Robin Hood (1922)

Robin Hood (1922)
Robin Hood was a dream project for dashing Douglas Fairbanks and he brought the full resources of his studio to the film, building the largest standing set ever for Prince John's magnificent castle and filling open plains with thousands of extras. The sense of scale still awes audiences, yet none of it detracts from the vigorous presence of Fairbanks, a hearty hero with grace, gymnastic prowess, and a sense of humor as big as Sherwood Forest. It takes some time for this first incarnation of the great bandit hero to get started--the first hour is a little slow as it establishes the conflict between Prince John and the Earl of Huntington (Fairbanks) in moody scenes inside the dark, torch-lit castle. But when the disenfranchised Earl transforms into forest warrior Robin Hood with a gazelle-like entrance, the film becomes a sweeping adventure classic full of swordfights, jousts, larger-than-life stunts, and Fairbanks's brand of jaunty heroism. Allan Dwan balances the enormous sense of scale with scenes of intimacy and quiet, all realized in a rich black-and-white palette of contrasts both bold and delicate. Wallace Beery costars as Richard the Lionhearted with Fairbanks favorite Sam De Grasse as the villainous Prince John and Alan Hale as Robin's faithful squire turned comrade in arms Little John, a role he also played in the famous Errol Flynn remake of 1938. Fairbanks fans each have their favorites, but all agree than none is as magnificent as Robin Hood. --Sean Axmaker
Customer Review: "Damn their black hides! I'll lash them till they bleat!" Robin Hood
We are watching a 1.4 million dollar early production of "Robin Hood" (1922). The sets were the most expensive at the time. King Richard the Lion-Hearted (Wallace Beery) oversees a tournament just before the great crusades. The winner of course is a night The Earl of Huntingdon (Douglas Fairbanks.) What does he win? The right to be Richards's right hand man in the Crusades. Richard knowing that the Earl is woman shy forces the winner to be surrounded by every female available. While the king is away on the Crusades, his brother has a plan in process to userp the thrown and practices his evil ways on the people of England. Can no one save them? Is there no leader to champion their cause against oppression? This is the KINO international film. We are al familiar with the most popular version of Robin Hood and this film pretty much follows form. However (it just may be from watching it nearly a century later) Lady Marian Fitzwalter (Enid Bennett) looks like a sixties hippy. Who ever picked the music? The film is almost better off without it; this is some sort of electronic concoction. Of course after the fact better versions of the story were filmed. However that can not distract that this one was a biggie in its day; the premiere was held at Grauman's brand new Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. To get a better background on the story I suggest you read about the cinematic history of Robin. Robin Hood: A Cinematic History of the English Outlaw and His Scottish Counterparts by Scott Allen Nollen (May 1999) Robin Hood: A Cinematic History of the English Outlaw and His Scottish Counterparts
Customer Review: Douglas Fairbanks-Robin Hood DVD
1922 (silent-version) The first version of Robin Hood, with Douglas Fairbanks is a great movie. My favorite scene is the jousting tournament at the beginning of the movie. The movie cost $1 million in 1922, a huge sum for a new art form at the time. The movie is unintentionally funny at times, because the actor playing Richard the Lionhearted is Wallace Beery, who I know better as the gravelly voiced character actor from so many old westerns. This story of Robin Hood, focuses more on the Crusades, Richard Lionheart and Robin Hood. Rather than the story of Robin Hood, Maid Marian, and Prince John. That most of us are more familiar with. You can see where the 1938 movie, The Adventures of Robin Hood got its ideas for sets, as well as story points. Although, in 1938, they definitely had to have a better script writer. So if you are a fan of silent movies, movie history, or the immortal Douglas Fairbanks. I'd definitely put this movie on my list as one to get. This DVD may not work on all portable DVD players, it does however work on your PC, or any DVD player, attached to a TV set. I only add this, because the DVD, which I purchased from Amazon did not work correctly on my portable 7 inch Audiovox player. However, I had no trouble playing the disc, on any other player, I tested.