Robin Hood (1913)

The story opens with showing Robin Hood, bow in hand, searching for Marian, whom he finally meets, and together they see a notice on a tree, which reads that no Saxon shall slay a deer in Sherwood Forest. And this sign soon plays an important part in their lives, for Robin ignores it, shoots a deer, and the next picture shows his table, spread for a feast, and surrounded by guests. They knew that the penalty for disobeying the law was to cut off the ears of the offender, so great consternation seized them when the sheriff and his men came to arrest Robin, and not being admitted, they fired their arrows into the court, one of which struck Marian's father dead. The sheriff and his men retreated, only to return reinforced by more soldiers, and a bitter hand-to-hand struggle took place on the drawbridge, the women having reached the forest by a secret underground passage. They were later joined by Robin and his men, who after Robin and Marian had been married by the friar, pronounced them king and queen. They took oath to punish the rich and cruel, but aid the poor and oppressed. Alan-a-Dale appears on the scene, and is made a captive, but after he tells his story, they agree to help him. He seeks the hand of a young lady whose miserly father wants her to marry a decrepit old nobleman, who promises her parent money if she will marry him. Marian disguises herself as a gypsy and visits the girl to assure her that Robin and his men will aid her at the critical moment. They are ready, and when the Saxon maiden is standing before the bishop, who is about to pronounce her the wife of the nobleman, Robin Hood and his men pour in through windows and doors, and Friar Tuck places her hand in Alan-a-Dale's and pronounces them man and wife, whereupon they all return to the forest, where they are free from molestation. On one occasion the sheriff arranged for an archery contest, open to all comers. Robin appears in disguise, and wins the prize. The King disguised as a mendicant, is shown such consideration by Robin and his men, that he returns to the palace and pardons them for all past offenses.