This film is part of Free

The Beggar's Deceit
A copper pursues a cheeky beggar who can't possibly escape justice - or can he?
Overview
This clever single-shot skit combines suspense and slapstick, as a copper slowly approaches a beggar who's coining it in on an upmarket pavement. When the long arm of the law finally catches up with him, he ditches the "cripple" sign that was drawing so much sympathy and cash from well-heeled passersby, and legs it. He's remarkably quick on his feet, but his getaway seems assured when the bobby trips on the scamp's trolley. Depth of field does the storytelling work - it's simple but smart.
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