How They Rob Men in Chicago

Plot

In this early silent comedy short, an elderly gentleman walking down a city street becomes the target of a cunning highwayman in Chicago. The thug brutally sandbags the unsuspecting victim, knocking him unconscious before proceeding to rob him of his valuables. In a moment of comedic carelessness, the robber accidentally leaves some money behind on the victim's prostrate body. Just as the criminal makes his escape, a policeman arrives on the scene, discovering both the victim and the overlooked cash, setting up the film's humorous resolution to this burlesque take on urban crime.

Historical Background

This film was created during a pivotal moment in cinematic history, the year 1900, when motion pictures were transitioning from novelty attractions to a legitimate storytelling medium. The American film industry was still centered primarily in the New York/New Jersey area, with Hollywood not yet established. Urban crime was a major concern in American cities during this period, with newspapers filled with stories of robberies and gang activity, making this subject matter particularly relevant to contemporary audiences. The film emerged during the Progressive Era, when social reform movements were addressing urban problems, though this film takes a comedic rather than reformist approach. Cinema itself was still competing with other popular entertainments like vaudeville, circuses, and dime novels for audience attention.

Making Of

The production of this film took place during the infancy of cinema when filmmakers were still experimenting with narrative techniques. Wallace McCutcheon Sr., working for the American Mutoscope Company, was among the first directors to move beyond simple actualities into storytelling. The film was likely shot outdoors using natural light, as artificial lighting was not yet common in film production. The actors were probably stage performers hired for the day, as professional film actors did not yet exist. The sandbagging effect would have been accomplished using a prop bag filled with soft material to ensure the actor's safety. The entire production likely took only a few hours from setup to completion, reflecting the rapid, almost industrial approach to filmmaking in this era.

Visual Style

The cinematography of this film reflects the technical limitations of early cinema equipment. The camera would have been stationary, capturing the action in a single wide shot as was typical for films of this period. There would have been no camera movement or changes in focal length. The film was shot on 68mm film stock used by the American Mutoscope Company, which provided a larger image than the 35mm film that would become standard. Natural lighting would have been used exclusively, requiring outdoor filming during daylight hours. The visual composition would have been simple and direct, focusing on clearly presenting the action for the audience to follow without the benefit of intertitles or dialogue.

Innovations

While not technically innovative by modern standards, this film represents the standard production techniques of early cinema. The use of a single continuous take was typical of the period, reflecting both technical limitations and the influence of stage performance. The film was produced on the American Mutoscope Company's proprietary 68mm film format, which provided superior image quality to Edison's 35mm format but was more expensive to produce. The survival of this film is itself a technical achievement, as nitrate film stock from this period was highly unstable and many early films have been lost to decomposition.

Music

As a silent film from 1900, this production had no synchronized soundtrack. During exhibition, the film would have been accompanied by live music, typically a pianist or small ensemble in the theater. The music would have been improvised or selected from stock pieces appropriate to the action on screen. For a comedy like this, upbeat and playful music would have been used during the robbery sequence to enhance the burlesque tone. The musical accompaniment was crucial to silent films of this era, helping to convey emotion and guide audience responses to the visual narrative.

Memorable Scenes

• The sandbagging sequence where the elderly gentleman is suddenly knocked unconscious by the robber, which despite its violent nature was played for comedic effect typical of the period's burlesque style.

What Critics Said

Contemporary critical reception for films of this era was virtually nonexistent, as film criticism had not yet developed as a profession. The film was likely reviewed only in trade publications that catered to exhibitors and producers. Modern film historians and archivists view this film as an important example of early American narrative cinema, particularly for its early use of comedy to address social issues. The film is valued today for its historical significance rather than its artistic merits, though it does demonstrate the emerging storytelling techniques that would become standard in cinema.

What Audiences Thought

Audience reception in 1900 would have been gauged primarily by box office returns and word-of-mouth among exhibitors. Films of this type were popular because they were short, easily understandable, and provided humorous entertainment that didn't require the literacy needed for newspapers or books. The subject matter of urban crime would have been familiar and engaging to turn-of-the-century audiences who were concerned about city safety. The film's brief runtime made it ideal for the short program formats common in early cinemas, where multiple films would be shown in succession. Modern audiences encountering this film typically view it through the lens of film history, appreciating its place in the development of cinema rather than its entertainment value.

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