A case of mistaken identity

Bold Bank Robbery is an overlooked gem, that gets no respect in too many film histories. Part of the problem may come from a widespread plagiarism myth, that seems to stem from mistaken identity, so examination of Bold Bank Robbery must begin with busting that myth:

• Reel Time: Movie Exhibitors and Movie Audiences in Prairie Canada, 1896 to 1986 He [Lubin] also began duplicating movies made by other filmmakers, starting with two Edison pictures, "Uncle Tom's Cabin (1903)" and "The Great Train Robbery (1903)": his versions were titled "Uncle Tom's Cabin (1903)" and "The Bold Bank Robbery" and were made in 1903 and 1904, respectively.
• The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry In 1904 he [Lubin] remade Edwin S. Porter's "The Great Train Robbery" as "The Bold Bank Robbery".
• The American Film Industry: A Historical Dictionary In 1904, he [Lubin] remade Edwin S. Porter's "The Great Bank Robbery" as "The Bold Bank Robbery".

Although the copying and counter-copying that was the norm of that era did cause much confusion (that still persists), after over a century a consensus has been reached regarding the chronology around the milestone production of The Great Train Robbery and its follow-ups:

Dec 1903:

Edison's company released Edwin S. Porter's The Great Train Robbery. The story takes place in the West and, as the title implies, is about a train robbery.

Jun 1904:

Lubin's company released a remake, also called The Great Train Robbery, that also takes place in the West and replicates each scene in the original.

Jul 1904:

Lubin's company released Jack Frawley's Bold Bank Robbery that takes place in Philadelphia and, as the title implies, is about a bank robbery. Superficially, it's only similarity to The Great Train Robbery is that both films involve a robbery.

Sep 1904:

Edison's company released Edwin S. Porter's The Capture of Yegg Bank Burglars, that incorporated elements of Frawley's Bold Bank Robbery, including heist planning and the chase.

So it seems these film histories are confusing the Lubin film Bold Bank Robbery with the Lubin remake of The Great Train Robbery, which was released a month earlier. I found no record of a Porter film titled "The Great Bank Robbery". Perhaps that refers to Porter's The Capture of Yegg Bank Burglars? But, if that is the case, the history's claim that Bold Bank Robbery is a remake of the Porter bank robbery film is still incorrect, as the Porter film was released months later.

So, in summary, Bold Bank Robbery does not appear to be a remake of any Edison film. It appears to be an original film, influenced by (and incorporating elements of) its predecessors, while also adding elements not commonly seen in films of the day - and thus passing on a unique legacy to successors.