The Black Hand (full title The Black Hand: True Story of a Recent Occurrence in the Italian Quarter of New York) is an American silent film directed by Wallace McCutcheon.
It is generally considered by motion-picture historians to be the earliest surviving gangster film.
[1][2] In New York City, two Italian-American criminals blackmail a butcher, demanding a ransom of $1,000, otherwise, they will kidnap his daughter and blow up his shop.
Medium shot of the two bandits drinking wine sitting at a table, one of them writing a letter.
Indoors, full shot of the stage set of Angelo's shop, with a walk-in fridge to the right.
Angelo puts some meat in the fridge, serves a customer and receive a letter.
He communicates the content to his wife and daughter, puts on his coat and hat and leaves.
Long shot of the 7th avenue in New-York with snow on the sides and various pedestrians and horse carriages.
The woman brutally removes Maria's coat and hat and forces her to lie on the bed before leaving.
Two policemen visit Angelo's shop and check that they can hide in the walk-in fridge.