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Capture of the Biddle Brothers
(1902) United States of America
B&W : 125 feet
Directed by Edwin S. Porter
Cast: (unknown)
Edison Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company. / Cinematography by [?] George S. Fleming and/or Edwin S. Porter? / © 24 February 1902 by Thomas A. Edison [H14434]. Released February 1902. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [From Edison promotional materials] The public throughout the world is acquainted with the sensational capture of the Biddle Brothers and Mrs. Soffel, who, through the aid of Mrs. Soffel, escaped from the Pittsburg jail on January 30th, 1902. Our picture, which is a perfect reproduction of the capture, is realistic and exciting. It shows the sheriffs in two sleighs coming down the hill on the snow covered road. Mrs. Soffel and the Biddle Brothers appear in the foreground going toward the sheriffs. Immediately the sheriffs are seen by Ed. Biddle, he stops the sleigh, and rising, begins firing at the sheriffs with a shotgun. He is the first to be shot and falls to the ground in a snow bank, but, game to the last, he rises on one elbow and fires shot after shot with his revolver. Mrs. Soffel and the second Biddle then begin firing. When Mrs. Soffel sees that their capture is certain, she attempts to take her own life by shooting herself with the pistol. The sheriffs are finally victorious and the two convicts with the unfortunate woman are loaded into the sheriff's double sleigh.
Survival status: Print exists.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Criminals - Gunfights - Law: Enforcement: Police: Sheriffs - Weapons: Guns
Listing updated: 15 April 2024.
References: Bohn-Light p. 12; Fell-History p. 38; Musser-Emerge pp. 299, 599; Sklar-Movie pp. 24, 26 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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