Rare ROBIN HOOD (1912) Screening in New Jersey
by Andre Soares
A restored print of the 40-minute 1912 short Robin Hood, starring Robert Frazer, will be screend this Friday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m., at Teaneck’s Cedar Lane Cinemas in New Jersey.
"This is the earliest surviving American version of Robin Hood, and that’s one reason it’s important to preserve," says Tom Meyers, executive director of the Fort Lee Commission. Fort Lee was a conglomerate of studios located in New Jersey’s Bergen County, in the days before Hollywood became the film capital of the world. (Among the thousands of short films shot there are Edwin S. Porter 1903 "Western" The Great Train Robbery and the Pearl White serial The Perils of Pauline.)
More information on the Robin Hood screening at NorthJersey.com.
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Interesting. I was wondering why I kept thinking King Baggot(Director of “Human Hearts” “Tumbleweeds”, “The Notorious Lady”), a popular actor in the early 1910’s made an early Robin Hood. But I was mistaking “Robin Hood” for his 1913 film “Ivanhoe” which he starred in. I’ve only seen Robert Frazier in a handful of films but can’t remember anything remarkeable about him.
Filmmaking in Fort Lee continued into the 1920’s, after most of the film production in the United States had already relocated to the West coast. If I’m not mistaken, I think it’s noted that the last major motion picture filmed in Fort Lee was is supposedly Richard Barthelmess’ 1923 vehicle “The Fighting Blade”.
There’s a fascinating DVD released by Image Entertainment entitled “Before Hollywood There Was Fort Lee” It features an abridged version of a Thomas Hanlon 1964 documentary of the same name. The feel of the documentary seems a little dated, but it’s an interesting overview of the history of filmmaking in the area. Also on the DVD are three films made on location in Fort Lee, which include Mary Pickford’s superb( and last) Biograph film “The New York Hat”(1912), A 30-minute abridgement of Maurice Tourneur’s comedy “A Girl’s Folly”(1917), and finally Maurice Tourneur’s charming, wistful, and visually breathtaking feature “The Wishing Ring”(1914). It’s a beautiful transfer of “The Wishing Ring” with a gorgeous multi-tinted print and featuring an enchanting score by the Mont Alto Orchestra. Well worth seeing.
I’ve seen “The Fighting Blade,” though I don’t recall reading where it was filmed. A great-looking film that overstays its welcome by a good forty minutes. Richard Barthelmess could be an excellent actor, but his acting here matches the style of his Prince Valiant hairdo.
I’ll look for the “Before Hollywood…” DVD. But why all the “abridgements”?
They talk about “The Fighting Blade” in the Fort Lee documentary, so I’m pretty certain they said it was the last( Or one of the last) major films made there.
I don’t know why those two films were cut short. I think the “A Girl’s Folly” abridgement is the same one that’s on the old Kino VHS of “The Cheat” I have an old Grapevine VHS of “A Girl’s Folly” which is complete( Running approx. 60 minutes)The abridgement cuts out quite a few charming sequences. And if you look closely, you can spot a young, then-unknown Leatrice Joy in a bit part.
The gloriously beautiful “The Wishing Ring”(1914) is thankfully complete.
Thanks for the clarification, James.
And I’m looking forward to watching “The Wishing Ring.”
Well, when you get around to seeing “The Wishing Ring” please write up a review of the film giving us your impressions, and post it to the site.
I most certainly will.