What other actor could leap around Sherwood Forest like Doug does? It is almost skipping! Certainly Errol Flynn was too butch for such things - and Kevin Costner couldn't do a jig if his ass was on fire. But beautiful balletic Fairbanks proves here that he was the ultimate swashbuckling hero - skipping and all! Needless to say his stunts are superb, the sets amazing and the crowd scenes crowded (have there ever been that many merry men ever?).
Allan Dwan was not the greatest silent director - his visual style is not as strong as say Fred Niblo or Rex Ingram - but there are some memorable visuals - and a particularly gorgeous final image.
The film gets off to a rather slow start - I could have done with less of the build-up to the Sherwood scenes, which are certainly the highlight. But Wallace Beery, Enid Bennett and Alan Hale (he played Little John again in 1939) are all excellent. Special mention should go to Sam De Grasse as the villainous Prince John - he is terrific. The rest of the characters don't get much of a look in - it's Fairbanks all the way - and who can resist that?
Allan Dwan was not the greatest silent director - his visual style is not as strong as say Fred Niblo or Rex Ingram - but there are some memorable visuals - and a particularly gorgeous final image.
The film gets off to a rather slow start - I could have done with less of the build-up to the Sherwood scenes, which are certainly the highlight. But Wallace Beery, Enid Bennett and Alan Hale (he played Little John again in 1939) are all excellent. Special mention should go to Sam De Grasse as the villainous Prince John - he is terrific. The rest of the characters don't get much of a look in - it's Fairbanks all the way - and who can resist that?