|
A Famous Escape
(1908) United States of America
B&W : 730 feet
Directed by Wallace McCutcheon (Sr.)
Cast: Harry Solter [a prison guard], D.W. Griffith [a prisoner], Anthony O’Sullivan [a prisoner]
American Mutoscope & Biograph Company production; distributed by American Mutoscope & Biograph Company. / Scenario by [?] James P. Cogan and/or D.W. Griffith? Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer. / © 3 April 1908 by American Mutoscope & Biograph Company [H108356]. Released 7 April 1908. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The production was shot on 27 and 30 March 1908.
Drama: Historical: Civil War.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The story is founded on an incident taken from the history of the United States during a time of strife. The opening scenes show the departure from their homes, mothers, wives and sweethearts of a number of patriotic young men to the front. Life on the field of battle and their capture as prisoners of war is next shown. While incarcerated in the foul military prison, the poor creatures are subjected to many indignities that even a dog would resent and during the six months of their confinement they industriously bore through the earth under the dungeon, with no other tools than their fingers, until they tunnel their way to liberty. The escape is of course discovered and, though chased, they succeed in reaching home, where their raggedly clothed emaciated forms are once more folded in the arms of their loved ones.
Synopsis: Synopsis available in Usai-Griffith-1 pp. 23-24.
Survival status: Prints exist in the Museum of Modern Art film archive [35mm nitrate negative, missing main titles and intertitles]; and in the Library of Congress film archive (paper print collection) [35mm paper positive].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: History: USA: American Civil War (1861-1865)
Listing updated: 20 December 2024.
References: Usai-Griffith-1 pp. 23-24 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
|
