It's interesting today that we all know of Douglas Fairbanks as an action-adventure hero from movies like "Robin Hood", "the Mark of Zorro" and "The Black Pirate". That's because he also made quite a few wonderful comedies early in his career--and they are truly some of the best of the 1910s. He was an amazingly versatile actor and was able to use his prodigious athleticism in comedies as well. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of examples of his comedies out there--so you may have to dig a bit. Fortunately, "Flirting With Fate" is in the public domain and can be downloaded from a link on IMDb--and it's well worth your time--particularly if you are a fan of silent comedy.
The film finds Fairbanks a poor painter. While he's very good, he has not yet been discovered. He also has a problem because he's infatuated with a rich young lady whose family won't approve of his seeing her because of his low station in life. Fortunately, he has a friend who loans him some clothes and introduces him to the girl and her family--and perhaps they'll like him enough to ignore his poverty.
Through some very bad timing, Douglas has a very bad day. First, his lady friend THINKS he's interested in another lady and refuses to see him. Next, someone offers him a small fortune for his painting of this lady but he refuses to sell--only to have a thief steal it from him! Then, the money he expected to be able to borrow from a friend is not coming....and he feels like killing himself. He tries but is unsuccessful, so he comes up with the idea of paying a guy to murder him! The guy is a lowlife, so he's thrilled to get the job and agrees to kill Fairbanks.
A short time later, suddenly Fairbanks life does a complete turnaround. The mix up with the lady is resolved and she wants to marry him, the painting is found AND he inherits $1,000,000---but there still is an assassin out there waiting to kill him---even though now he is desperate to live. It's all very, very clever and funny and I won't tell you more about how it all gets resolved. Watch this one--it is a treasure...and as funny as anything from the comedy greats of the era. Once again, Fairbanks proves he's up there with the best of them with a great script, wonderful stunts and a great pace that keeps you watching and cheering for him.
The film finds Fairbanks a poor painter. While he's very good, he has not yet been discovered. He also has a problem because he's infatuated with a rich young lady whose family won't approve of his seeing her because of his low station in life. Fortunately, he has a friend who loans him some clothes and introduces him to the girl and her family--and perhaps they'll like him enough to ignore his poverty.
Through some very bad timing, Douglas has a very bad day. First, his lady friend THINKS he's interested in another lady and refuses to see him. Next, someone offers him a small fortune for his painting of this lady but he refuses to sell--only to have a thief steal it from him! Then, the money he expected to be able to borrow from a friend is not coming....and he feels like killing himself. He tries but is unsuccessful, so he comes up with the idea of paying a guy to murder him! The guy is a lowlife, so he's thrilled to get the job and agrees to kill Fairbanks.
A short time later, suddenly Fairbanks life does a complete turnaround. The mix up with the lady is resolved and she wants to marry him, the painting is found AND he inherits $1,000,000---but there still is an assassin out there waiting to kill him---even though now he is desperate to live. It's all very, very clever and funny and I won't tell you more about how it all gets resolved. Watch this one--it is a treasure...and as funny as anything from the comedy greats of the era. Once again, Fairbanks proves he's up there with the best of them with a great script, wonderful stunts and a great pace that keeps you watching and cheering for him.