Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Douglas Fairbanks

(1883 - 1939)

Actor, Director and Producer

One of the biggest Stars of the Silent Film Era

Co-founder of United Artists

ex-husband of Mary Pickford

Freemason

Member of Beverly Hills Lodge No. 528

Grand Lodge of California

by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford

For more info, please visit:

pbs.org/americanexperience/douglas-fairbanks

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. The Mark of Zorro. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Douglas Fairbanks

(1883 - 1939)

Actor, Director and Producer

One of the biggest Stars of the Silent Film Era

Co-founder of United Artists

ex-husband of Mary Pickford

Freemason

Member of Beverly Hills Lodge No. 528

Grand Lodge of California

by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford

For more info, please visit:

pbs.org/americanexperience/douglas-fairbanks

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. The Mark of Zorro. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Douglas Fairbanks

(1883 - 1939)

Actor, Director and Producer

One of the biggest Stars of the Silent Film Era

Co-founder of United Artists

ex-husband of Mary Pickford

Freemason

Member of Beverly Hills Lodge No. 528

Grand Lodge of California

by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford

For more info, please visit:

pbs.org/americanexperience/douglas-fairbanks

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. The Mark of Zorro. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Douglas Fairbanks

(1883 - 1939)

Actor, Director and Producer

One of the biggest Stars of the Silent Film Era

Co-founder of United Artists

ex-husband of Mary Pickford

Freemason

Member of Beverly Hills Lodge No. 528

Grand Lodge of California

by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford

For more info, please visit:

pbs.org/americanexperience/douglas-fairbanks

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. The Thief of Bagdad. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Douglas Fairbanks

(1883 - 1939)

Actor, Director and Producer

One of the biggest Stars of the Silent Film Era

Co-founder of United Artists

ex-husband of Mary Pickford

Freemason

Member of Beverly Hills Lodge No. 528

Grand Lodge of California

by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford

For more info, please visit:

pbs.org/americanexperience/douglas-fairbanks

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. The Thief of Bagdad. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Douglas Fairbanks

(1883 - 1939)

Actor, Director and Producer

One of the biggest Stars of the Silent Film Era

Co-founder of United Artists

ex-husband of Mary Pickford

Freemason

Member of Beverly Hills Lodge No. 528

Grand Lodge of California

by Travis Simpkins

Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford

For more info, please visit:

pbs.org/americanexperience/douglas-fairbanks

Douglas Fairbanks. Silent Film Actor. The Mark of Zorro. United Artists. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Chaplin (1992): Robert Downey Jr. Becomes Charlie Chaplin

     When Robert Downey Jr. was cast to play Charlie Chaplin in a Biopic about the beloved filmmaker, there was a lot of skepticism. Prior to 1992, Downey was mainly known for his supporting work in some relatively low-brow 80's movies. The resulting film, Chaplin (1992), directed by Richard Attenborough and written by William Goldman, showed a level of maturity in Robert Downey's acting that wowed everyone, and admiration for his work continues to grow at the present. The film is a loving tribute to Chaplin and captures his life in stylish form. The supporting cast is excellent... Anthony Hopkins, Moira Kelly, Milla Jovovich, Diane Lane, Dan Aykroyd, Paul Rhys... and Chaplin's daughter, Geraldine Chaplin, plays the part of her own grandmother in an inspired bit of casting.

     The film follows the life of Charles Chaplin from his life in England (the workhouse, his mother's insanity) and burgeoning stage career in Vaudeville. Chaplin comes to America and ventures west, first to Montana, then to Los Angeles, California where Hollywood is in it's infancy. Fascinated by the possibilities of the new art form, Chaplin immerses himself in movies. He creates his lovable trademark character, "the Tramp" and begins... 

Chaplin. 1992: Robert Downey, Jr.

     first in small roles... 

Chaplin. 1992

     then larger ones, starring in dozens of Silent Comedies within the first couple years... 

Chaplin. 1992: Robert Downey, Jr.

     Eventually he becomes a director and starts his own Film Company, builds his own studio, and forms United Artists with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith...

Chaplin. 1992: Robert Downey, Jr.

      A lot of time is devoted to the women in Charlie's life... 

Chaplin. 1992: Moira Kelly

     He married several times... 

Chaplin. 1992: Milla Jovovich

Chaplin. 1992: Milla Jovovich

     Chaplin meets J. Edgar Hoover and they become immediate enemies, forming a feud that lasts for the rest of their lives... Fittingly, much of the story is dedicated to Chaplin's dedication and love for the film making process... 

Chaplin. 1992: Robert Downey, Jr.

     and gives glimpses of his sets, costumes, editing and composing techniques... 

Chaplin. 1992: Robert Downey, Jr.

     Chaplin was a great Artist and led a big, inspired life...

Chaplin. 1992: Robert Downey, Jr.

Intolerance (1916): D.W. Griffith's Epic and Influential Silent Saga. Lillian Gish

     D.W. Griffith made Intolerance (1916) partly in response to criticism about the racist undertones in his previous film, The Birth of a Nation (1915). By far the most expensive film of it's time (estimated in the low-millions), Intolerance employed the use of lavish sets, costly equipment, artists and thousands of actors and extras. Despite the high esteem in which the film is held now, it was a disastrous failure at the box office upon it's 1916 release. The production costs and loss of ticket revenue were so great that Intolerance almost singlehandedly led to the bankruptcy of the Triangle Film Corporation in 1918. Intolerance has had a lasting influence, however, and it proved integral at the time as well... with great early directors Erich von Stroheim and Tod Browning gaining experience as assistant directors on the film. Griffith's favorite actress, Lillian Gish, returned to work with him once more and Douglas Fairbanks even appears as an uncredited extra.

     The complex plot consists of four interwoven story lines, all depicting man's intolerance throughout different periods of human history. These include:

     Ancient Babylon (539 B.C.)... 

Intolerance. 1916

Intolerance. 1916

Intolerance. 1916

     Biblical Judea (27 A.D.)...

Intolerance. 1916

     The French Renaissance (1572)...

Intolerance. 1916

     and a modern American story (1914)... 

Intolerance. 1916

     and Lillian Gish, as the "Eternal Mother", presides over all... omnipresent and ever-rocking the cradle...

     

Intolerance. 1916

"Intolerance" (1916)- full feature film

The Mark of Zorro (1920): Douglas Fairbanks as the Iconic Swashbuckling Masked Hero

     Douglas Fairbanks truly deserves a lot of the credit for popularizing the Iconic character of "Zorro." Adapted from the 1919 story, "The Curse of Capistrano" by Johnston McCulley, The Mark of Zorro (1920) was the first of many film versions of the tale. Not only did Douglas Fairbanks produce and star in the film, he also co-wrote the screenplay under the pseudonym "Elton Thomas." The now-iconic look of the black-clad masked figure was not in the original story, but rather was conceived by Fairbanks for the film. His daring, agile stunts made The Mark of Zorro become the first defining film in the "Swashbuckler" genre of action movies. Produced by Fairbanks' own Douglas Fairbanks Pictures Corporation, The Mark of Zorro was the first film released by United Artists, the innovative company Fairbanks had co-founded the previous year with friends Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and D.W. Griffith.

     Don Diego Vega (Douglas Fairbanks), the wealthy son of a ranchero in early 19th Century Spanish Colonial California, is boring and naive by all outward appearances... 

Douglas Fairbanks as Zorro: The Mark of Zorro. 1920

     But Don Diego has a secret. He moonlights as Zorro...

Douglas Fairbanks as Zorro: The Mark of Zorro. 1920

      a masked hero that stands up for the disenfranchised poor... 

Douglas Fairbanks as Zorro: The Mark of Zorro. 1920

Douglas Fairbanks as Zorro: The Mark of Zorro. 1920

     and protects them from the greedy landowners and corrupt politicians... 

Douglas Fairbanks as Zorro: The Mark of Zorro. 1920

Douglas Fairbanks as Zorro: The Mark of Zorro. 1920

     and wins the heart of a lady in the process...

Douglas Fairbanks as Zorro: The Mark of Zorro. 1920

"The Mark of Zorro" (1920)- full feature film

Robin Hood (1922): Douglas Fairbanks in Silent, Medieval England

     Directed by Allan Dwan, and written and produced by Douglas Fairbanks (1922), Robin Hood (1922) was the first film have an official Hollywood "Premiere". The celebration was fitting and expected, as Robin Hood proved to be one of the most expensive film productions of the 1920's... costing around $1,000,000. Indeed, the film is a Silent cinematic marvel. The grand castle sets are lovely and the action scenes are exciting, with great performances all around, including Douglas Fairbanks as Huntingdon/Robin Hood, Wallace Beery as King Richard the Lion Hearted, Sam De Grasse as Prince John and Enid Bennett as Lady Marian.

Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood: Robin Hood. 1922

Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood: Robin Hood. 1922

Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood: Robin Hood. 1922

Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood: Robin Hood. 1922

Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood: Robin Hood. 1922

Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood: Robin Hood. 1922

Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood: Robin Hood. 1922

Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood: Robin Hood. 1922

Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood: Robin Hood. 1922

Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood: Robin Hood. 1922

Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood: Robin Hood. 1922

a scene from "Robin Hood" (1922)