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The Musketeers of Pig Alley
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Wikipedia article
'The Musketeers of Pig Alley' is a 1912 American short drama and a gangster film. It is directed by D. W. Griffith and written by Griffith and Anita Loos. It is also credited for its early use of follow focus, a fundamental tool in cinematography.
The film was released on October 31, 1912 and re-released on November 5, 1915 in the United States. The film was shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey where many other early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based at the beginning of the 20th century. Location shots in New York City reportedly used actual street gang members as extras during the film.
It was also shown in Leeds Film Festival in November 2008, as part of 'Back to the Electric Palace', with live music by Gabriel Prokofiev, performed in partnership with Opera North.
In 2016, the film was added to the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Plot
The film is about a poor married couple living in New York City. The husband works as a musician and must often travel for work. When returning, his wallet is taken by a gangster. His wife goes to a ball where a man tries to drug her, but his attempt is stopped by the same man who robbed the husband. The two criminals become rivals, and a shootout ensues. The husband gets caught in the shootout and recognizes one of the men as the gangster who took his money. The husband sneaks his wallet back and the gangster goes to safety in the couple's apartment. Policemen track the gangster down but the wife gives him a false alibi.
Cast
* Elmer Booth Snapper Kid, Musketeers gang leader
* Lillian Gish The Little Lady
* Clara T. Bracy The Little Lady's Mother
* Walter Miller The Musician
* Alfred Paget Rival Gang Leader
* John T. Dillon Policeman
* Madge Kirby The Little Lady's Friend / In Alley
* Harry Carey Snapper's Sidekick
* Robert Harron Rival Gang Member / In Alley / At Gangster's Ball
* W. C. Robinson Rival Gang Member (as Spike Robinson)
* Adolph Lestina The Bartender / On Street
* Jack Pickford Boy Gang Member / At Dance Ball
'Uncredited':
*Gertrude Bambrick Girl at Dance
*Lionel Barrymore The Musician's Friend
*Kathleen Butler On Street / At Dance
*Christy Cabanne At Dance
*Donald Crisp Rival Gang Member
*Frank Evans At Dance
*Dorothy Gish Girl in Street
*Walter P. Lewis In Alley / At Dance
*Antonio Moreno Musketeers Gang Member / At Dance
* Marie Newton At Dance
*J. Waltham In Alley
Influence
In his book 'The Movie Stars', film historian Richard Griffith wrote of the scene where Lillian Gish passes another woman on the street (pictured):
In fact, the girl is Dorothy Gish, Lillian's sister.
In the 'Cold Case' episode Torn (Season 4.21) Lily sees the victim of a 1919 homicide in an homage to the scene of Lillian Gish passing another woman on the street (pictured).
See also
* Lionel Barrymore filmography
* Harry Carey filmography
* Lillian Gish filmography
* D. W. Griffith filmography
References
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