Best Crime Movies of 1913

A woman, with the aid of her police officer sweetheart, endeavors to uncover the prostitution ring that has kidnapped her sister, and the philanthropist who secretly runs it.

A messenger boy is wrongfully accused of stealing bonds worth $20,000. Luckily, a film crew is shooting a moving picture on the same street. The boy's accuser has the police convinced, until...

A young farm maid overhears two cow-hands talking in the barn, and she becomes convinced they’re about to rob her. She barricades herself in a room and calls the police. Her call wakes the chief, who rallies the country justice constabulary and they set off toward the farm, in steam-car and on foot. Meanwhile, the maiden’s parents rush to save her. Everything points toward a showdown in the barn, where no one, including the police force, will be cowed.

A lost film. A successful stage actress with a hidden past as a criminal is kept on the path of righteousness by a benefactor.

Paulin Broquet, the great Parisian detective, has brought the notorious bandit, Zigomar, to justice. Determined not to let the law punish him, he had taken poison in the Hall of Justice. Then he was brought to a hospital where he lay motionless and was visited by hundreds of persons. Among the visitors was a slender woman, dressed in black, who secreted herself in the hospital, and, when all the others had gone, went to the bedside of Zigomar and administered an antidote for poisoning.

A spoof of Sherlock Holmes who was quite popular at the time. Directed by Alice Guy-Blache for Solax Film Company.

Detective William Burke is assigned to capture George Watson, an escaped criminal. Six years of sleuthing discovers nothing, and Burke reports to the chief that he is unable to capture the fugitive from justice. During the six years Watson has prospered, and with his wife and family settles in a quiet dignified neighborhood.

A crime film in which a detective goes after a gang of counterfeiters.

Carlton, disapproving of his dissipated son and the latter's scheming wife, on his death-bed makes his will in favor of his devoted niece, Marcia. Hearing of this the previous couple plan to balk the father; their scheming is overheard by the cracksman, who has stealthily entered the house. The son and his wife retire and the cracksman creeps upstairs and enters Marcia's room. Affected by her beauty and innocence as she lays sleeping, he determines to assist her; following the son into the sick man's room he snatches the stolen will from his hand.

Fernand Pradier (Gabriel Signoret) is an honest merchant and a simple person at heart who tries to make her daughter Germaine (Gabrielle Robinne) happy. She is engaged to a rich banker St-Bris (René Alexandre). However, the fiance once belonged to a criminal organization and, despite his efforts of rehabilitation, one of his ancient accomplices makes their engagement impossible. Eventually imprisoned, she escapes with the help of a beautiful typist (Stacia Napierkowska)...

A cashier gambles and robs a bank, but returns the money for his mother's sake.

The next dastardly trick of Zigomar was to secure the safe which carried $50,000 belonging to the owner of the Grand African Circus, which he had won as a prize. He and La Rosario, disguised as servants, joined the circus and by the aid of a powerful elephant managed to get the safe to a manhole into which is was lowered to Zigomar and La Rosario.

After a time of suspended activities, Zigomar attempted to rob the biggest bank in Paris; but in this he was frustrated by the detective. Swearing vengeance he tried to wreck the train upon which the detective was traveling, but one of the detective's spies got wind of it and warned him.

Broncho Billy, ranch foreman, finds Tom Warner has squatted on a section of Stockdale's ranch. He complains to the owner, who tells him to oust Warner. The squatter, however, refuses to go. Shortly afterward, the ranch owner is shot. Broncho Billy, to get even with Warner, secretly arranges things so that his rival is accused and finally hanged on circumstantial evidence. The following fall, Broncho Billy proposes to Marguerite, but visions of the dead man haunt him...

Wilbur Stone is falsely accused of a crime, convicted on circumstantial evidence and "railroaded" to the penitentiary. As an odd coincidence. Frank Fink, a hardened degenerate, is sent up at the same time and he becomes a prison parasite on Stone. Both men are released about the same time.

Elton Gates, having served seven years for submitting to temptation with a bank's funds, is released. His uncle John sends him $500.00, with which to start life anew. He has hardly rested in a cheap lodging house when Detective Doolittle spies him and commences to make him an object of special scrutiny.