The Italian Brigands

• 1907
• Other, Drama

This film very accurately illustrates the operation of a band of brigands and their apprehension by the police. Lying in ambush near the road they surprise the frequenters of public highways, robbing and ofttimes killing their victims. The series opens with one of the incidents, and we see the vehicle as it is held up and the occupants attacked. Strong resistance is encountered and a desperate battle ensues, but, by force of numbers, the tourists are overpowered and plundered. Reporting the incident to the police one of a number of officials Is dispatched with a document to a certain point. On his way he must pass through a neck of the woods. It is of utmost importance that the document does not get into other hands. The officer goes on the road very cautiously, but when he has passed the men they spring upon him from behind and bind his hands behind him. They now force him to walk back to their rendezvous, where they treat him very brutally in their efforts to secure the document, which careful search has failed to reveal. Soon they hear the approach of soldiers and they leave the place and fight a running battle with officers. In a hand-to-hand fight they are worsted, and those not killed are led back to their rendezvous. Here the unfortunate officer is found and immediately released. In his weakened condition the men are led before him for identification, but before he can make reply he ejects the document from his mouth, where he had stored it for safe keeping. The brigands were not only successfully outdone by this strategy, but their organization eliminated.