Robin Hood is a 1922 film about the classic Medieval hero from English folklore, the kind-hearted man who stole from the rich and gave to the poor alongside his gang of Merry Men. The film is presented by Douglas Fairbanks, who wrote, directed, and starred in this classic example of early Hollywood cinema. Wallace Beery plays King Richard The Lion-Hearted, the brave King who has led a group of warriors away to fight in the Crusades. A skilled archer and swordsman by the name of Earl of Huntingdon joins the King's war party. Prince John, the King's brother, has been left in charge in the King's absence. Prince John quickly begins abusing his power, and when Earl of Huntingdon learns of Nottingham's misfortune he returns home to defeat the corrupt regent. He adopts the name Robin Hood and begins a guerrilla campaign against the powerful and villainous Prince John, hoping to cripple the regent's power structure and maintain order in the King's absence. Robin Hood is a silent film from the early days of American filmmaking, and it was the first film in history to receive a formal Hollywood premier.moreless
