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May 31, 2008Cloudy MondayDavid JeffersWhen the Clouds Roll by (1919) Youthful enthusiasm, show-stopping feats of athletic lunacy and hilarious, eye-catching gimmicks were Douglas Fairbanks’ stock-in-trade. When the Clouds Roll by (1919) opens cleverly with film of the crew as their names appear on screen. A psychologist treating Daniel Boone Brown (Fairbanks) secretly plans to drive him insane in the name of science. After a prescribed bedtime supper of onions, lobster and mince pie, Daniel is chased through his stomach and across the countryside by his bizarre meal, in a brilliant surrealist nightmare. Perpetually late for work, Daniel gets the sack, then wanders around until he literally bumps into Lucette (Kathleen Clifford), a girl as nutty as himself, and the two are instantly smitten. "Are you superstitious?" "Terribly so …" Needles!" "Pins!" Her hayseed fiancé arrives just in time to spoil their plans. A frantic chase by boat and train concludes with a storm, a colossal flood and finally, true love. Christmas at The Coliseum … The Sunday Seattle Times advertised Douglas Fairbanks in, When the Clouds Roll by on December 20, 1919 at the Coliseum Theater under direction of Jensen and Von Herberg, with, "Keates on the Wurlitzer" featuring, "El Capitan … Sousa, Gypsy Love Song … Herbert, Sextette … Donizetti and Southern Melodies. Concert – 1:30 Today." Also on the bill, "Symphony Orchestra 31 artists, under Reginald Dunn, playing the overture, 1812, by Tschaikovsky," and "Coliseum’s News Service." "Noah said it! When the clouds roll by, we ought to have good weather."
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ARGH! I am green with envy- I'd love to see this film. Is it available on DVD?
Alas, it is only available on VHS. Check the AFI web page for this film (I attached the link). I don't recall which of the companies my copy came from, but I suspect only one or two of the four listed will still have it. My copy has an indescribably dreadful musical accompaniment, but the print and transfer is very acceptable. Of the pre-action-adventure/costume-drama Fairbanks pictures, The Mollycoddle (1920) is my favorite, but this one is right behind it!
Dennis reprised his 2004 SFSFF performance of a beautiful score written for the film in the 1950s. Hopefully, THAT will be included if it does ever come out on DVD.
I fell in love with Doug and WHEN THE CLOUDS ROLL BY. I watched it off of his DVD collection A MODERN MUSKETEER.
It is such a zany, creative movie, with incredible special effects. Just as you thought it couldn't get any zanier, they introduce something wittier and more creative. Some of my favorite scenes are -- his dream sequence at the beginning after he's had a bad combination of foods to eat; his trick of holding/moving his trench coat and hat high above his head so he looks like he's getting taller from the back; his climbing, leaping, jumping over all kinds of buildings, walls, obstacles at the slightest opportunity; the fight between Reason and Anger/Fear, etc. His chemistry with his leading lady and their common superstitious beliefs was so much fun to watch!