Douglas Fairbanks

Robin Hood (1922) Douglas Fairbanks

Allan Dwan's production of the tale, starring Douglas Fairbanks as the eponymous hero, was the first to include most of the elements that would become familiar to film audiences in the many later versions. One of the most expensive films of the 1920s, it required the construction of the entire village of Nottingham, one of the most elaborate sets of the era. The film opens with the Earl of Huntingdon besting Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Paul Dickey)is a joust. Huntingdon soon joins King Richard the Lionhearted (Wallace Beery) to fight in the Crusades against the infidels. Upon hearing that the nefarious Prince John (Sam de Grasse) has usurped Richard's throne, Huntingdon immediately returns to Nottingham, adopting the name of Robin Hood. Leading a band that steals from the rich to give to the poor, he makes life miserable for Prince John and his cohorts Sir Guy and the Sheriff of Nottingham (William Lowery). But after rescuing Maid Marian (Enid Bennett) from the clutches of Prince John, Robin himself is captured. Fairbanks is at his acrobatic best in this spectacular production which features a fine cast including a surprising Beery as the benign king.