For years we have only known the Douglas Fairbanks of the swashbucklers which has done this true pioneer of cinema a huge disservice. Some of it can be attributed to Doug himself who embraced his new swashbuckler image and wanted nothing to do with his contemporary comedy character. That combined with the virtual disappearance of almost all Artcraft Pictures allowed Doug’s original persona to slip into oblivion. Now, thanks to David Shepard and Film Preservation Associates, we have the opportunity to see these early films and to see what an influence Doug had on the comedians who were to follow especially Buster Keaton and Harold LLoyd.
Of the new material, A MODERN MUSKETEER not only foreshadows Doug’s costume adventures of the 1920s but also Keaton’s STEAMBOAT BILL JR and Lloyd’s HOT WATER which feature similar gags. It also gives us a wonderful glimpse into filmmaking before the 1920s when the Hollywood studio system and it’s predictability began to undermine the creativity of films and what could be done with them. AS THE CLOUDS ROLL BY in particular shows the creativity that Doug put into his films and what was lost after the creation of United Artists when both Doug and Mary Pickford’s films got bigger but not necessarily better..
To anyone interested in the early days of film, this set is invaluable. What Doug was doing before 1920 was truly eye opening and needs to be seen today to show us just how much of an impact he had on how American cinema developed. The set comes with 5 DVDs that show Fairbanks’ development as a performer and a booklet with plenty of details on the history of his early films and how they influenced those that followed. The musical accompaniment by various performers is also first rate. This set belongs in every silent film collection and is yet another top quality release from Flicker Alley. Expensive yes, but well worth it.
The Capsule Critic 