Sherlock Holmes - 1916 - USA

Sherlock Holmes - 1916 - 6/10

 
Upon the death of her sister, Alice comes into possession of compromising letters.
The Prince hires Holmes to retrieve the letters, before a pair of schemers steal them.
Vintage Silent is not as creaky nor as stuffy as feared.
Excellent dissolve closeups, detailed sets, and a reworking of several stories.
Sherlock fans will have fun going, “Hey that’s from ‘Scandal In Bohemia’, and that‘s from…”
The real draw is seeing William Gillette, acclaimed stage actor, approved by Doyle.
Current print has been lovingly restored, and the supporting cast is Gillette’s theatrical troupe.
Bit melodramatic at times, just go with it.

Idle Wives - 1916 - USA

Idle Wives - 1916 - 6/10

 
Ah, domestic bliss.  Arguments and tantrums round the kitchen table.
Elsewhere, a husband dallies with an old flame, his suspicious wife spying from nearby.
While a young girl, defying her mother, goes out walking with a man of bad reputation.
By chance, all enter the movie palace to view “Life’s Mirror”.
Where they see on the silver screen, characters eerily enacting their own situations.
Morality film, brushed with melodrama, once feared lost, until two reels surfaced a few years ago.

Hoodoo Ann - 1916 - USA

Hoodoo Ann - 1916 - 6/10

 
Infant Ann was dumped off at the orphanage on Friday 13, and hard luck has been her lot since.
Mid-film, her inherent goodwill and generosity give her chance at happiness.
All the while, the hoodoo, the jinx, bides its time.
At an hour, this boasts enough plots for 3-4 films.
The orphanage scenes, domestic bliss in an unsettled neighborhood, a murder mystery!
Then there is the film within the film, “Mustang Charley’s Revenge” a Wild West melodrama.
Good role for Mae Marsh in a, at times exciting, if sweet little film.

Three “drug” films from the Silent era. 1912-1916 - USA

Sure, kid, why do you think they call it dope?

Three “drug” films from the Silent era.

For His Son - 1912 - 6/10

 
D W Griffith warns against the dangers of cola, especially DopoKoke.
An entrepreneur adds cocaine to his cola drink, hoping to leave a healthy business to his son.
Sales are robust, including those to the son who becomes addicted.
Note - At one time, Coca-Cola’s recipe included 9 milligrams of cocaine per 7 ounce bottle.
Although the amount gradually diminished, Coke did not become cocaine free until 1929.

The Devil’s Needle - 1916 - 6/10

 
Artist, in search of inspiration, borrows his model’s needle.
Wow, does that pep up the old vigor!
In no time flat, he is addicted, impoverished, and all but raving.
Slow beginning, and actor Tully Marshall is too old for the women who are attracted to him.
Norma Talmadge fine as model.  In fact, I usually see her as stuffy or starchy and she is warm and funny here.
Imaginative scene (above) of buzzed artist staring into fireplace, seeing pixies.

The Mystery Of The Leaping Fish - 1916 - 7/10

 
One of the funniest drug movies.
Douglas Fairbanks, as detective Coke Ennyday, consumes enough controlled substances to put him in company with Keith Richards and Mötley Crüe.
The leaping fish are inflatable fish, enjoyed by beach-goers riding the waves.
Police and Coke investigate dope smuggling, as well, although Mr Ennyday probably won’t turn any confiscated powder over to the evidence room.
Pace is frantic, with a stream of jokes and visual gags.  Story by Tod Browning.  
I still find it amazing this survives, let alone was made in the first place.

Flirting With Fate - 1916 - USA

Flirting With Fate - 1916 - 6/10

August is broke, behind on rent, can’t feed his two dogs. What’s his problem?
Oh, he’s a struggling artist. Say no more.
Still, he encounters a prim, starchy miss who makes his heart go boom-boom-boom.
Misunderstandings follow and then she troths to a rival.
In despair, Auggie hires Automatic Joe to murder him!
At which point, Fate laughs and turns the artist’s fortunes around.
Then the pace roars full throttle, with madcap chases, dizzying stunts, and farce humor.
Creaky film, threadbare plot, yet an excellent chance to witness Douglas Fairbanks in his prime.
Before he started making longer, heroic adventure films (not that those are lesser).