Scott Lord on Silent Film

Scott Lord on Silent Film
Gendered spectatorship notwithstanding, in a way, the girl coming down the stairs is symbolic of the lost film itself, the unattainable She, idealized beauty antiquated (albeit it being the beginning of Modernism), with the film detective catching a glimpse of the extratextural discourse of periodicals and publicity stills concerning Lost Films, Found Magazines

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Scott Lord Silent Film: Reaching for the Moon (Emerson, Loos, 1917)

Anita Loos coscripted the 1917 film "Reaching for the Moon" (five reels) with its director John Emerson. John Emerson also that year directed Douglas Fairbanks in the film "Down to Earth", which Fairbanks co-wrote with Emerson and Anita Loos. Douglas Fairbanks is paired in the both films with actress Eileen Percy.

Doulgas Fairbanks appeared in several films during 1918, among those having been directed by Alan Dwan having been the lost five reel films "He Comes Up Smiling", with Marjorie Daw, scenarioized by Frances Marion, "Mr. Fix It" with "four talented and pretty leading ladies" (Motion Picture News) Marjorie Daw Catherine McDonald, Margaret Landis and Wanda Hawley, and "Bound in Morrocco" with Pauline Curley. Fairbanks also that year starred in the five reel films "Arizona" (Alan Parker) and "Heading South" (Arthur Rosen).

Like the Lost Silent Film "Knickerbocker Buckaroo", in which Douglas Fairbanks stars, the film "He Comes Up Smiling" does not exist, there being no surving copies at present, but its Exhibitor's Press Book does, offering a glimpse of what the film was like with extratextural duscourse from the first run of the film, explaing the theme of Lost Films, Found Magazines I try to connect films with on the internet. The Press Book read,"Douglas Fairbanks a Tramp in 'He Comes Up Smiling', his new photocomedy of The Road. Story filled with unusual action even for this Athletic Artcraft star is one of exceptional interest." The press book mentions Fairbanks driving an automobile down the side of a mountain with "Fairbanks Does Thrilling Feats, Dangerous Automobile Drive".
Untill film detectives find a copy of Douglas Fairbanks directed by Alan Dwan during 1918 in "Bound in Morrocco" , to "Lost Films, Found Magazines" it also remains another film that doesn't exist and another Exhibitor's Press Book that does.
Lost Silent Film Silent Film Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Fairbanks Lost Silent Film

No comments: