Volume II: Filmography

THE SHOPLIFTER

February 7, 1915 (Sunday)

Length: 1 reel (1,010 feet)

Character: Drama

Cast: Mignon Anderson (Meg), Ethel Jewett (Meta) Arthur Ashley (store manager), Nolan Gane ("Sport" Strubel)

Note: Nearly all printed schedules and advertisements noted that Big Brother Bill would be released on this date. However, it seems that during this period of transition, when Edwin Thanhouser was rejoining the firm bearing his name, certain films were rescheduled, this one included. Big Brother Bill was actually released on April 18, 1915.

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, January 30, 1915:

"Meg and Meta, sisters, are employed in the Brock Department Store. Meta is forewoman of the silk department, and the manager has great confidence in her. Meg, however, has fallen under the influence of 'Sport' Strubel, alias 'The Widow,' a thief and shoplifter, who has persuaded her to be his accomplice in stealing silk from the Brock establishment. Mr. Brock holds Meta responsible for the goods lost in her department, and to prove her own innocence, she determines to round up the real thief. She traces the crime to Strubel, who, to her knowledge, has a strong influence over her sister; and when he appears in the store, heavily veiled like a widow, she insists upon waiting upon him. She tells him that he is discovered. Strubel, in a rage, believing that Meg has 'squealed,' writes her a note directing her to meet him at a certain place. Meg, meanwhile alarmed over the turn things have taken, goes to the manager's office and makes a full confession. Meta gets the note from Strubel and notifies the police, where they can find the thief. He is captured. Then she learns of her sister's confession. For her sake, the manager pardons Meg - and Meta helps her sister to live up to her vow to be honest."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, January 31, 1915:

"Meg is under the shoplifter's influence. Her sister effects his capture, but in the meantime she has confessed. The manager pardons her because of his trust in Meta."

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