Coeur d'apache

Original title: The Musketeers of Pig Alley

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Lillian Gish and Elmer Booth in Coeur d'apache (1912)

A tender young woman and her musician husband attempt to eke out a living in the slums of New York City, but find themselves caught in the crossfires of gang violence.A tender young woman and her musician husband attempt to eke out a living in the slums of New York City, but find themselves caught in the crossfires of gang violence.A tender young woman and her musician husband attempt to eke out a living in the slums of New York City, but find themselves caught in the crossfires of gang violence.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

2.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win total

Photos17

+ 10

Top cast24

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Elmer Booth

The Snapper Kid - Musketeers Gang Leader

Lillian Gish

The Little Lady

Clara T. Bracy

The Little Lady's Mother

Walter Miller

The Musician

Alfred Paget

The Rival Gang Leader

Madge Kirby

The Little Lady's Friend…

Harry Carey

Snapper's Lieutenant

John T. Dillon

The Policeman

Adolph Lestina

The Bartender…

Jack Pickford

Rival Gang Member…

Robert Harron

Rival Gang Member…

W.C. Robinson

Rival Gang Member
(as Spike Robinson)

Gertrude Bambrick

At Dance
(uncredited)

Lionel Barrymore

The Musician's Friend
(uncredited)

Kathleen Butler

On Street
(uncredited)
…

Christy Cabanne

At Dance
(uncredited)

Donald Crisp

Rival Gang Member
(uncredited)

Frank Evans

At Dance
(uncredited)

Director
- D.W. Griffith
Writers
- D.W. Griffith
- Anita Loos
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Trivia
Most likely the first film to ever use follow-focus. D.W. Griffith convinced his most trusted cameraman, G.W. Bitzer, to fade out the background when the three gangsters walk towards the alley in the opening scene. During this era a cameraman was judged on how sharp and clear his picture was, so Griffith had to take him to an art museum and show him how the background was out of focus and the characters were in focus to convince him to do the effect on the shot. The focusing method is still used.

Connections
Featured in Hollywood (1980)

User reviews19

Featured review

6/10

Griffith Makes Crime Pay

Early crime film directed by D.W. Griffith. Hyped in the subtitle as "Unparallel drama inspired and played on the streets of the American city - Bold - Truthful"! Lillian Gish lives with her musician husband Walter Miller near Pig Alley, an area frequented by gangsters. The head Musketeer is Elmer Booth. Gangster Booth tries to put the make on Ms. Gish, and mugs Mr. Miller as he returns home with his hard-earned pay. Stumbling into a gang shootout, Miller recognizes Musketeer Booth as his mugger. What will he do?

Here, in "The Musketeers of Pig Alley", Gish and Miller are better than when they are threatened by the temptress in "The Mothering Heart" (1913). The acting is more natural, and you really sympathize with the couple. Booth is an endearing "Little Caesar". The shootout is lively, and the thugs creeping along the alley walls into close-ups is quite memorable. The ending is played more for humor; it's not bad, but it breaks the mood of the movie.

****** The Musketeers of Pig Alley (10/31/12) D.W. Griffith ~ Lillian Gish, Walter Miller, Elmer Booth