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Short film

The Mouse and the Lion

1913 · 12 min

A brisk, earnest silent-era crime drama that pits a streetwise waif against gangsters, with simple stakes and clear moral lines.

Directed by
Van Dyke Brooke
Genres
Drama
Starring
Van Dyke Brooke, Leo Delaney, Paul Kelly
Overview
John Burling, a detective, rounds up some members of the Night Hawk gang. Bill Hanks, the chief, swears to get even with him. Tim, a little street waif, entering the saloon where the gang are consulting with Maime, a female accomplice, overhears some of their threats. He is discovered and kicked out of the place by Hanks. The next day, Tim, half starving, picks up a purse in the street which he has seen a lady drop. He is tempted to steal it, but in the end gives it back to her. Burling sees this, is struck with the boy's honesty, and being in need of a page boy, hires him and dubs him "Buttons."' Maime visits Burling and leaves him an address to come to investigate a robbery which has occurred at her home. Tim recognizes her as she goes out, follows her and has his suspicions confirmed by seeing her with one of the gang on the street. He goes to warn his master, but Burling has already gone.

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In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
Directed by
Van Dyke Brooke
Genres
Drama
Starring
Van Dyke Brooke, Leo Delaney, Paul Kelly
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How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • tensestrength 2 of 3
  • earneststrength 2 of 3
  • darkstrength 1 of 3
Pacing
brisk, 3 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
easy-watch, 2 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • crime
  • loyalty
  • class
  • redemption
Places
  • big city
Era
period
Audience
adult
Form
None
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language none
  • Violence mild
  • Sex none
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action3
Horror0
Humour2
Realism7
Romance0
Tension5
Darkness4
Complexity3
Emotional weight4

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Where to watch in the UK

No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres
drama
Directed by
Van Dyke Brooke
Starring
Van Dyke Brooke, Leo Delaney, Paul Kelly, Lillian Walker, George Cooper, William Shea, Richard Leslie
Runtime
12 min
Country
United States of America

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