Overview
Douglas Fairbanks
Known For
Mary Pickford a Blessing and a Curse
Mary Pickford's name remains inseparable from the legend of American...
Propaganda: Engineering Consent
How can the masses be controlled? Apparently, the American publicist...
Cinecittà Babilonia: Sex, Drugs and Black Shirts
The story of Italian cinema under Fascism, a sophisticated film...
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
Before the G, PG and R ratings system there was...
Douglas Fairbanks: The Great Swashbuckler
Douglas Fairbanks, the screen's great swashbuckler, charmed millions with his...
Biography
Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. (May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films such as The Thief of Bagdad, Robin Hood, and The Mark of Zorro. An astute businessman, Fairbanks was a founding member of United Artists. Fairbanks was also a founding member of The Motion Picture Academy and hosted the first Oscars Ceremony in 1929. With his marriage to Mary Pickford in 1920, the couple became Hollywood royalty with Fairbanks constantly referred to as "The King of Hollywood", a nickname later passed on to actor Clark Gable.