'Robin Hood' is
merry classic.

The Michigan Daily - Friday, July 20, 1984 - Page 13
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By Byron L. Bull
MENTION THE name Robin Hood
to most film-goers and they will
likely call to mind Errol Flynn and
Basil Rathbone in the resplundant Cur-
tiz/Keighly 1938 version. Yet sixteen
years earlier, before the advent of both
sound and technicolor, director Allan
Dwan had fashioned the quintessential
Robin Hood.
Sadly neglected due to its quickly
dated technical deficiencies, it has
lapsed into relative obscurity, only
infrequently noted in books on
the silent film era. But this
Friday night, as part of the Summer
Arts Festival, the Michigan Theater
will attempt to rectify the situation with
a special screening of the film, to the
accompaniment of a live score.
Handling the musical chores will be
Carl Daehler and Dennis James.
James, a nationally-acknowledged
theater organist and silent film music
specialist, will perform on the theaters
grand organ, while Daehler will con-
duct the Ann Arbor Chamber Or-
chestra, in a collaboration that will
result in a live soundtrack. Two
previous efforts by Daehler and James
that were staged at the Michigan, Don
Juan and Broken Blossoms garnered
considerable critical and public en-
thusiasm, but with Robin Hood the
ingredients are perfect for what could
be the most interesting presentation to
date.
Robin Hood, when releaed 64

years ago, set the standard for the
Hollywood swashbuckler film. Adven-
ture films were studio staple at that
time, but never with so magical a blend
of pageantry, spectacle, and unbridled
enthusiasm. Allan Dwan was a student
of D. W. Griffith, and while no pioneer,
he took the fundamentals of Griffith's
linetic style and refined them with the
exactitude of a master craftsman.
Dwan likes to imbue his work with a
dynamic fluidity, and was fond of
tracking shots and boom cameras (the
use of the later was employed for one of
the first times in Robin Hood.
Dwan always emphasized a strong
narrative, and although he was one of
the studio system's more technique
conscious directors, always demanded
that the mechanics remain unobrusive.
Dwan was only interested in
storytelling, and never aspired to be a
self-styled auteur. The bulk of Dwan's
work is all but forgotten today, yet en-
joyed a measured share of success in its
day. The New York Times in fact cited
Robin Hood as one of the best films of
1922, citing its overall evidence of
careful detail, and praised it as "One of
the really notable works on the screen."
As Robin, Douglas Fairbanks Sr.
here employed his magnetic screen
presence to its fullest fruition. He had
already enjoyed success with roles in
adventure films such as the Mark of
Zorro and The Three Musketeers, but
struck the perfect chord as the bandit of
Sherwood forest. Taking a cue from
Dwan, Fairbanks infused his character
with an irrepressible sense of mirth,
and created a dashing style still
imitated to this day.


Bars and Clubs
The Blind Pig - Steve Nardella and
the Steve Nardella Rock 'n Roll Trio
rock down the house both Friday and
Saturday nights.
Joe's Star Lounge - Domino is all
set up and ready to bring the house
down with Motown covers and other
dance numbers on both Friday and
Saturday nights.
Mr. Flood's Party - It's blues from
Detroit with Sonny Freeman and the
Unusuals doing it up on Friday and
Saturday nights.
Rick's American Cafe - They may
not be Pythagorean solids, but the
Orangapoid Watusis are all set to rock
on Friday and Saturday nights.
The ist
Summer Festival Activities
Ticket for all Summer Festival
shows are available by calling the
Festival box office at 763-0950.
The box office is open 12 a.m. to 7
p.m. daily.
Claire Bloom - Renowned
Shakespearean and cinematic actress
Claire Bloom presents These Are
Women, a tribute to the heroines in
Shakespeare. Tickets are $11, $13, $14
and $15. The show begins at 8 p.m. at
Lydia Mendelssohn Theater on
Friday night.
Robin Hood - Filmed in 1922, this is
the original version starring Douglas
Fairbanks, Sr. Although a silent film,
there will be plenty of music supplied
by the Ann Arbor Chamber orchestra.
Tickets are $10, Friday night only, 8

p.m. at the Michigan Theatre.
The Secret Marriage - Written by
Domenico Cimarosa, this 18th century
opera is performed by the School of
Music Opera Theater. Tickets are $5,
$8, $10, and $12. There are four shows,
Saturday and Sunday each at 2 p.m.
and 8 p.m. at the Power Center.
Ricci Trio - Violinist Ruggiero
Ricci, of the University School of
Music, joins with his brother, George,
and son, Gian, in their first ever
public performance as a trio. Tickets
are $7. The show begins at 11 a.m. in
Rackham Auditorium on Sunday.
Michael Lorimer - Lorimer, a
young American guitarist, performs
on both classical and baroque guitars.
Considered a major young talent, he
is a favorite of Andres Segovia.
Tickets are $3, $5, $6, and $7. The show
begins Monday at 8 p.m. in Rackham
Auditorium.
Northwood Orchestra - Just off its
successful performance with Sherrill
Milnes last week, the Orchestra is
conducted by Don Jaeger. Scheduled
works include the premier of a Donald
Bryant choral arrangement and
Aaron Copland's The Tender Land.
Tickets are $3, $5, $6, and $7. The show
begins at 8 p.m. Tuesday night at the
Power Center.
Theater
Working - Adapted from Studs
Terkel's collection of interviews with
Americans of all economic straits by
Nina Faso and Stephen Schwartz, the
play is a series of monolgues and
songs. Gary Garrison directs the local
talent. Tickets are $5. Shows are
Friday, Saturday, and Thursday
nights at the Ann Arbor Civic Theater
on 338 S. Main. For more information
call 662-7282.