A 29-Cent Robbery

1910 film produced by the Thanhouser Company

A 29-Cent Robbery

A film still from the work

Produced by| Thanhouser Company
Starring| Marie Eline

Release date

* April 15, 1910 (1910-04-15)

Country| United States
Languages| Silent film
English inter-titles

A 29-Cent Robbery is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film features the debut of Marie Eline in the main role as Edna Robinson, a young girl who foils an attempt by a robbery to loot her family's home. All the thief manages to take is her toy bank, containing 29 cents. Edna ends up taking it upon herself to catch the thief after the police fail in the task. It was reviewed positively by critics and was viewed across the United States. The film was the first split-reel by Thanhouser, containing this short and The Old Shoe Came Back on a single reel.

## Plot

[edit]

A thief sneaks into the Robinson home with the intention of looting it. He is discovered by a young girl, Edna Robinson, and flees taking only her toy bank containing the paltry sum of 29 cents USD, equivalent to $10 in 2024. She is so upset about the theft of her bank that the parents decide to inform the police. They go to the police station and report the robbery, but the police laugh at them. The parents go home and inform Edna that the police will not do anything, which makes her all the more determined. So Edna goes to the police station by herself and informs the police captain of the robbery and its details. He assigns his officers to work on the case and they arrest several men carrying toy banks. They ask Edna to identify the robber, but she says he is not present. The police set the men free and Edna decides to take the task upon herself. So she gets a police whistle and starts investigating on her own, eventually finding the thief.[1]

## Cast

[edit]

* Marie Eline as Edna Robinson[1]
* Grace Eline[1]

## Production

[edit]

The director of the film is not known for certain, but two Thanhouser directors are possible. Barry O'Neil was the stage name of Thomas J. McCarthy, who would direct many important Thanhouser pictures, including its first two-reeler, Romeo and Juliet. Lloyd B. Carleton was the stage name of Carleton B. Little, a director who would stay with the Thanhouser Company for a short time, moving to Biograph Company by the summer of 1910.[2] The American Film Institute credits Barry O'Neil as the director.[3] Film historian Q. David Bowers does not attribute either as the director for this particular production, but he does credit Blair Smith as the cameraman.[1] The film was the debut of Marie Eline, soon to be known and famous as the "Thanhouser Kid".[4] Her older sister, Grace Eline, later recalled being in this Thanhouser production. Grace Eline did not become an official member of the Thanhouser company until 1913.[5]

## Release and reception

[edit]

The one reel drama, approximately 750 feet (230 m), was released on Friday April 15, 1910.[1] Another short, The Old Shoe Came Back was also included on the reel, making it a split-reel. It was also the first split reel release from the Thanhouser Company. This release was the first Friday release of the Thanhouser company, switching from its Tuesday weekly release. According to an advertisement in the Moving Picture News, the weekly release dates were changed at the request of exhibitors.[1]

The film received favorable reviews by critics. The Morning Telegraph said the story was too far-fetched to be believable, but it was done in an amusing way.[1] The Moving Picture World stated that the acting and camerawork was satisfactory.[1] The film was advertised in numerous states, sometimes as a comedy, by theaters in Indiana,[6][7] Kansas,[8][9] New York,[10] and Pennsylvania.[11]

## See also

[edit]

* List of American films of 1910

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 2: Filmography - A 29-Cent Robbery". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
2. ^ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 1: Narrative History -Chapter 3 - 1910: Film Production Begins". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
3. ^ "A 29-Cent Robbery". American Film Institute. 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
4. ^ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 3: Biographies - Eline, Marie". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
5. ^ Q. David Bowers (1995). "Volume 3: Biographies - Eline, Grace". Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
6. ^ "Rustic". Seymour Daily Republican (Seymour, Indiana). December 24, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved January 19, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "(Vaudet)". The Daily Republican (Rushville, Indiana). September 28, 1910. p. 5. Retrieved January 19, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "The Magic". The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kansas). June 1, 1910. p. 7. Retrieved January 19, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Star Theatre". The Ottawa Daily Republic (Ottawa, Kansas). May 16, 1910. p. 8. Retrieved January 19, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Star Theatre". Times Herald (Olean, New York). May 5, 1910. p. 5. Retrieved January 19, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "Nickelet". The Allentown Democrat (Allentown, Pennsylvania). May 18, 1910. p. 5. Retrieved January 19, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.

## External links

[edit]

* A 29-Cent Robbery at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Lloyd B. Carleton

* She's Done it Again (1910)
* St. Elmo (1910)
* Daddy's Double (1910)
* A 29-Cent Robbery (1910)
* Jane Eyre (1910)
* She Wanted to Marry a Hero (1910)
* The Two Roses (1910)
* Cupid at the Circus (1910)
* The Best Man Wins (1910)
* Her Battle for Existence (1910)
* The Winter's Tale (1910)
* A New Beginning (1912)
* His Mistake (1912)
* Love and Tears (1912)
* Love Versus Strategy (1912)
* Satin and Gingham (1912)
* The Good for Nothing (1912)
* The Price of a Silver Fox (1912)
* The Reformation of Kid Hogan (1912)
* The Social Secretary (1912)
* The Surprise Party Surprised (1912)
* Tricked Into Happiness (1912)
* When Love Leads (1912)
* Diamond Cut Diamond (1913)
* For His Child's Sake (1913)
* Literature and Love (1913)
* Longing for a Mother (1913)
* Margaret's Painting (1913)
* Shadows (1913)
* The Angel of the Slums (1913)
* The Fiancee and the Fairy (1913)
* The Governor (1913)
* The Lost Note (1913)
* The Special Officer (1913)
* The Two Cowards (1913)
* The Veil of Sleep (1913)
* The Wiles of Cupid (1913)
* A Leaf from the Past (1914)
* At His Expense (1914)
* Codes of Honor (1914)
* His Brother's Blood (1914)
* Michael Strogoff (1914)
* Strength of Family Ties (1914)
* The Idler (1914)
* The Impostor (1914)
* The Investment (1914)
* The Price (1914)
* The Ragged Earl (1914)
* The Walls of Jericho (1914)
* Through Fire to Fortune (1914)
* A Studio Escapade (1915)
* In the Midst of African Wilds (1915)
* Motherhood (1915)
* The Flashlight (1915)
* The Girl I Left Behind Me (1915)
* The Girl with the Red Feather (1915)
* The Golden Spurs (1915)
* The Jungle Lovers (1915)
* The Love of Loti San (1915)
* The Sacred Tiger of Agra (1915)
* The White Light of Publicity (1915)
* Their Sinful Influence (1915)
* The Yaqui (1916)
* Two Men of Sandy Bar (1916)
* Doctor Neighbor (1916)
* Her Husband's Faith (1916)
* Heartaches (1916)
* Two Mothers (1916)
* Her Soul's Song (1916)
* The Way of the World (1916)
* No. 16 Martin Street (1916)
* A Yoke of Gold (1916)
* The Unattainable (1916)
* Black Friday (1916)
* The Human Gamble (1916)
* Barriers of Society (1916)
* The Devil's Bondwoman (1916)
* The Morals of Hilda (1916)
* The Amazing Woman (1920)
* Mountain Madness (1920)
* Beyond the Crossroads (1922)
* The Flying Dutchman (1923)
* Flash of a .45 (1925)
* Nine and Three-Fifths Seconds (1925)
* The Mad Miner (1925)
* The Man Who Rode Alone (1925)
* The Young Sheriff (1925)

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Barry O'Neil

* The Actor's Children (1910)
* The Girl of the Northern Woods (1910)
* The Mad Hermit (1910)
* St. Elmo (1910)
* A 29-Cent Robbery (1910)
* Uncle Tom's Cabin (1910)
* The Writing on the Wall (1910)
* Romeo and Juliet, Part One (1911)
* Little Boy Blue (1912)
* When the Earth Trembled (1913)
* The Third Degree (1913)
* The Fortune Hunter (1914)
* The Lion and the Mouse (1914)
* The House Next Door (1914)
* The Wolf (1914)
* Bought (1915)
* The Climbers (1915)
* The College Widow (1915)
* The District Attorney (1915)
* The Evangelist (1916)
* The Great Ruby (1915)
* The Sporting Duchess (1915)
* The Hidden Scar (1916)
* The Unpardonable Sin (1916)
* Husband and Wife (1916)
* Life's Whirlpool (1916)
* The Revolt (1916)
* The Weakness of Man (1916)
* A Woman's Way (1916)

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