The Great Jewel Mystery (1905) watch online HD

Given that both the resources and the techniques available to film-makers were still pretty limited in 1905, this short crime feature demonstrates pretty good story-telling. The story is fairly straightforward and is typical of the era, but it flows more smoothly than do the majority of films of its time.

The plot, which according to the main titles was partially based on actual events, concerns a clever plan for a jewel robbery, and it follows the events beginning with the planning stages. The story itself would probably prove a bit too pat for audiences of the present day, but in telling it, there is reasonable detail both in the plot and in the settings. There are also a couple of basic visual effects that are creditable for the time.

This film is probably primarily of interest for the decent quality of film-making, rather than for the story itself, which has just enough to make it watchable if you are used to these very old short features.

A gang of thieves plan and execute a clever robbery. One of their number hides in a casket, transported in the same rail car as a casket of expensive jewelry. He exits the coffin, overpowers the guard, steals the jewels and returns with them to the coffin, to be removed by his accomplices. Will their fiendish plot be thwarted?

Not much is known about the personnel of this Biograph film, only the two cameramen: the well-remembered Billy Bitzer and the now-obscure F.A. Dobson. Although the movie is rendered in the Illustrated Text style of film-making that was current, in truth, it depends very little on it. The actions of the players are at all times clear.

It is remarkable for the time in that the studio sets seem to have been built, rather than simply painted as backdrops. The camerawork is simple and primitive, with simple center-front-row camera placement, and no movement during each set-up .... hardly necessary given the carefully directed movements of the players.

The result is a movie that remains watchable, although not cinematic.