it does hold interest.

When Gerry Dennis (David Brian) escapes from prison, everyone is hot on his trail. He gets money from his current girl, calls up an old girlfriend to pull more jobs, and even hooks up with a nurse when he gets injured. He must be a smooth operator. but he doesn't seem to learn his lesson, when a couple of con jobs go bad. Co-stars Marjorie Reynolds and John Archer. Story by Borden Chase, who had actually been a driver for the mob, probably giving him many fine story ideas. Directed by Peter Godfrey, a former bigshot in stage production before working in hollywood. Godfrey worked in some pretty big films, both as actor and later as director. the closing credits state that the mayor of New Rochelle actually played himself! This one is pretty plain and simple, no real surprises. as films and television always tells us, There is NO perfect crime !

Canadian thief Gerard Graham Dennis (David Brian) gets turned in by his girlfriend's angry father. He escapes from prison work detail and sneaks across the border. He makes a series of robberies stealing only jewelry and furs. Using many aliases, he charms the ladies and works with criminals. While he breaks into empty homes, he does get violent when the plans go wrong. He keeps moving until he reaches Beverly Hills. The police almost catches him, but he continues to be slippery.

I like the cross-country crime spree aspect and his charms with the ladies. I would like to play up his character's supposed leading man looks. I don't want to hate on David Brian, but this is geared up for a real matinee star playing with some gorgeous ladies. In the end, this is a lower budget affair that is hitting above its weight.

Watching The Great Jewel Robber I have to wonder why an A list actor like James Cagney or Humphrey Bogart didn't grab on to this story. David Brian did a great job as our protagonist but had either CAgney or Bogart did this one The Great Jewel Robber would be a classic.

Brian is a professional thief in every sense of the word. Stealing jewels and furs his is a professional attitude. He's one of the best in his trade and would prefer no violence, but is ready if needed. He also would prefer to work alone as you see in this film it's those he trusts are either cowardly, incompetent or treacherous.

Borden Chase best known for westerns Red River and Winchester 73 a couple of favorites of mine wrote the screenplay. Right up to the end Brian proves to be very clever, more lives than a cat. The last chase sequence is well done and well edited for suspense.

A really great product from Warner Brothers B picture unit.