Ever since the 13th century legend of Robin Hood surfaced, writers have created various good thieves as heroes. "The Adventures of Robin Hood" was first made as a 1922 silent film and then in a 1938 technicolor sound movie that is a classic today. That swashbuckler starred Erol Flynn and Olivia de Haviland and was set in the early Middle Ages.
"The Man With 100 Faces" film is a modern rendition, also set in England. It is based on a 1926 novel by William B.M. Ferguson, "Other Folks' Money: an adventure story." As the mythical Robin Hood before him, "Crackerjack" robs from the rich to help the poor. Only, the real person known as Crackerjack isn't known. And, the Sherwood Forest where the thievery takes places in this film is the world of the wealthy and high society of London.
Tom Walls stars as Jack Drake, aka "Crackerjack," known as such only by his personal secretary, Burdge (played by Charles Heslop), and a couple of other characters who are mostly out of sight except when needed. One can't help thinking that the Batman comic stories seem to have similar characters - masks that hide real identities, only a choice few in on the real people, and heroes for justice. Of course the hero there is independently wealthy.
Jack Drake has been taking from the wealthy for the benefit of the needy and good causes. After some years, he writes a book about his exploits. The best seller earns him considerable "honest" money on which to live - for a time. But, as he continues to give to good causes, he must once again resort to relieving the rich of some of their surplus.
Lili Palmer plays the love of Drake's life, Baroness Von Haltz. The film has a sizable cast of characters, many with substantial roles. All perform very well. Walls is particularly interesting to watch for his different disguises. He is excellent in each of his different roles. A mark of the superb makeup as well as his acting, is that one can barely tell that it is Walls under those disguises. But for the sake of the audience, he makes one or two gestures to convince viewers that this isn't a stand-in or double.
For a very early sound film, this one has quite good quality. It's an interesting story that has some nice scenes of the culture and social landscape of London just before World War II. This is a very good comedy mystery that those who like old films especially should enjoy.
Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Sculpie, after Jack Drake knocks out Benting of Scotland Yard during the airplane heist, "Thanks, brother. What's the big idea?" Jack Drake, "Well, I thought he might prefer a headache to lead."
Superintendent Benting, "From now on, every crime in the country will be attributed to Crackerjack."
Superintendent Benting, "Don't forget to let me know if you get on the trail of Crackerjack." Baroness Von Haltz, "Why should I do your work for you?" Benting, "Because, it's a woman's job, not a policeman's."
Jack Drake, "You've hit on the two reasons that are keeping me here. Firstly, the infernal woman you mentioned. And secondly, I dislike having my nice clean charitable robberies messed up by a lot of murdering swine. I'm gonna put those gangsters out of business." Burdge, "How?" Drake, "I haven't the faintest idea."
Hambro Golding, "You're a very clever young woman." Baroness Von Haltz, "You're the second person within the last hour who has told me that this is a woman's job."
Baroness Von Haltz, "The only way you'll meet that man is to catch him on a job."
Hambro Golding, "Many problems, my dear, have been solved by a woman's intuition."
Jack Drake, to Burdge, "You ought to know by now, that where the baroness Is concerned, you matter very little."
"The Man With 100 Faces" film is a modern rendition, also set in England. It is based on a 1926 novel by William B.M. Ferguson, "Other Folks' Money: an adventure story." As the mythical Robin Hood before him, "Crackerjack" robs from the rich to help the poor. Only, the real person known as Crackerjack isn't known. And, the Sherwood Forest where the thievery takes places in this film is the world of the wealthy and high society of London.
Tom Walls stars as Jack Drake, aka "Crackerjack," known as such only by his personal secretary, Burdge (played by Charles Heslop), and a couple of other characters who are mostly out of sight except when needed. One can't help thinking that the Batman comic stories seem to have similar characters - masks that hide real identities, only a choice few in on the real people, and heroes for justice. Of course the hero there is independently wealthy.
Jack Drake has been taking from the wealthy for the benefit of the needy and good causes. After some years, he writes a book about his exploits. The best seller earns him considerable "honest" money on which to live - for a time. But, as he continues to give to good causes, he must once again resort to relieving the rich of some of their surplus.
Lili Palmer plays the love of Drake's life, Baroness Von Haltz. The film has a sizable cast of characters, many with substantial roles. All perform very well. Walls is particularly interesting to watch for his different disguises. He is excellent in each of his different roles. A mark of the superb makeup as well as his acting, is that one can barely tell that it is Walls under those disguises. But for the sake of the audience, he makes one or two gestures to convince viewers that this isn't a stand-in or double.
For a very early sound film, this one has quite good quality. It's an interesting story that has some nice scenes of the culture and social landscape of London just before World War II. This is a very good comedy mystery that those who like old films especially should enjoy.
Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Sculpie, after Jack Drake knocks out Benting of Scotland Yard during the airplane heist, "Thanks, brother. What's the big idea?" Jack Drake, "Well, I thought he might prefer a headache to lead."
Superintendent Benting, "From now on, every crime in the country will be attributed to Crackerjack."
Superintendent Benting, "Don't forget to let me know if you get on the trail of Crackerjack." Baroness Von Haltz, "Why should I do your work for you?" Benting, "Because, it's a woman's job, not a policeman's."
Jack Drake, "You've hit on the two reasons that are keeping me here. Firstly, the infernal woman you mentioned. And secondly, I dislike having my nice clean charitable robberies messed up by a lot of murdering swine. I'm gonna put those gangsters out of business." Burdge, "How?" Drake, "I haven't the faintest idea."
Hambro Golding, "You're a very clever young woman." Baroness Von Haltz, "You're the second person within the last hour who has told me that this is a woman's job."
Baroness Von Haltz, "The only way you'll meet that man is to catch him on a job."
Hambro Golding, "Many problems, my dear, have been solved by a woman's intuition."
Jack Drake, to Burdge, "You ought to know by now, that where the baroness Is concerned, you matter very little."