Watch The Mystery of the Leaping Fish

The Mystery of the Leaping Fish is a silent comedy film released in 1916, directed by John Emerson and starring Douglas Fairbanks in the lead role. It is a parody of the detective genre and follows the escapades of the character Coke Ennyday, a private detective who is addicted to cocaine. The film is a short one, running for only 25 minutes, and is split into three parts. In the first part, we see Coke Ennyday, the "scientific detective," waking up in his apartment after a night of partying. He is immediately shown taking a hit of cocaine, which he snorts through a cigarette holder, and then proceeds to prepare for his day by dressing in his signature white suit and fedora.

He is then called to a case by a rich woman who has lost her pearl necklace. Coke Ennyday immediately sets to work on the case, but does not get very far before he runs out of cocaine. This leads to a strange sequence where he visits a doctor, who overprescribes him a large quantity of cocaine. As he leaves the doctor's office, he is accosted by a group of drug pushers, to whom he gives a visiting card as a promise to pay for more drugs.

In the second part, Coke Ennyday returns to the case and discovers a clue. This leads him to a Mexican gangster and his henchmen, who are holed up in an apartment. Coke Ennyday uses his wit and athleticism to defeat the gangsters and retrieve the necklace, but not before using his cocaine as a weapon against them.

In the final part, Coke Ennyday is given a medal for his courageous acts, but immediately squanders it by using the medal to buy more cocaine. He is then shown in a dream sequence, where he takes over the country as its leader, still under the influence of cocaine.

The film is a hilarious and at times absurd take on the detective genre, with Douglas Fairbanks bringing his signature charm and athleticism to the role of Coke Ennyday. The film uses visual gags and slapstick comedy to great effect, with Fairbanks engaging in daredevil stunts and surreal antics. The cinematography and editing are also excellent, with the film making use of jump cuts and other innovative techniques.

One of the most interesting elements of the film is its portrayal of drug addiction. While the film is not sympathetic to Coke Ennyday's addiction, it also does not condemn him outright. Rather, it portrays his addiction as a quirk that makes him both more and less effective as a detective. The film also comments on the wider cultural attitudes towards drug use at the time, with drug pushers depicted as a minor nuisance rather than a major societal problem.

Overall, The Mystery of the Leaping Fish is a delightful and surprisingly daring film, with a unique visual style and a memorable performance from Douglas Fairbanks. It is a testament to the inventiveness of silent cinema and a must-see for fans of the medium.

The Mystery of the Leaping Fish is a 1916 documentary with a runtime of 26 minutes.