A Thief Catcher Directed By Ford Sterling

A Thief Catcher Directed byFord SterlingProduced byMack SennettStarringFord Sterling Mack Swain Edgar Kennedy Charles ChaplinDistributed byKeystone StudiosRelease date February 19, 1914 Running time1 reel c. 7 min, 35 secCountryUnited StatesLanguagesSilent film English (Original titles) A Thief Catcher is a one-reel 1914 American comedy film, produced by Mack Sennett for his Keystone film company, directed by Ford Sterling,[1] and starring Sterling, Mack Swain, Edgar Kennedy, and Charles Chaplin[2][3] as a Keystone Cop. PlotThree armed burglars stop atop an embankment to divide the loot from a recent crime. When one of the men complains about how the shares are split, a fight erupts. The complainer is eventually pushed over the embankment by the other two thieves. By chance, a police chief (Ford Sterling) who was out with his dog and his camera, takes a photo of the burglars. They spot him and pursue him. Eventually the police chief flees unknowingly to a barn which the burglars have been using as their hideout. The police chief appears to be cornered in the barn but he dispatches a note with his dog who takes it to police headquarters. The bumbling police force arrives and eventually captures the burglars, but not without considerable difficulty. The Thief Catcher (1914) with Charlie Chaplin (left) as a Keystone Cop CastFord Sterling: ChiefCharles Chaplin: Policeman (uncredited)William Hauber: Policeman (uncredited)George Jeske: Policeman (uncredited)Edgar Kennedy: Crook (uncredited)Rube Miller: Policeman (uncredited)Mack Swain: Crook (uncredited) Preservation statusThe film was believed lost, and Chaplin's appearance was unknown, until a vintage 16mm print was discovered by director/film historian Paul E. Gierucki in 2010 at a Michigan antique sale.[4][5] Chaplin had stated in interviews that he had played a bit-role as a policeman while at Keystone Studios.[6] References1 Allen, Nick (July 16, 2010). "Long lost Charlie Chaplin film found at antiques fair". The Daily Telegraph. 2 Larotonda, Matthew (July 18, 2010). "Lost Charlie Chaplin Silent Film Re-Debuts 96 Years Later at Virginia Movie Festival". ABC News. 3 Zongker, Brett (July 15, 2010). "Long-Lost Chaplin Film to Debut at Va. Festival". The Associated Press. 4 Brunsting, Joshua (June 8, 2010). "Charlie Chaplin Film Found At An Antique Sale, Once Thought Lost". The Criterion Cast. Retrieved June 9, 2010. 5 "Progressive Silent Film List: A Thief Catcher". Silent Era. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 6 "Cinecon 46: Lost Chaplin Film". cinecon.org. Archived from the original on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-10. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Director

Ford Sterling