Don't overthink this one. Just enjoy it for what it is! A somewhat familiar yet clever 15 minute entertaining drama. It has some of the best early Biograph players in it, 34 year old Lionel Barrymore for one, who wrote the script.
Henry Whathall as his cunning brother, Harry Carey, Robert Herron, and the Gish sisters. Brother knocks out his brother (who is Barrymore) in a drunken argument and thinks he killed him.
Then he tries to blame a would he robber for the deed. It all gets sorted out and Barrymore wakes up and is more forgiving of brother than he should be!
The only flaw is the photography. I know it's an old film but they could not stabilize that camera in action scenes. Drives me nuts! Like being in a funhouse lol. But I have noticed that in other very early films. It's fascinating to watch these early films though and gradual improvement and development.
Review of The Burglar's Dilemma
