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OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 1192

A Thief Catcher

191410 minUnited States
Comedy

Synopsis

A man with a camera accidentally photographs burglars dividing their loot. The discovery sends the thieves after him, and his flight ends inside their own hideout. A message carried by his dog brings a police rescue whose competence is far from assured.

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Video edition
Wikimedia Commons
Original language
No spoken dialogue. Intertitles: not identified.
This copy runs
10:18
Subtitles
No subtitle track in this language

No spoken dialogue. Intertitles: not identified. No subtitle track in this language.

Languages and subtitles

No subtitle track in this language

Wikimedia Commons · Ford Sterling · Public domain

Cast

DirectorsFord Sterling

Reception and legacy

The rediscovery of a print in 2010 revealed an overlooked appearance by Charlie Chaplin as a Keystone policeman. Ford Sterling leads the action in this early Sennett production.

Sources and availability

General references identify the work and its copy. A reference beside an editorial section is linked to the claims checked in that section.

Wikipedia — film referenceWikidata — film identity and credits

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

The public-domain references concern the original films in the United States. Rights can differ for other countries, editions, restorations, music or translations. Sources are listed on each film page.

Availability checked on September 15, 2026.

Photograph credit

Photographs cropped, resized and optimized as WebP, displayed in monochrome.

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