The Rat

This early film featuring the imitable Anton Walbrook in the title role of jewel thief Jean Boucheron, aka The Rat is a well-paced drama based on the play by 1920’s matinee idol Ivor Novello and leading stage actress Constance Collier.

Boucheron (Walbrook), a notorious and very successful jewel thief finds himself in somewhat of an awkward position when one of his criminal friends – soon to be executed – asks him to take care of his daughter Odile (René Ray), a pretty but naïve young woman seemingly in her early twenties. This is quite a lot to ask of any man, let alone one of dubious character. However, from the very outset we know that Boucheron is no ordinary thief. The twinkle in Mr. Walbrook’s eye tells you that from the outset… and there is such a thing as honour amongst thieves. Apparently! Reluctantly he agrees to the noble deed and soon finds himself in the company of the well-meaning but unwittingly annoying Odile who irritates him with her domestic tidiness. The situation is made worse by the fact that Boucheron lives in a secret hideout above a seedy inn cum bordello. Things are about to change for Boucheron when some hoorays arrive at the inn, slumming it. One of them, the filthy rich society gal Zelia de Chaumont (Ruth Chatterton), takes an instant shine to our thief and he repays her in kind by attempting to burgle her luxurious apartment the following night. Being the kind of ‘adventurous’ girl that she is, she is only too delighted to catch him in the act and doesn’t mind at all in handing over her precious pearl necklace, a gift from her wealthy admirer Luis Stets (Hugh Miller). Despite his fondness for her she soon sends Stets packing as by now she has the hots for our anti-hero.

In a huff and a quirky twist of fate, Stets heads off to the said den of iniquity where ‘Madam’ Colline introduces him to the innocent Odile and she takes him up to Boucheron’s attic room. Stets, obviously thinking that Odile is an ‘employee’ of the bordello, is only too happy to offer her money to help her out of her predicament… in return for the usual favours. Meanwhile, Boucheron’s confidante Marguerite (Beatrix Lehmann) alerts him via phone call to the situation in hand and Boucheron rushes to the aid of Odile. Before he can reach his damsel in distress he slips on a roof-tile and falls to the ground. Odile’s screaming has alerted the ‘Madam’ and the local police and after knocking the door down they are confronted by Odile and a dead Stets who has been shot. The young woman is arrested and charged with murder. When Boucheron recovers consciousness he is informed by Marguerite of Odile’s unfortunate plight. As he has sworn to do everything he can to help Odile he feels he has no alternative but to claim responsibility for the death of the reprehensible Stets and does a damn good job in court in incriminating himself. However, he has reckoned without the aid of the redoubtable Zelia…

One cannot help but to be charmed by leading American actress Ruth Chatterton in the role of wily Zelia de Chaumont – a clever girl who knows what she wants and how to get it. Equally compelling are the facial expressions of British stage actress Beatrix Lehmann, while Walbrook makes for a convincing lead actor.
While his attic room succeeds in exuding a certain Parisian bohemian flair, most of the exterior shots are not overtly suggestive of Montmatre.

Part of the ‘British Film Collection’, THE RAT is a highly entertaining slice of drama from the late Thirties.