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Stars and Bars
Also known as [The Police Chief]
(1917) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by Victor Heerman

Cast: Ford Sterling [the police chief], Harry Gribbon [the crook], Gene Rogers [the mayor], May Emory [the mayor’s wife], Hugh Fay [the detective], James Donnelly [the judge]

The Keystone Film Company production; distributed by Triangle Distributing Corporation. / Produced by Mack Sennett. / Released 18 February 1917. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.

Comedy.

Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? A misunderstanding between the mayor and his young wife is caused by the former using a baby grand piano scarf for a bath towel. Ford Sterling, as the police chief, arrives at the mayor’s home during his absence, and finding his wife in tears, consoles her, therefore arriving at the station very late, when the mayor reprimands him. Later the mayor states that he is going out for the purpose of purchasing a birthday present for his wife. Gribbon, the crook, arrives in town and discovers the mayor engaged with a clerk in the purchase of a necklace. As the mayor emerges with the present, Gribbon steals it. Gribbon sells the necklace to the police chief, who gives it to the mayor’s wife. Gribbon sees her put her necklace in a drawer and attempts to steal it. The mayor discovers his loss and immediately connects the loss with the picture of a criminal on his desk. Gribbon comes and tells him he can find the crook. A detective gets off the train and starts in the direction of the mayor’s home. Gribbon and the detective meet and each recognizes the other. The mayor takes a hand and the cops hustle the detective to jail. Gribbon and the mayor then go inside the mayor’s house, where the chief and the wife of the mayor are discovered locked in a closet. The chief comes out disguised as a woman. The mayor takes the badge and the hat off the police chief and puts them on Gribbon. Gribbon thanks him and demands reward. The mayor goes into the next room to get it. While he is gone, the detective tries to convince the cops of his innocence, but cannot succeed in doing so. The mayor’s wife comes to the trial, wearing the necklace. The mayor sees this and discovers that it is the pearl necklace originally stolen from him. The chief hears this and starts to sneak out, and while he is explaining that he obtained them from Gribbon, Gribbon grabs the mayor’s wife and dashes out of the door with the crowd in pursuit. A chase follows and all is brought to a finish.

Survival status: (unknown)

Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].

Keywords: Law: Courtrooms, Judges, Juries - Law: Enforcement: Police: Policemen

Listing updated: 9 August 2023.

References: Lahue-Kops p. 163; Lahue-Triangle p. 51 : Website-IMDb.

 
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