The Master Detective (1909)
A 1909 Danish silent crime short in which detective Pat Corner unravels a vault mystery through sharp deduction and a hidden tunnel.
The Master Detective - Movie Information
- Original Title: Pat Corner
- Release Year: 1909
- Directed by: Viggo Larsen
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime
- Runtime: 14m
- Original Language: Danish
- Spoken Languages: No Language
- Release Date (Theatrical): November 4, 1909 (Denmark)
- Production Companies: Nordisk Film Denmark
- Production Countries: Denmark
The Master Detective - Plot
The bank guard and the director hear mysterious sounds coming from the basement vault, where all the gold is kept, and call in Master detective Pat Corner. Studying a floor plan, Corner quickly discovers a tunnel leading directly into the vault from a nearby pub. The tunnel ends in an old barn where a blind beggar often sleeps. Is he the one rummaging around the vault?
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The Master Detective - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Viggo Larsen
Main Cast
- Gudrun Kjerulf
- Viggo Larsen
- Elith Pio
The Master Detective - FAQs
What is The Master Detective about?
The Master Detective follows Pat Corner, a sharp detective called in after a bank's guard and director hear strange noises from the basement vault. Studying a floor plan, Corner traces a hidden tunnel from a nearby pub to an old barn — and zeroes in on a suspicious blind beggar who sleeps there.
Who directed The Master Detective in 1909?
Viggo Larsen directed The Master Detective. Larsen was a prolific Danish filmmaker and actor in the early silent era, closely associated with Nordisk Film Denmark. He also appeared in the film himself, making him both its director and a member of its cast.
Is The Master Detective one of cinema's earliest detective films?
Yes — released in 1909, The Master Detective is among the earliest surviving detective films in cinema history. Danish studio Nordisk Film was a world leader in early filmmaking, and this short showcases the genre's roots: a methodical investigator, a crime scene, and a mystery to unravel, all within just 14 minutes.
Who are the actors in The Master Detective?
The cast features Gudrun Kjerulf, Viggo Larsen, and Elith Pio. Larsen, who also directed the film, plays a central role, while Kjerulf and Pio were among the notable performers working in Danish silent cinema during Nordisk Film's golden early years.
What is the mystery at the heart of the story?
The central mystery revolves around who is secretly tunneling into a bank vault. Detective Pat Corner discovers the tunnel runs from a pub to an old barn — and suspicion falls on a blind beggar who regularly sleeps there. Whether the beggar is truly behind the scheme is the film's driving question.
How long is The Master Detective?
The Master Detective runs just 14 minutes — a typical length for silent short films of the era. Despite its brevity, it packs in a full detective narrative: a crime, an investigation, a key clue, and a prime suspect, making it a remarkably complete story for its time.
What are some similar films to The Master Detective?
If you enjoy early crime cinema, The Great Train Robbery (1903) is an essential companion piece. For classic heist and crime films, The Asphalt Jungle (1950), They Live by Night (1949), and Plunder Road (1957) are excellent picks that share the same spirit of clever criminal schemes and determined investigators.
Who was the cinematographer of The Master Detective?
Axel Graatkjær served as cinematographer on The Master Detective. Graatkjær was one of the most respected cameramen in early Danish cinema, contributing his visual craft to numerous Nordisk Film productions during the silent era and helping define the look of early Scandinavian filmmaking.
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