Robert Harron
Directed by D.W. Griffith
Produced by Biograph Company
Cinematography Billy Bitzer
Starring Elmer Booth, Lillian Gish, Robert Harron
Distributed by The General Film Company
Release date October 31, 1912
Running time 17 min.
Country United States
Language Silent, English intertitles
"The Musketeers of Pig Alley" is a short crime drama directed by D. W. Griffith. This film illustrates the work of actor Robert Harron and cinematographer Billy Bitzer, stars of Silent Hall of Fame.
"The Musketeers of Pig Alley" is the first gangster film in history. It has some excellent acting by a very strong cast and a lot of suspense. The film is also a predecessor of what would become known a quarter of a century later as "the film noir".
Lillian Gish plays The Little Lady, whose husband is a musician and has to leave town for work. In his absence she has to rebuff the advances of a cocky character by the nickname of Snapper Kid (Elmer Booth), the gang leader of the Musketeers.
When her sick mother dies The Little Lady becomes grief-stricken. One day she is visited by a friend who takes her to a dance party to raise her spirits. The Little Lady is invited for a drink by some fellow, who puts a drug in her glass, but she is saved by Snapper Kid. As it turns out, the other guy is the rival gang's leader. The two bosses square off, but decide to settle the dispute outside.
Suspense builds up as the two rival gangs chase each other around Pig Alley. Will there be a winner, or will all perish or go to jail?
In 2016 the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
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Robert Harron