A Thief Catcher

{{Infobox film

|name= A Thief Catcher

|image= A Thief Catcher (1914).webm

|caption= full film

|director= Ford Sterling

|producer= Mack Sennett

|writer=

|starring= Ford Sterling
Mack Swain
Edgar Kennedy
Charles Chaplin

|music=

|cinematography=

|editing=

|distributor= Keystone Studios

|released= {{film date|1914|2|19}}

|runtime= 1 reel
c. 7 min, 35 sec

|language= Silent film
English (Original titles)

|country= United States

|budget=

}}

A Thief Catcher is a one-reel 1914 American comedy film, produced by Mack Sennett for his Keystone film company, directed by Ford Sterling,{{Cite news | last = Allen | first = Nick | title = Long lost Charlie Chaplin film found at antiques fair | newspaper = The Daily Telegraph | date = July 16, 2010 | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7894001/Long-lost-Charlie-Chaplin-film-found-at-antiques-fair.html }} and starring Sterling, Mack Swain, Edgar Kennedy, and Charles Chaplin{{Cite news | last = Larotonda | first = Matthew | title = Lost Charlie Chaplin Silent Film Re-Debuts 96 Years Later at Virginia Movie Festival | newspaper = ABC News | date = July 18, 2010 | url = https://abcnews.go.com/WN/lost-charlie-chaplin-silent-film-thief-catcher-debuts/story?id=11193421 }}{{Cite news | last = Zongker | first = Brett | title = Long-Lost Chaplin Film to Debut at Va. Festival | newspaper = The Associated Press | date = July 15, 2010 | url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128537883 }} as a Keystone Cop.

Plot

Three 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.

File:A Thief Catcher.jpg

Cast

Ford Sterling: Chief
Charles Chaplin: Policeman (uncredited)
William Hauber: Policeman (uncredited)
George Jeske: Policeman (uncredited)
Edgar Kennedy: Crook (uncredited)
Rube Miller: Policeman (uncredited)
Mack Swain: Crook (uncredited)

Preservation status

The 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.{{cite web |url=http://criterioncast.com/2010/06/08/charlie-chaplin-film-found-at-an-antique-sale-once-thought-lost/ |title=Charlie Chaplin Film Found At An Antique Sale, Once Thought Lost |first=Joshua |last=Brunsting |publisher=The Criterion Cast |date=June 8, 2010 |accessdate=June 9, 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/T/ThiefCatcher1914.html |title=Progressive Silent Film List: A Thief Catcher |accessdate=2010-06-10|work=Silent Era}} Chaplin had stated in interviews that he had played a bit-role as a policeman while at Keystone Studios.{{cite web |url=http://www.cinecon.org/cinecon_chaplinfilm.html |title=Cinecon 46: Lost Chaplin Film |accessdate=2010-08-10|work=cinecon.org| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100801191102/http://www.cinecon.org/cinecon_chaplinfilm.html| archivedate= 1 August 2010 | url-status= live}}