This circumstance he uses to his advantage in his secret career as "The Amateur Cracksman", a master burglar and safecracker who remains always one step ahead of Scotland Yard.

When Bunny confides a crushing gambling debt over which he is considering suicide, Raffles assures him the money can be obtained.

The plot takes inspiration from the 1898 short story "Gentlemen and Players," in its inclusion of Inspector Mackenzie, a country house setting, and the centrality of a necklace theft.

[1] Sidney Howard was given credit as co-author of the screenplay with John Van Druten, due to his having been the writer of the 1930 version.

[3] Olivia de Havilland, under contract with Warner Brothers at the time, was "lent" to Goldwyn for the film in April 1939.