(1932)
3
Craig Butler
When it debuted in 1932, the big news about Arsene Lupin was that it was the first screen pairing of the legendary Barrymore brothers. Modern audiences, who have had the chance to see them in several of their subsequent screen teamings, won't approach Arsene with the same sense of anticipation, but they'll likely find themselves quite entertained with the result, especially if they are fans of Raffles-type "gentleman thief" stories. The screenplay of Arsene is solid, setting up the situations with skill and making sure that all of the parts are in their proper places. The writers do a fine job of keeping the audience guessing as to the identity of the title character until more than halfway into the film and it is only in the climax that the viewer is really certain that his guess is right. Jack Conway directs efficiently, with an eye on atmosphere and tension but also making sure that the appropriate light moments are given equal play. And he is very careful to spotlight "the big show," i.e., the scenes in which John Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore share the screen and perform their own special brand of dramatic dueling. They're in beautiful form, sparring delightfully off of each other and giving their fans plenty to relish. All in all, Arsene is a treat for fans of light mystery entertainment.
cast-crew for Arsene Lupin on AllMovie
Arsene Lupin (1932)
