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Like The Touch of Nature (1911), A Burglar for One Night is a crime film,
with the added social issue of unemployment. Both films' unemployed protagonists
are driven to crime by their circumstances. Here, Jack, a casual labourer, is
"discharged because of slack trade", and decides to go to London to find work.
His arrival at Euston station and walk through the now-demolished Euston Arch
lend an air of verisimilitude to the drama. With no luck in getting work, he is
forced to pawn his tools. Finally, he is driven to steal, but is rescued from
crime by his sweetheart.
Unemployment was an increasing concern of socially minded reformers and
politicians in the early years of the 20th Century. Contemporary reports into
poverty and unemployment had raised concerns over the issue. Charles Booth's
'Life and Labour of the People in London', published in 1902, was the
culmination of his investigations since 1887. Benjamin Seebohm Rowntree
complemented and reinforced Booth's views in a similar report into conditions in
York, 'Poverty: a Study of Town Life' (1901). William Beveridge, later credited
as the founder of the welfare state, joined the debate with 'Unemployment: a
Problem of Industry' (1909). Previously, poverty had largely been linked with
personal failings (alcoholism, gambling and indolence), lack of skills and lack
of mobility. However, these reports acknowledged that the vagaries of the labour
market were the cause of unemployment, which in turn caused much of the
poverty.
The Victorian and Edwardian economy went through a series of trade cycles -
the 'slack trade' referred to in the film. Slumps in the economy were evident in
1903-05 and 1907-09, when the unemployment rate increased to 6-8%. While these
rates are certainly not as high as those during the later interwar years, it has
to be remembered that there were no unemployment relief payments (the limited
National Insurance Act only came into operation in 1911) and no social welfare
system beyond the dreaded workhouse and poor relief schemes.
Simon Baker
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Complete film (11:37)
