Review of Mr. Robinson Crusoe (1932) by Kevin M. W — 22 Apr 2018

Fairbanks plays a rich guy who, on a bet, takes up residence on a tropical isle to prove he can "go it alone". There are other things happening here, but for the most part this is about Fairbanks being Fairbanks: jumping, running, climbing, swinging, which is not bad, per se, but grows tiresome after a bit because most of it is unnecessary.

As well, in development of his handmade paradise, he demonstrates only a knowledge of everything. "What's this knucklehead trying to prove," I asked myself, "that he is Superman?".

He, in turn, would throw back his head and laugh. He does it continuously throughout this effort, sort of a implied "aren't you the cutest little thing!" This sort of entertainment has gone out of fashion, deservedly so, and Fairbanks' antics are patently unrealistic, but it was interesting to see from a historical perspective, how tastes had changed and regrettably how he, once the biggest star of his day, fell off the celebrity radar of time, and is rarely discussed at all anymore.