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OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 731

When the Clouds Roll By

191975 minUnited States

Video edition: Wikimedia Commons
Original language: No spoken dialogue. Intertitles: English.
This copy runs: 84:31
Subtitles: No subtitle track in this language

Languages and subtitles

No subtitle track in this language

Wikimedia Commons · Victor Fleming · Public domain

Synopsis

Daniel believes that broken mirrors, black cats and other bad signs are making his life collapse. He does not know that a psychiatrist is arranging his misfortunes as an experiment. Love briefly offers relief, but another scheme and a dangerous flood keep turning his efforts to regain control into an increasingly physical battle against apparent bad luck.

Cast

Douglas Fairbanks

DirectorsVictor Fleming Theodore Reed

Behind the scenes

The comedy uses exaggerated dreams and athletic visual gags to represent the hero's fears. Its elaborate movement through impossible domestic spaces gives Fairbanks's physical performance an unusually fantastic setting.

Sources and availability

General references identify the work and its copy. A reference beside an editorial section is linked to the claims checked in that section.

Wikipedia — film reference Wikidata — film identity and credits

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

The public-domain references concern the original films in the United States. Rights can differ for other countries, editions, restorations, music or translations. Sources are listed on each film page.

Availability checked on September 12, 2026.

Photograph credit

Photographs cropped, resized and optimized as WebP, displayed in monochrome.

Douglas Fairbanks — Harris & Ewing · Public domain

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