4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Silent screen swashbucklers, February 1, 2008
This review is from: Classic Tales of Adventure 8 Movie Pack (DVD)
The majority of CLASSIC TALES OF ADVENTURE 8 Movie Pack consists of highly regarded silent films that star John Barrymore, Douglas Fairbanks, and others. There's plenty of swordplay here, as well as some legends of antiquity. Ideal for fans of early motion pictures. Provided extras include movie trailers, posters, photos and a radio show episode.
NOTABLES:
Eugene Pallette ("Aramis" in THE THREE MUSKETEERS) made a successful transition to sound film as a heavyset foghorn-voiced character actor.
THE IRON MASK, the last of the silent-era swashbucklers, was released two years into the "talkie" era. This literary sequel to "The Three Musketeers" has several actors reprising their roles of eight years earlier (Fairbanks, Bary, De Brulier, Poff, Stevens and De La Motte). Most versions of this 1929 picture include a modern voiceover by Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Watch for future Lone Ranger Clayton Moore's brief balcony scene appearance in THE SON OF MONTE CRISTO. Ralph Byrd ("Dick Tracy" in movies and on TV) also has a small role.
Slim Summerville and Mack Swain (supporting actors in THE BELOVED ROGUE) were both original members of the Keystone Kops.
Alan Hale ("Little John" in ROBIN HOOD) was the father of "The Skipper" on TV's "Gilligan's Island."
"The Persian Prince" in THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD was portrayed by Mathilde Comont, who was given screen credit as M. Comont in an attempt to obscure her gender.
Charles Bickford (EAST OF BORNEO) fought so often with Louis B. Mayer he was blacklisted for a while among all the major studios.
HISTORIC CLASSICS 50 Movie Pack (from MCE) is a fine collection of vintage dramas and adventure films.
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Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.
DISC ONE--
(7.3) The Three Musketeers (silent-1921) - John Barrymore/Léon Bary/George Siegmann/Eugene Pallette
(7.2) The Iron Mask (silent-1929) - Douglas Fairbanks/Belle Bennett/Marguerite De La Motte/William Bakewell/Nigel De Brulier
(6.1) The Son of Monte Cristo (1940) - Louis Hayward/Joan Bennett/George Sanders/Clayton Moore/Ralph Byrd/James Seay
BONUS:
Adventure Poster Gallery
The Count of Monte Cristo (radio program)
DISC TWO--
(7.4) The Beloved Rogue (silent-1927) - John Barrymore/Conrad Veidt/Marceline Day/Mack Swain/Slim Summerville/Nigel De Brulier
(7.2) Robin Hood (silent-1922) - Douglas Fairbanks/Wallace Beery/Sam De Grasse/Enid Bennett/Alan Hale
BONUS:
Robin Hood Slide Show
DISC THREE--
(7.8) The Thief of Baghdad (silent-1921) - Douglas Fairbanks/Snitz Edwards/Julanne Johnston/Anna May Wong
(5.5) East of Borneo (1931) - Rose Hobart/Charles Bickford/Noble Johnson
Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel (episodes of the 1955 TV series)
BONUS:
Movie trailers--
Enchanted Island
Mighty Joe Young
Legend of the Lost
Von Ryan's Express
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Make sure you have your reading glasses, May 4, 2008
This review is from: Classic Tales of Adventure 8 Movie Pack (DVD)
The major attraction of this pack is the chance to see Douglas Fairbanks in his prime and to compare 3 of his biggest movies - Robin Hood-Three Musketeers-Thief of Baghdad. He is at his slimmest and most athletic in Thief with wonderful special effects. At his stoutest and most long winded in Robin Hood. The films cost a fortune and it shows with spectacular special effects, well staged fights and massive scenery. The women tend to be rather dumpy or suprisingly plain and of course the acting is flowery and extravagant but this is all part of the charm. Robin Hood is a long, long movie and Robin as such does not appear until halfway through but the knights jousting and the crowd scenes are impressive! The written captions are often flowery in the extreme and occassionally hilarious but Fairbanks is tremendous and one can see why he was so popular. Terrific value, well worth the price.
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