The Mystery of the Leaping Fish is a short, silent comedy film from 1916 that features Douglas Fairbanks, Bessie Love, and Alma Rubens. The film was directed by John Emerson, and the story was written by Tod Browning with intertitles by Anita Loos.
Overview[]
In this film, Douglas Fairbanks plays a character named "Coke Ennyday", who is a parody of Sherlock Holmes. Ennyday is known for injecting himself with cocaine, which he keeps in a large container on his desk. He also wears a checkered detective hat and clothes and drives a car that is reminiscent of Holmes. In the film, Ennyday uses a device called a "scientific periscope" to observe visitors, which is similar to a closed-circuit television. The film displays a humorous attitude towards Ennyday's use of cocaine and laudanum, and he ultimately catches a group of drug smugglers, but only after sampling their opium himself.
Cast[]
- Douglas Fairbanks as Coke Ennyday/Himself
- Bessie Love as the little fish blower
- Alma Rubens as his female accomplice
- Allan Sears as Gent Rolling in Wealth (credited as A.D. Sears)
- Charles Stevens as Japanese Accomplice
- Tom Wilson as Police Chief I.M. Keene
- George Hall as Japanese accomplice (uncredited)
- William Lowery as gang leader (uncredited)
- Joe Murphy as footman on vehicle (uncredited)
- B.F. Zeidman as scenario editor (uncredited)