The film

«Cretinetti, although he is a simple man, finds it impossible tolive honestly. He is penniless and sitting on a park bench asking himself what is to be done, when a young man surprises him, pointing a pistol to his head and demanding money. Cretinetti explains the situation and asks the robber to let him join his gang; thus the two go together to the criminals’ hideout,a dive in a poor quarter of the city. The gang decide to put the novice to the test, and he is given a pistol: he at once tries to rob a well-dressed gentleman, who, instead of handing over his money, pulls the gun out of his hands and begans to give him religious advice (...)».

Anonymous, “The Kinematograph and Lantern Weekly”, London,6 May 1909

The film preservation:

The preservation of the film is part of a project to valorize the collection of Italian silent films that are conserved at the Filmoteca de Catalunya in Barcelona; the project is promoted by the Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna, by the Museo Nazionale del Cinema di Torino and by the Cineteca del Friuli of Gemona. Since the film lacked credits it needed to be identified. After recognizing the lead character as André Deed, the title of the film was deduced by comparing it with the synopses of the films he had starred in. Cretinetti re dei ladri was printed on safety film from a black and white nitrate positive print (100 m) without intertitles belonging to the Antoni Martra collection.

The process was carried out in 2007 at the L’Immage Ritrovata laboratory.

Link Vimeo Cineteca MNC:

https://vimeo.com/868663339

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• Silent films
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