April, 1922 - With more excitation, enthusiasm, and technical achievement, Robin Hood has proven to be Douglas Fairbanks best film to date. Financed by Fairbanks himself, at a cost of over $1.5 million, the brilliant production was made in a new studio located on Santa Monica Boulevard housing the largest movie sets ever created.
Art Director William Buckland's spectacular settings included the building (by 500 workers) of a castle that required 90-foot-high walls. The action scenes themselves had Fairbanks exceeding anything he had previously done.
Initially, after reviewing the project and its script, Fairbanks had not wanted to play the legendary hero of Sherwood Forest stating, "I don't want to play a flat-footed Englishman". Fortunately for United Artists, and the movie viewing public (not to mention Fairbanks himself), he was persuaded to take on the role.
Starring – Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. (Robin Hood/Earl of Huntingdon), Wallace Beery (King Richard), Enid Bennett (Lady Marion Fitzwalter), Sam De Grasse (Prince John).
Description – A silent classic that established Robin Hood as one of the most loved heros in film history. With King Richard off fighting in the Crusades, his brother Prince John is left to rule his kingdom.
With encouragement from Sir Guy of Gisbourne, Prince John seeks total control of the kingdom and soon is revealed to be no more than a cruel and betraying tyrant. When Lady Marions’s word of John’s treachery reaches the Earl of Huntingdon who has accompanied King Richard on the Crusades he returns to England to oppose Prince John and return Richard to the throne.
It is now that the Earl assumes the identity of Robin Hood, champion of the oppressed, and with his band of loyal followers begins to “rob the rich, and give to the poor.” It doesn’t take long for these actions to get the attention and draw the ire of Prince John leading to an exciting final confrontation.
NOTABLE: Robin Hood was the first motion picture to have a grand Hollywood premiere. The premiere was held at the then Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre.
This film was entirely financed and produced by Douglas Fairbanks for his own production company, Douglas Fairbanks Picture Corporation which was jointly owned by Fairbanks, his wife Mary Pickford, D. W. Griffith, and Charles Chaplin.
Actor Alan Hale, Sr. was so effective in the role of Little John that he would play the character again in 1938′s The Adventures of Robin Hood , with Errol Flynn and 1950′s Rogues of Sherwood Forest.
The castle built for this production is considered to be the largest Hollywood set built for a silent picture.
Starring - Douglas Fairbanks (Don Diego Vega/Zorro), Marguerite De La Motte (Lolita Pulido), Noah Berry, Sr (Sargeant Pedro Gonzales).
Description – A classic, swashbuckling, silent motion picture that started Douglas Fairbanks on his way to becoming an American action film legend.
Based on the 1919 story The Curse of Capistrano by Johnston McCulley this movie offers a variety of plot twists, romance, swordplay, and comedy as Zorro helps the early 19th century citizens of old Spanish California escape oppressions from both the colonial government and rich landowners. This proved to be a fantastically popular silent film.
NOTABLE: Douglas Fairbanks produced this film for his own production company, Douglas Fairbanks Picture Corporation; and was the first release for United Artists.
The instantly recognizable vision of Zorro with black mask, black clothing and hat originated in this film.
