Im assuming that irvine welsh must have been inspired by the insanity that is the mystery of the leaping fish. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916, undoubtedly the most bizarre film fairbanks made, is a burlesque on sherlock holmes. In it, the actor plays scientific detective coke ennyday, a parody of sherlock holmes. Nov 18, 2019 the mystery of the leaping fish is a 1916 american short silent comedy film starring douglas fairbanks, bessie love, and alma rubens. The nimble heartthrob stars as coke ennyday, the worlds greatest. Arthur benjamin reeve 18801936, was a graduate of princeton and.
Later the same year, rubens was reteamed with fairbanks for cocaine comedy the mystery of the leaping fish, the halfbreed and the americano. The case of the screaming bishop is a 1944 american animated short film in the phantasies series of animated cartoons produced by the screen gems studio for columbia pictures from 1939 to 1946. Coke ennyday, the scientific detective, divides his own time in periods for sleep, eat, dope and drink. The mystery of the leaping fish the arthur conan doyle. The film has become a small cult movie, a piece of slapstick surrealism in some historians opinion, which is perhaps going a little too far. A 35mm print of the film still exists in its entirety and is currently in the public domain. Dec 31, 2014 this strange film from 1916, mystery of the leaping fish stars douglas fairbanks as coke ennyday, a detective with a substance problem which affects him at every opportunity.
Tod browning wrote the story for the mystery of the leaping fish while recovering from serious injuries in a 1915 auto accident. A history of screenwriting 23 in a series the mystery of the leaping fish 1916 this movie is insane, and i love it. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 the mystery of. Stay away from this version of the mystery of the leaping fish. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 douglas fairbanks plays a drugaddled detective in this cult classic. In this unusually broad comedy for fairbanks, the acrobatic leading man plays coke ennyday, a. The mystery of the leaping fish wikimili, the free encyclopedia wi. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 video dailymotion. Mystery of the leaping fish and chess fever 19161925usaussr. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 douglas fairbanks.
The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 not rated 25min comedy, short 11 june 1916 usa coke ennyday, the scientific detective, divides his own time in periods for sleep, eat, dope and drink. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 is an american short silent comedy film starring douglas fairbanks and bessie love. It had been removed from cocacola in 1903, and im not sure but i think it was criminalized by 1914, only two years before mystery of the leaping fish. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 with douglas fairbanks. The mystery of the leaping fish is a 1916 american short silent comedy film. Overview of mystery of the leaping fish, 1916, directed by john emerson, with douglas fairbanks, at turner classic movies. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 century film project. In this sherlock holmes parody, douglas fairbanks as the worlds greatest scientific detective, coke ennyday, seeks to uncover the mysterious source of a mans wealth. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 by popegrutch douglas fairbanks seems to be channeling his inner ford sterling in this unusually broad comedy of drug abuse and seaside hijinks. The mystery of the leaping fish wikimili, the free. The dvd appears to have been recorded from a 10th generation vhs tape. This film probably singlehandedly launched the war on drugs.
Bg seriously, the preceding years were interesting times for legal cocaine in america. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the mystery of the leaping fish near you. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 plot summary imdb. The highlight of the supplemental section is the dvd premiere of a new transfer from a very good to excellent 35mm print of fairbanks bizarre comedy short the mystery of the leaping fish 1916. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 a silent film. What did i just watch, wish i had some context to understand it, i suspected it must have been an early fairbanks film, then the second ending. Mystery of the leaping fish 1916, the butcher boy 1917. Mar 11, 2017 the mystery of the leaping fish 1916 i dont know enough early films to say whether the mystery of the leaping fish is the first american drug comedy film, so lets make a more modest claim. Jan 21, 2012 the mystery of the leaping fish 1916 is a short film starring douglas fairbanks and bessie love. The mystery of the leaping fish is an american silent movie produced by triangle film corporation released on 11 june 1916 usa. Fairbanks collaborated with emerson and loos on nine films altogether, including the sole short subject of the set, the surreal detective movie spoof the mystery of the leaping fish 1916. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 movie moviefone. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 the mystery of the leaping fish directors.
Parody, absurdist comedy, drugsploitation, slapstick. The 3reel comedy the mystery of the leaping fish is the kind of movie that the word bizarre was created for. In fact hes used to overcome every situation with drugs. The mystery of the leaping fish is een amerikaanse komische korte film uit 1916 onder regie van christy cabanne en john emerson. Douglas fairbanks appeared in this oddity of a film from 1916, supposedly cowritten by the star himself, d. Oct 28, 2011 fairbanks classic sherlock holmes parody. The mystery of the leaping fish is an american 25minute live action short film from 1916, which means not only that this is over a century old already, but that it is of course a blackandwhite silent movie. In this sherlock holmes parody, douglas fairbanks as the worlds greatest scientific detective, coke ennyday, seeks to uncover the mysterious source of a. May 14, 2016 the mystery of the leaping fish 1916 with douglas fairbanks as coke ennyday, a parody of sherlock holmes. The mystery of the leaping fish is a 1916 american short silent comedy film starring douglas fairbanks, bessie love, and alma rubens.
Before gaining fame as an action hero, douglas fairbanks appeared in this oddity of a film from 1916, supposedly cowritten by the star himself, d. The film is so druggy its hard to believe something like itof that vintage especiallyeven exists. To help the police, he tracks down a contraband of opium which he eagerly tastes transported within leaping fishes, saving a. That the mystery of the leaping fish was made in 1916 by one of the most famous people in the entire world at that time is perplexing. Rubens is gaunt, hollow, her fragile health on full display. Apr 28, 2012 in between making successful, formulaic early comedies, fairbanks indulged in a couple of curiosities. Mystery of the leaping fish and chess fever 1916 1925usaussr. John emersons tworeeler, conceived by that beloved humorist of the cinema, tod browning, is the birth of a nation of drug comedies. To help the police, he tracks down a contraband of opium which he eagerly tastes transported within leaping fishes, saving a fish blower girl from blackmail along the way.
The mystery of the leaping fish 1916, a clear parody of holmes, takes this vice to the extreme. Douglas fairbanks, alma reubens, bessie love, john emerson, vsevolod i. The film has previously been available on a number of vhs tapes transferred from lousy 16mm reduction prints. Rubens, schilder en diplomaat tv film complet vf en ligne hd 720p. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 directed by christy. Mystery of the leaping fish 1916 this silent short has popped around for a few years in a bid for reefer madness style camp status, as the video box proclaims it to be the first film ever made concerning cocaine. Directors christy cabanne, john emerson genres comedy, short rating 7.
Directed by john emerson, the story was written by tod browning with intertitles by anita loos. This strange film from 1916, mystery of the leaping fish stars douglas fairbanks as coke ennyday, a detective with a substance problem which affects him at every opportunity. May 29, 2017 a history of screenwriting 23 in a series the mystery of the leaping fish 1916 this movie is insane, and i love it. Because in the 26 minutes that this gem of a film lasts, fairbanks character, coke ennyday genius partakes in enough drugs to kill the whole cast of trainspotting 10 times over. Mar 06, 2017 the mystery of the leaping fish was also released as an extra on the kino version of the gaucho like what youre reading. I may accidentally slide away from the film subject altogether in order to just combine vowels and consonants at random. Coke ennyday, a cocaineshooting detective parody of sherlock holmes injects himself with opium from a bandolier of syringes worn across his chest and liberally helps himself to the contents of a hatboxsized round. Directed by john emerson, the story was written by tod browning. The mystery of the leaping fish was released as an extra on the kino version of the gaucho and was also included in flicker alleys wondrous box set of early fairbanks films. In 1916, rubens signed with triangle film corporation.
To help the police he discovers a contraband of opium. Coke ennyday douglas fairbanks sits in his laboratory. Dec 15, 2014 that the mystery of the leaping fish was made in 1916 by one of the most famous people in the entire world at that time is perplexing. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 by popegrutch.
The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 is a short film starring douglas fairbanks and bessie love. Not so much for its quality, mind you, but its quantity. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 douglas fairbanks in the mystery of the leaping. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 with douglas fairbanks as coke ennyday, a parody of sherlock holmes. Fairbanks downs drugs with abandon, wears outrageous disguises, dances. The mystery of the leaping fish il cinema ritrovato. Griffith and tod browning, although only the latter received billing. While hes noted for his string of swashbuckling roles, here are 11 ancient film treasures from before fairbanks pirate days including the mystery of the leaping fish 1916, reaching for the moon 1930, when the clouds roll by 1919 and more, digitally mastered from 35 mm or original negative sources featuring music by eric beheim, philip carli, frederick hodges and more.
Coming out the same year as william gillettes sherlock holmes, the mystery of the leaping fish stars fairbanks as private detective coke ennyday, who investigates a dopesmuggling millionaire who wants to marry by force the beautiful girl who rents floats at the beach. The film was directed by john emerson, and is based on a story written by tod browning. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 the mystery of the. The mystery of the leaping fish was also released as an extra on the kino version of the gaucho like what youre reading. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Sherlock holmes was written as a flawed individual, a mind so brilliant that, when deprived of stimulation, it turns to artificial stimulants namely, opium. The video quality of the parts of the film that were shown were excellent. Fairbanks stars as a sherlock holmeslike sleuth named coke ennyday, who juices himself with a syringe of cocaine to jolt himself upright, gulps mouthfuls.
Subsequent generations elevated it to cult status for its comic treatment of drug abuse. The mystery of the leaping fish wikimili, the free encyclopedia. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 comedy film youtube. With douglas fairbanks in the role of detective coke ennyday. It is undoubtedly one of the weirdest films of the silent era. A history of screenwriting 23 in a series the mystery of. Coke ennyday, the scientific detective, divides his time into periods of sleep, eat, dope and drinks. Oct 24, 2015 the most drug addled movie of all time. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 in 1916, hollywood megastar douglas fairbanks starred in the mystery of the leaping fish. Criticallyreviled in its day and all but disowned by its star, douglas fairbanks, the short was rediscovered by a more welcoming audience during the early days of home video. Douglas fairbanks seems to be channeling his inner ford sterling in this unusually broad comedy of drug abuse and seaside hijinks. I had seen bits and pieces of this film on a pbs broadcast about tod browning. Her first film for the company was the comedydrama reggie mixes in, starring douglas fairbanks. Oct 25, 2015 the mystery of the leaping fish was released as an extra on the kino version of the gaucho and was also included in flicker alleys wondrous box set of early fairbanks films.
With douglas fairbanks, bessie love, allan sears, tom wilson. The mystery of the leaping fish is a 1916 short comedy film directed by john emerson, starring douglas fairbanks. Pssst, want to check out the mystery of the leaping fish in our new look. A history of screenwriting 23 in a series the mystery. Fairbanks stars as coke ennyday, a goofy private detective who is asked by the local cops to investigate a newcomer to the area who is mysteriously wealthy. A relaxed place to share and discuss lesser known media. The mystery of the leaping fish is a 1916 short comedy film directed by john emerson, starring douglas fairbanks it is undoubtedly one of the weirdest films of the silent era. The mystery of the leaping fish sign up now to find fans of your favorite movies and shows. He snorts, injects and ingests massive quantities of narcotics during the course of the film and attempts to bust a drug ring. In between making successful, formulaic early comedies, fairbanks indulged in a couple of curiosities. It had been removed from cocacola in 1903, and im not sure but i think it was criminalized by. The nimble heartthrob stars as coke ennyday, the worlds greatest scientific detective.
1417 148 1434 229 307 303 645 858 778 412 1462 127 1192 1553 314 205 844 1377 1596 799 332 425 862 223 908 1277 206 904 519 834 336 673 457 828 134 420 1454 719 1204 1277 895 1182 915 870 539 1127 606 721 1198