Robin Hood (1922) (DVD)

Known as "The King of Hollywood", screen legend Douglas Fairbanks plays the famed hero of British folklore in this silent classic. Armed only with a bow and arrow, Robin Hood is a good-hearted outlaw who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Together with his Merry Men, he struggles to free England from the tyrannical Prince John and win the hand of the lovely Maid Marian.

Robin Hood was the most expensive movie ever made at the time of its release in 1922. The extravagant sets were designed by Lloyd Wright, son of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, with King Richard's castle the largest set ever built for any silent film. Star Douglas Fairbanks wrote the screenplay himself, finding the legend of Robin Hood to be a natural follow-up to his swashbuckling roles in The Mark of Zorro (1920) and The Three Musketeers (1921). Alan Hale's performance as Little John was so popular with audiences that he was asked to play the character again in both The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950), making him the actor to have played the same role for the longest period of time in film history. Robin Hood would be honored with the first-ever gala premiere in Hollywood, held at the newly-opened Grauman's Egyptian Theater.

• silent