"The Black Hand" (1906)

The-Black-Hand-1906-cinematographer-Billy-Bitzer-00

A scene from "The Black Hand"

Directed by       Wallace McCutcheon
Cinematography by       Billy Bitzer
Starring       Robert Vignola, Anthony O’Sullivan (gangsters)
Distributed by       Biograph Company
Release date    March 29, 1906
Country       United States
Running time          11 m.

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"The Black Hand", True Story of a Recent Occurrence in the Italian Quarter of New York, is a short crime drama. The film is included in our program to illustrate the work of our star Billy Bitzer.

A gang by the name of Black Hand demands a big amount of money from a local businessman. If the demands are not met it threatens his daughter. Then the gang kidnaps the girl anyway and sends one of its members to collect the ransom.

Click to enlarge:

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 01

Two gang members compose a ransom note in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 02

The gang's ransom note in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 03

The businessman shares the note with his wife in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 04

The businessman is determined to defend his family in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 05

The gang kidnaps the businessman's daughter in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 06

The girl hostage makes an unsuccessful attempt to escape in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 07

The businessman is visited by two detectives in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 08

The businessman shows the ransom note to the detectives in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 09

A gang member has come to collect the ransom (note the detective in the freezer) in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 10

The detectives overpower the gang member in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 11

An alert girl hostage notices a note slip through the back door in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 12

The girl opens the back door for the rescuers in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 13

The girl opens the front door for the rescuers in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 14

The rescuers burst in as the gang members are immersed in their card game in "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 cinematographer Billy Bitzer 13

Robert Vignola and Anthony O’Sullivan

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Billy Bitzer, Wallace McCutcheon, silent film, silent movie stars, free classic film, old movies, silent film streaming, silent era, archive films, rare films, silent drama, silent classics, classic crime movies

"The Black Hand" (1906) - hidden gem