''The Burglar'' is a 1917 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Harley Knoles Harry Knoles (1880-1936) was a British film director of the silent era. Selected filmography * ''The Greater Will'' (1915) * ''The Master Hand'' (1915) * ''Bought and Paid For (1916 film), Bought and Paid For'' (1916) * ''His Brother's Wife (191 ...

and starring

Carlyle Blackwell Carlyle Blackwell (January 20, 1884 – June 17, 1955) was an American silent film actor, film director, director and film producer, producer. Early years Blackwell was born in Troy, Pennsylvania. He studied at Cornell University before J. Stewa ...

Madge Evans Madge Evans (born Margherita Harrison Evans; July 1, 1909 – April 26, 1981) was an American stage, film, radio, and television actress.Obituary '' Variety'', April 29, 1981. She began her career as a child performer and model. Biography C ...

and

Evelyn Greeley Evelyn Greeley (1888–1975) was a prominent actress in silent films. She appeared in approximately 30 films from 1915 to 1922. Early life and education Evelyn Greeley was born on November 3, 1888, in Austria.1900 U.S. Census - Emily Mahorko ...

Plot summary

As a prank, college student William Lewis and some of his friends, including Sid Burns, break into a house. They have a party using the wines in the cellar. They are interrupted by a police, who is accidentally shot. Sid accuses Will of shooting the police officer. Will leaves town to escape, and moves to a big city where he meets and falls in love with Alice Hammond. The pair marry and have a daughter and Will settles into life as a bank teller. But one day Sid arrives into the city and threatens to expose Will's past, unless Will helps him with a bank robbery. Scared, Will opens the safe for Sid. But a police officer comes in. Sid states Will put him up to the robbery and tells him about Will's past. Will is tried and sentenced to twenty years in jail. During that time, he tries to escape and succeeds, although the guards think they have shot him as he attempted to flee, and report to his wife Alice that he has died. Time passes, Alice marries Paul Benton, a journalist and one-time rival of Will's for Alice's love. They move to a new area. Will, who escaped jail, has turned to burglary to survive. One night, he unwittingly breaks into Alice and Paul's home and is interrupted in his burglary by his daughter Editha. The girl says she will give Will her possessions if he leaves. One item is a locket with a picture of Alice in. Will realises who Editha is and hugs her. Paul and Alice hear the noise and come down stairs. Alice is shocked to find her husband is alive. Will leaves the house but is spotted by a police officer who shoots him. In the ensuing scene it is discovered that Sid had admitted he shot the police officer and Will was found to be innocent. Will is vindicated and hugs his daughter before succumbing to his wound and dies.

Cast

as William Lewis *

as Editha *

as Alice Hamilton * Harry Lamont as Sid Burns * Richard Clarke as William's Father * Justine Cutting as William's Stepmother *

Rosina Henley Rosina Henley (November 18, 1890 - July 5, 1978) was an American actress and screenwriter active during Hollywood's silent era. She was married to British film director Harley Knoles, with whom she frequently collaborated. Biography Rosina Tom ...

as Fanny Hamilton * Frank Mayo as Paul Benton * Victor Kennard as Ned Hamilton * Jack Drumier as John Hamilton * Henry Drehle as Rural Policeman

References

Bibliography

External links

* * * 1917 films 1917 drama films 1910s English-language films American silent feature films Silent American drama films Films directed by Harley Knoles American black-and-white films World Film Company films 1910s American films English-language drama films {{1910s-drama-film-stub