The story centres on the love triangle that is Robin Earl of Huntingdon, Guy of Gisbourne and Lady Marian Fitzwalter. Robin has no interest in the girls which (literally) chase him, but he still rescues Marian from Guy’s unwanted attentions before leaving for the Crusades. Prince John promises Guy he can have Marian if he also goes to the Crusades and kills King Richard, which he then attempts to do. In the King’s absence England goes to ruin. Robin hears of this and returns home, falling out of favour with King Richard as a consequence, and becoming the outlaw of Sherwood Forest. At first he fears Marian is dead, but later discovers she has been put in a priory.
This silent movie retains a lot of its entertainment value today. The sets are the biggest ever built for a silent movie, and the cast of soldiers / merry men, must have been in the thousands. Of particular interest are the brief shots involving the torture of prisoners, as well as the manner in which Robin disposes of Guy (See above). I think the Hayes Code of motion picture censorship would n0t have allowed these in 1934.
Robin Hood, Robin Hood 1922, silent movie.
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