Too Many Crooks (1927)

Celia Mason, the only daughter of a retired banker, discusses with Marshall Stone, the family lawyer, a crook drama she has just seen and maintains she can write a better one herself. Stone puts her in touch with John Barton (actually the author of the play), who supplies bad men on demand. Celia asks him to invite a group of crooks as guests at her house party. Within 24 hours, Fast Hands Foster has stolen 3 suitcases of jewelry; Frisco Flora has vamped 15 millionaires and obtained material for an equal number of blackmail suits; and Coxey the Con-man has sold most of the neighboring homes to "fall guys." Celia is amazed to learn they believe her to be an accomplice, but Barton removes the loot from her safe before the crooks abscond with it. Learning Barton's true calling, Celia is relieved.