Two early Douglas Fairbanks features directed by Allan Dwan on blu ray
Kino Lorber’s classics division continues to offer outstanding films from the silent era with the release of “The Half Breed” and “The Good Bad Man.” Both films were released in 1916, during Doug’s time at Triangle studios, just as Fairbanks was making a real impact on the road to movie superstardom.
“The Good Bad Man” is only Doug’s fifth film, so it is quite early in his career. He would eventually help define the 1920s movie hero, but at this point he was exploring other genres and different styles of performance. He had just made a hit with the comedy “His Picture in the Papers” (1916), and this western furthered his movie stardom.
“The Half Breed” was released a few films later. Fairbanks would also appear in the bizarre two reeler “The Mystery of the Leaping Fish” and the dark comedy “Flirting With Fate” before starring in this film as the title character. While more offbeat in the realm of Fairbanks’ career, and not a box office success, it is a beautifully filmed, absorbing story that challenges concepts like prejudice and segregation.
The historical importance of these films is especially significant. During this period in his career, Fairbanks was engaging in comedies, dramas, and westerns, as he slowly made a name for himself on his journey to becoming one of the silent screen’s most beloved stars. The 1920s dazzling heroics of Fairbanks were yet to come, but his charismatic appearance and solid acting skills are already evident.
The character Fairbanks plays in “The Good Bad Man” is a cowboy called Passin’ Thru, who spends his time non-violently robbing stores and giving the wares to poor children. Acting as a veritable Robin Hood (a role he would play in a classic feature some years later), Fairbanks exhibits elements of the screen character by which he would be best known. “The Good Bad Man” is a foundational film in his career. It is a pleasant comic western and the heroics of Fairbanks are a factor in his screen characterization. There are elements that eventually became clichés (including a ride off into the sunset), but Fairbanks’ performance responds effectively to Allan Dwan’s stylistic direction. Dwan’s penchant for vast establishing shots are especially impressive here, as he utilizes the expansive scenery of the Mojave, California location. Diminutive Bessie Love registers nicely as his leading lady.
“The Half Breed” is more offbeat, with Fairbanks in the title role of a half-white, half-Native American who is abandoned and brought up by a white settler. When this father figure dies, the young man’s Indian blood prevents him from inheriting anything and he is cast out. While Fairbanks presented a solid character that commanded very scene, it was far more subdued than his usual performance. Dwan’s direction again makes use of beautiful location scenery, especially in the opening scenes that establish the narrative. An Indian woman, shamed for giving birth to a half-breed, climbs a mountain and commits suicide in full view of the white settler who rescues her baby. Dwan frames the action with vast negative space, the central figure surrounded by wilderness. The visual aesthetic of both films is also due to cinematographer Victor Fleming, who would become a top level director in his own right.
Kino Lorber’s blu ray, containing both of these films, is remarkable. The story behind the restoration of “The Half Breed” is as compelling as the movie itself. Gathering footage from various archives in order to patch together a complete subject, the journey necessary to assemble and release this historically important feature shows how significant film preservation is. The original 1916 release of “The Good Bad Man” is lost, so this restoration is culled from the 1923 re-release print. Both films look amazing, allowing us to appreciate the aforementioned visuals.
Both of these essential early Douglas Fairbanks movies are included, along with some welcome special features. There is a fascinating look at the restoration process for “The Half Breed,” along with informative commentary by quintessential Fairbanks expert Tracy Goessel (author of the Fairbanks biography “The First King of Hollywood”) and film preservationist Robert Byrne of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. Donald Sosin provides brilliant musical accompaniment.
“The Half Breed” is the lead film while “The Good Bad Man” is considered an extra. But both of these silent features are beautifully mounted and it is worth celebrating that they are accessible. They are an important contribution to the scholarship of cinema study. Highly recommended for libraries, research centers, archivists, historians, collectors, and fans of movie history.
The blu ray is available here.