In Search of the Gentleman Thief

One of my favourite literary stock characters is that of the “gentleman thief.” The recent release of Lupin on Netflix shows that there are many others who are equally charmed by the concept. Who doesn’t love the idea of an outlaw, living by his own specific rules and meting out justice in a way that cuts the wealthy and powerful down to size.

Created by Maurice LeBlanc, the original Lupin was a product of early twentieth century France, providing us with a picture of life before there were world wars and atomic bombs to plague our nightmares. The world was starting to shed its taste for empire building and was awakening to a new century of possibility, opportunity and innovation. It’s remarkable how some of these stories could be adapted so well to our contemporary reality, especially as we all seek distractions from the reality of pandemic disease and economic uncertainty.

These are times when people need escapist adventure and heroes who aren’t afraid to break a few rules to get things done. If you liked Lupin, I encourage you, dear reader, to consider some other stories, thankfully all available for home viewing on one channel or another.

The Silent Partner (1978)

As a Canadian, I have to recommend The Silent Partner. Funded by investors seeking to take advantage of Canadian government tax shelter credits, the film is better than it has to be — tightly plotted, and full of surprises and quirky performances. It’s the story of a bank clerk (Elliot Gould) who outsmarts a bank robber (a malevolent Christopher Plummer), ripping him off during a bank heist. The ensuing cat-and-mouse game between the two characters is gripping (and bloody) enough, but the story ultimately revolves around the performances of the two gentlemen who have their own ideas of what a good thief is. We can imagine which side Lupin might choose.

Bonus - this movie features a very young John Candy as a bank employee!

Thief (1980)

I also think that it’s time for many of us to take a second look at Thief (1980) starring James Caan as a safe-cracker pulling one last job before he tries to start a family. Even when events spin out his control, he sticks by the discipline and codes that made him a success. This early Michael Mann film has the Neo-noir moodiness and tone that characterizes his later work. It’s worth watching for that reason alone for fans of Miami Vice, Manhunter and Heat. For me, though, it’s Caan’s hard-nosed and uncompromising commitment to his principles and the people he loves that makes the movie a joy to watch. In my mind, It also makes him the epitome of a “gentleman thief.”

There are countless stories and characters in this vein who might capture one’s imagination from Robin Hood to Zorro to A.J. Raffles and on. For me, I am going to check out Liam Neeson’s take on the genre next. His 2020 film, Honest Thief, looks like it might fit the bill. I might also take a look at some other classics in the genre - the elegant Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief comes to mind. If I’m looking for laughs, this might be a good time to watch the entire Pink Panther series (including the Steve Martin remake) from the beginning.

Once you have reviewed some of the above entertainment options on screen, I encourage you to consider reading the original in book form. I was first introduced to Lupin through Penguin Classics and many of the above titles are literary adaptations. Once you get a taste of the digital versions of some of these stories, you may just want to sit down for a full meal.