The Christmas Burglars

On a bleak Christmas Eve, a destitute, widowed mother named Mrs. Martin fails to find work. Desperate for food, her young daughter Margie writes a letter to Santa Claus, noting their top-floor apartment address. Mrs. Martin attempts to pawn her cloak for money, but the ruthless pawnbroker, Mike McLaren, harshly rejects her. However, after she accidentally drops Margie's note, Mike reads it and undergoes a sudden change of heart. He immediately buys gifts, a tree, and food, then hires burglars to safely anesthetize the family so he can covertly decorate their home, bringing unexpected holiday joy.

Florence Lawrence

Mrs. Martin

Adele DeGarde

Margie, Mrs. Martin's Daughter

Charles Inslee

Mike McLaren

John R. Cumpson

Gladys Egan

George Gebhardt

One of Mike's Assistants

Arthur V. Johnson

One of Mike's Assistants

Mack Sennett

One of Mike's Assistants

Harry Solter

One of Mike's Assistants

Marion Leonard

Customer

Jeanie Macpherson

Customer

Tom Moore

Customer

• D.W. GriffithDirector · Writer
• Billy BitzerDirector of Photography

Release date

December 22, 1908

Status

Released

Original language

English

Runtime

11m

Genres

Comedy