The New York herald., 1922-10-31

The superiatives which movie press
agents have been coming during the past
ten years can now be put TO a profitable
and legitimate use. They can all De
wrapped UP. in bundles of twelve, and
applied to Douglas Fairbanlss's produc-
ton, "Robin Hood" which opened at the
Lyric last night.
For here Is a motion picture which is
so far ahead of any spectacle that has
ever gone before that 1t is impossible
10 appraise il in the same terms thau
have been applied TO previous efforts.
Ii represents the high water mark OF
film production--the farthest step that
the silent drama has ever taken along
the highroad of art. If any one picture
could be strong enough to lift the movies
from their much mooted infancy ana
carry them into a state of maturity,
robin Hood" is that one.
The first thing that must be consid-
cred is its size II is constructed upon
huge scale--it is breath taking in its
stupendousness. That, Of course, means
little. Many photoplays before this have
been huge and ponderous. But back OF all
this vast Aisnlay is an intelligence which
is indeed rare robin Hood did not
grow from the bank roll 1t grew from
the mind. And this is the chief reason
for its superiority.
Douglas Fairbanks set out to describe
the spirit of chivalry as 1t existed IN
Merrie England in the brave days when
Richard of the Lion Heart set forth with
his gallant knights on the First Crusade.
1t was then that chivalry flourished as
IL has never flourished since. 1T was
then that gentlemen were as noble as
they were brave---as gentle as they were
strong.
MIR. Fairbanks himself wrote the story
He started with the departure for the
Crusade, then showed how the bold Earl
of Huntingdon returned 70 England TO
defend the absent Richard and to curb
the oppression of Prince John. ihis
much occupies the first half.
In the second act (f that's what you
call IT'D the Earl of Huntingdon appears
in a new guse--as Robin Hood, the
leader of an outlaw band of sturdy fel-
lows who lived in Sherwood Forest and
fought for God, for England and FOR
Richard. They robbed the rich and sue
cored the poor They punished the proud
and protected the meek.
1t is in this part OF the picture that
Douglas Fairbanks really lets himsef
go He is a superb Artagnan for
Robin Hood. because of his mythlcai
quality. Is essentially far more ro-
mantle figure than the dashing Gascon
of Dumas's story. Mr.. Fairbanks climbs
I'D castle walls. leaps over moats ana
slides down tapestries. The size of the
settings allows plenty Of scope for his
strenuous activities.
AS the Earl of Huntington, Mr.. Fair
banks is a splendid knight-dignifled,
erect and utterly fearless. AS Robin
Hood. he Is wild. irrepressihle fellow
who is always having n perfectly glori-
Gus time. The contrast between the
two characters is carefully drawn ana
! entirely consistent.
! Allan Dwan directed robin Hood. "
and his contribution to the general
| worth of the production should not be
! overlooked He handled the tremendous
mobs skiIlfully, without forgetting that
| they should be nothing more than back
grounds for the real action of the play.
! He managed to focus the camera upon
| the principals. so that the dramatic IN
terest is never submerged.
We remember one incident particu-
! larly--a love scene between Mr. Fair
banks and Enid Bennett in the early
mart of the picture. For an unusually
| long time they stand together on bal
| cony. merely looking at each other.
| There are no sub-titles TO describe their
emotions. and no boisterous action to
| enliven the scene. But the audience
gets the sense of the thing. There can
be no doubt that these two young peo-
pie are falling IN love with each other,
| and falling hard. 1t is marvellous DIT
of direction. and acting as well.
The other principal players (there are
surprisingly few of them) are an good
Wallace Beery, Sam de Grasse. Paul
! Dickey and Allan Hale. Mr.. Berry as a
! fine figure of man and worthy en-
bodiment of King Richard.
/ robin Hood" is beautiful 10 look at.
IL Is intelligent. and 1t is overflowing
| with dramatic vigor. 1t will run for a
| long time at the Lyric Theater and Will
be seen by many people. We hope that
Won who read these lines will be among
I them.
/ The usual Pickford- Fairbanks demon
| stration was made by q crowd OF 1,OO0
/ who had been waiting outside for an
hour before the performance, and who
| mauled the author-star and his wife
affectionately as they got out of their
I automobile TO attend the performance.
/ Douglas and detail of police had q
, difficult time wedging Mary through the
crowd. The acclamation following the
/ close OF the picture led Fairbanks to
I deliver a speech Of thanks and introduce
4 his "chief helper" Mary, who called this
"Dougas's best picture TO date" and the
director who treacherously fed to the
wings after taking bow. leaving Fair
banks looking embarrassed.