The films of 1914 continue to explore the burlesque and surreal vein whilst others mark an evolution towards the period comedy. In some way, Deed’s comedy becomes subtler. A film like Une extraordinaire aventure de Boireau, is an example of this and about which Petr Kràl writes: “Deed’s buffoonery feeds an insolent social provocation that, much earlier than Chaplin, reveals the ‘subversive’ potential of the burlesque and its innate lack of respect for hierarchies. Joined by their backs following an accident, a rich socialite and a tramp reveal the relativity of their status by dragging each other in each other’s environments, that is by taking each other’s place. When, back-to-back with his double, the tramp empties without problems the trays of a rich reception, the film reaches the violence of a carnival like release that returns once again at the end, including its hidden metaphysics. Finally separated with a saw the two characters move away from the camera showing the picture of their vertebral column, roughly outlined with chalk on their jackets”.

Jean A. Gili