While the original Italian title of this film suggests that the main theme of the story concerns the traffic in children, the British release title, The Mystery of the A.V.Z. Gang, might appeal more to the genre of thriller featuring criminal gangs that was prevailing in international filmmaking at that time. As seen in some of the films produced at the Ambrosio studio in the early 1910’s, the international trend in storytelling and the way to show it in images is obvious in this film. The climactic scenes are described in a British journal as follows: “The boy accomplishes his perilous mid-air journey without mishap, reaches and climbs down a telegraph pole, and assistance is soon at hand, which breaks up the criminal organization for ever” (“Kinematograph Monthly Alphabetical Film Record”, June 1913). A brother and sister are left in the guardianship of a rogue, who plans to marry the latter, and sends the boy to a gang who trains children to beg and steal. A lieutenant who loves the girl tries to rescue the boy. Two nitrate positive prints were part of the Komiya Collection (Print A and B). However both prints showed severe deterioration when the cans were opened in 1988. The print A, which was slightly longer than the print B, was used for making the safety copy.

Hiroshi Komatsu