A Thief Catcher (1914)

Director:

Ford Sterling

Stars:

Ford Sterling, Charles Chaplin, William Hauber

Cast

Cast overview:
Ford Sterling	...	Suspicious John

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

formerly lost film

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Genres:

Short | Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 February 1914 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Keystone Film Company

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film historian Paul E. Gierucki discovered a 16mm print of this previously "lost" film in 2010. In a surprise, it contained Charles Chaplin in a bit part as a Keystone Kop.

User Reviews

Chaplin Caught

I was fortunate enough to be at Slapsticon 2010 where this unknown Chaplin picture -- removed from his filmography by BFI edict in 1938 -- was re-premiered. I would like to tell you of Chaplin's brilliance, but really, it is a fine Ford Sterling piece as the chief Keystone Kop in civvies, this time, takes his dog out for a run and gets waylaid by baddies Mack Swain and Edgar Kennedy. It's fine stuff if you enjoy Ford Sterling in snarling mode. I do.

Charlie is present as a cop on the beat who runs into the bad guys and is quickly driven off and he is unmistakable -- until his half-brother Syd showed up the following year, no one at Keystone moved like him and as the third film in which he had a role and the fourth released, there was no Chaplin mania and no imitators yet.

As a previously lost Chaplin it's an important film, but if you enjoy it, it won't be for Chaplin. But it's a good one nonetheless.