The Thieving Hand (1908)

A one-armed man obtains an artificial limb. The man cannot control his new arm, which steals from passers-by.

Stars:

Paul Panzer

Cast

Uncredited cast:
Paul Panzer	...	Man Buying Artificial Limb (uncredited)

Storyline

A one-armed street peddler notices that a well-to-do man has dropped his ring, and the peddler returns it to him. The wealthy man is very grateful, and to show his appreciation he takes the peddler to a 'Limb Store', where he pays for a new arm to be attached where his own is missing. But the man soon finds out that his new arm seems to have a will of its own, as it does some things that cause him considerable embarrassment.

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Plot Keywords:

ring | pawnbroker | new york city | amputee | prosthetic limb | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Short

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 February 1908 (USA)

Also Known As:

A tolvaj kéz

Filming Locations:

Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vitagraph Company of America

Technical Specs

Runtime:

5 min 5 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Print preserved by George Eastman House.

User Reviews

Dystopian Comedy

Amusing little fantasy about a man who buys an artificial arm and discovers it picks everyone's pocket. Blackton was a leading exponent of trick shots in early American films -- like Melies, he had been a stage magician, and the stop-motion effects are slickly done.