Then theres the leaping fish mystery, well its an inflatable water toy in the. The film is so druggy its hard to believe something like itof that vintage especiallyeven exists. Fairbanks stars as a sherlock holmeslike sleuth named coke ennyday, who juices himself with a syringe of cocaine to jolt himself upright, gulps mouthfuls. Oct 28, 2011 fairbanks classic sherlock holmes parody. The 3reel comedy the mystery of the leaping fish is the kind of movie that the word bizarre was created for. It is undoubtedly one of the weirdest films of the silent era. This film probably singlehandedly launched the war on drugs. To help the police he discovers a contraband of opium which he eagerly tastes transported with leaping fishes, and the blackmail of a mysterious man who wants to marry the fish blower girl. 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. Mar 11, 2017 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. Douglas fairbanks seems to be channeling his inner ford sterling in this unusually broad comedy of drug abuse and seaside hijinks. The dvd appears to have been recorded from a 10th generation vhs tape. Stay away from this version of the mystery of the leaping fish. The missing catch from living oceans foundation on vimeo around the world millions of people depend on fish, but what if were running out.
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. 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 was also released as an extra on the kino version of the gaucho like what youre reading. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 by popegrutch. This is a very funny film, even for todays wit and humor, its full of. I may accidentally slide away from the film subject altogether in order to just combine vowels and consonants at random. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 douglas fairbanks plays a drugaddled detective in this cult classic. A history of screenwriting 23 in a series the mystery of. 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 il cinema ritrovato. The mystery of the leaping fish stars douglas fairbanks as coke ennyday, the scientific detective.
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. With douglas fairbanks, bessie love, allan sears, tom wilson. Old coke divides his time between, as the movie so. 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. The film was directed by john emerson, and is based on a story written by tod browning. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 is a short film starring douglas fairbanks and bessie love. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 comedy film youtube. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 is an american short silent comedy film starring douglas fairbanks and bessie love. The mystery of the leaping fish is a 1916 american short silent comedy film. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 the mystery of the. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 plot summary imdb. To help the police he discovers a contraband of opium. 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 the arthur conan doyle.
The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 video dailymotion. 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. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 directed by christy. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 movie moviefone. 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. 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. Griffith and tod browning, although only the latter received billing. The mystery of the leaping fish is a 1916 short comedy film directed by john emerson, starring douglas fairbanks. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 with douglas fairbanks. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 douglas fairbanks. You must consent to marry fishy joe within the week. May 14, 2016 the mystery of the leaping fish 1916 with douglas fairbanks as coke ennyday, a parody of sherlock holmes. 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. The mystery of the leaping fish wikimili, the free encyclopedia.
The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 with douglas fairbanks as coke ennyday, a parody of sherlock holmes. In this sherlock holmes parody, douglas fairbanks as the worlds greatest scientific detective, coke ennyday, seeks to uncover the mysterious source of a. Overview of mystery of the leaping fish, 1916, directed by john emerson, with douglas fairbanks, at turner classic movies. Jan 21, 2012 the mystery of the leaping fish 1916 is a short film starring douglas fairbanks and bessie love. Coke ennyday, the scientific detective, divides his own time in periods for sleep, eat, dope and drink. The video quality of the parts of the film that were shown were excellent. Bg seriously, the preceding years were interesting times for legal cocaine in america. A history of screenwriting 23 in a series the mystery of the leaping fish 1916 this movie is insane, and i love it.
To help the police, he tracks down a contraband of opium which he eagerly tastes transported within leaping fishes, saving a. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 the movie database. May 30, 2017 the mystery of the leaping fish 1916 is a short film starring douglas fairbanks and bessie love. He snorts, injects and ingests massive quantities of narcotics during the course of the film and attempts to bust a drug ring. Media in category the mystery of the leaping fish the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total.
It had been removed from cocacola in 1903, and im not sure but i think it was criminalized by. Pssst, want to check out the mystery of the leaping fish in our new look. The mystery of the leaping fish tod browning and anita loos home of the worlds greatest scientific detective, coke ennyday. Douglas fairbanks appeared in this oddity of a film from 1916, supposedly cowritten by the star himself, d. Music by sunsetmain brought to you by don max lindeman. The mystery of the leaping fish is an american silent movie produced by triangle film corporation released on 11 june 1916 usa, starring douglas. The mystery of the leaping fish times movie tickets. As government and industry regulators track the quantity of fish we catch, and claim the oceans can handle the huge catches, fish numbers keep dropping. And now, if youll allow me, i must temporarily take my leave because this german count must sniff snuff. Ennydays fish isnt fast enough, so he injects it with coke and catches up to the smugglers. The mystery of the leaping fish is rarity, a film that even today astonishes the audience with its superb political incorrectness, a surreal, indescribable and unclassifiable film. Arthur benjamin reeve 18801936, was a graduate of princeton and.
In this bit, the girl is captured while snooping on a opium gang and shes hastily bundled up in some white fabric like a parcel, carried off and. 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 film has previously been available on a number of vhs tapes transferred from lousy 16mm reduction prints. May 12, 20 the 3reel comedy the mystery of the leaping fish is the kind of movie that the word bizarre was created for. 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. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 douglas fairbanks the silent film channel.
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. 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. Written by tod browning dracula, freaks, london after midnight and directed by john emmerson music. 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. Parody, absurdist comedy, drugsploitation, slapstick. John emersons tworeeler, conceived by that beloved humorist of the cinema, tod browning, is the birth of a nation of drug comedies. Mar 09, 2016 the mystery of the leaping fish tod browning and anita loos home of the worlds greatest scientific detective, coke ennyday.
Coke ennyday took no chances on admitting a visitor without consulting his scientific periscope. Directed by john emerson, the story was written by tod browning with intertitles by anita loos. 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. 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. Mystery of the leaping fish web rip bessie love plays the fish blower girl in this oddball silent comedy by douglas fairbanks, who plays a detective who believes drugs give him super abilities. The mystery of the leaping fish is a 1916 american short silent comedy film starring douglas fairbanks, bessie love, and alma rubens. Directed by john emerson, the story was written by tod browning with intertitles by anita loos a 35 mm print of the film still exists in its entirety and is currently in the public domain. Mystery of the leaping fish and chess fever 19161925usaussr. I had seen bits and pieces of this film on a pbs broadcast about tod browning. 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. In fact hes used to overcome every situation with drugs. A relaxed place to share and discuss lesser known media. Youll have to complete your refund and exchange before the posted showtime indicated on your ticket. The adventures of sherlock holmes 19841985, the return of sherlock holmes 19861988, the casebook of sherlock holmes 19911993 and the memoirs of sherlock holmes 1994, collectively known as sherlock holmes, are a series of adaptations of arthur conan doyles sherlock holmes stories which were produced by granada television and originally broadcast by itv in the united kingdom.
Before gaining fame as an action hero, douglas fairbanks appeared in this oddity of a film from 1916, supposedly cowritten by the star himself. Rubens is gaunt, hollow, her fragile health on full display. The mystery of the leaping fish wikimili, the free encyclopedia wi. 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.
Tod browning wrote the story for the mystery of the leaping fish while recovering from serious injuries in a 1915 auto accident. Douglas fairbanks as detective coke ennyday in this silent movie classic spoof on sherlock holmes. The mystery of the leaping fish 1916 century film project. 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. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the mystery of the leaping fish near you. In this unusually broad comedy for fairbanks, the acrobatic. When they bring in their leaping fish to the bath house, he watches from the rafters after a typically acrobatic leap as they pull opium out of the fish. In this unusually broad comedy for fairbanks, the acrobatic leading man plays coke ennyday, a.
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