Silent Screen Star Fairbanks Enjoys New Attention

hetton · Post by **hetton** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:30 pm

From the NEW YORK TIMES:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/03 ... hibit.html

March 26, 2009
Silent Screen Star Fairbanks Enjoys New Attention
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 6:50 a.m. ET

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) -- The spirit of Douglas Fairbanks is alive and well and living in Beverly Hills.

You'll find some of the silent-screen legend's stuff there, too: costumes, posters, personal letters, a contract -- even a chunk of his old house. They're all part of ''Douglas Fairbanks: The First King of Hollywood,'' an exhibit running through April 19 at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard.

Add the academy's new ''Douglas Fairbanks'' biography, a Fairbanks statue at the University of Southern California and a recent series of Fairbanks screenings at New York's Museum of Modern Art, and it's safe to call this period something of a comeback for the actor, who died nearly 70 years ago.

''Fairbanks was one of the first international film stars,'' noted Jeffrey Vance, author of the ''Fairbanks'' biography. ''And he was one of the first global celebrities. But he was also one of the most creative producers in American film, and one of its great innovators.... He pioneered so many aspects that we take for granted today. And he really legitimized movies.''

Among his greatest triumphs were the 1920 action smash ''The Mark of Zorro'' and the 1924 epic ''The Thief of Bagdad,'' which is widely considered Fairbanks' greatest work. But as successful as he was on the screen, Fairbanks was just as much of a powerhouse behind the scenes, joining his superstar actress-wife Mary Pickford, as well as Charles Chaplin and D.W. Griffith, to form United Artists -- perhaps the first great declaration of independence a group of filmmakers ever made to the studios.

Fairbanks also served as the first president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which he envisioned as a real ''academy'' -- a place of learning for budding filmmakers. While the Academy serves many educational purposes all these years later, it is still best known for its annual film honors, the Academy Awards.

The Academy ''is perpetuating what Fairbanks wanted from the Academy originally,'' Vance said. ''He saw it as a place to honor the art and science of motion pictures. And the Academy is following that desire.''

Fairbanks' stamp can be seen all over contemporary cinema, especially in the area of action films. ''Stars Wars,'' ''Raiders of the Lost Ark,'' many others owe Fairbanks a debt, Vance said.

''He really was special. And I really think he resonates with how people want to see movies,'' Vance suggested. ''If you see Johnny Depp in 'The Pirates of the Caribbean' or some of these other films that are being made today, they really are Douglas Fairbanks movies.''

misspickford9 · Post by **misspickford9** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:38 pm

Okay I feel bad because I dont want to be a link whore but I did take pics of the exhibit which you can see herehttp://www.forgetthetalkies.com/2009/03 ... s-and.html

It really is fantastic. And both the screenings were about 75%-80% full (in 1200 seat theatre!). I really enjoyed it both times and I wouldnt mind going a third. Also I forgot to put this elsewhere so maybe I'll just put it here: theres a Fleur de Lis branding iron on display by the Iron Mask. Apparently there was a scene (planned or filmed I dont know) of the evil woman being branded...but its not in the film. LOL I liked Kevin Brownlow's opening line that night, "I think this turnout proves that talkies are indeed a passing fad". Fantastic!

Rodney · Post by **Rodney** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:15 am

misspickford9 wrote:Okay I feel bad because I dont want to be a link whore but I did take pics of the exhibit which you can see herehttp://www.forgetthetalkies.com/2009/03 ... s-and.html

It really is fantastic. And both the screenings were about 75%-80% full (in 1200 seat theatre!). I really enjoyed it both times and I wouldnt mind going a third. Also I forgot to put this elsewhere so maybe I'll just put it here: theres a Fleur de Lis branding iron on display by the Iron Mask. Apparently there was a scene (planned or filmed I dont know) of the evil woman being branded...but its not in the film. LOL I liked Kevin Brownlow's opening line that night, "I think this turnout proves that talkies are indeed a passing fad". Fantastic!

Very nice. Thanks for the pictures!

Harlett O'Dowd · Post by **Harlett O'Dowd** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 8:48 am

misspickford9 wrote:Okay I feel bad because I dont want to be a link whore but I did take pics of the exhibit which you can see herehttp://www.forgetthetalkies.com/2009/03 ... s-and.html

The butt shot of Fairbanks is from The Half-breed.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0006753/

It played a few years back at Cinecon. After that gasp-inducing opening shot of Doug I was kinda expecting a different film than I got. The film was fine, but that image of Doug will forever live in my memory.

rollot24 · Post by **rollot24** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:13 am

Great photos Hala. Thanks for posting them for those of us who can't get there!

misspickford9 · Post by **misspickford9** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 4:24 pm

Harlett O'Dowd wrote:
misspickford9 wrote:Okay I feel bad because I dont want to be a link whore but I did take pics of the exhibit which you can see herehttp://www.forgetthetalkies.com/2009/03 ... s-and.html
The butt shot of Fairbanks is from The Half-breed.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0006753/

It played a few years back at Cinecon. After that gasp-inducing opening shot of Doug I was kinda expecting a different film than I got. The film was fine, but that image of Doug will forever live in my memory.

I'll have to update it. LOL its on one of the first walls you see when you walk in...right across from his honorary Oscar (1) the pic didnt come out of it and 2) why didnt he get an Oscar till he died? BOO!)! I was like 'Oh my!' Now if only Natacha had had such forsight...damn.

Nancy Lorraine · Post by **Nancy Lorraine** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:53 pm

Thanks for posting these photos - wish I could be there in person myself!

I believe the third person in the photo with Valentino and Fairbanks is William S. Hart, not Will Hays.

misspickford9 · Post by **misspickford9** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:08 am

Nancy Lorraine wrote:Thanks for posting these photos - wish I could be there in person myself!

I believe the third person in the photo with Valentino and Fairbanks is William S. Hart, not Will Hays.

While that could make sense Im pretty sure it was Hays as thats what the caption said and I do remember reading it on both visits and not thinking I had it wrong LOL! I can see that resemblance though...anyone else wanna take a stab at it? Maybe it was mislabelled or maybe indeed I am crazy.

Ironic note: someone thought Griffith was William S Hart in the UA newsreel. I can see that resemblance a bit too though Griffith had the nose!