I think stars can change their image twice in a career, but no more (eg Hugh Grant – loveable and bumbling to bad boy). Douglas Fairbanks went from all-American boy to swashbuckling hero around this time with The Mark of Zorro – this was one of his last all-American boy movies, and it’s a real charmer. He plays a rich man who is a bit of a dill and tries to prove himself to the girl he loves – the same formula as His Picture in the Papers, really. But it’s a lot more accomplished and clever, and the photography was better – it looks great. It’s full of memorable gags: Doug getting out of bed and ready for work via an automated machine (this was really clever), see through photography of Doug climbing up a ventilator shaft, Cupid working as a telephone operator, the final marriage in front of the judge. Fairbanks is showing his age a little so he got off the treadmill at the right time.
No comments:
Post a Comment