The Iron Mask (1929) Director: Allan Dwan Producer: Douglas Fairbanks Screenplay: Douglas Fairbanks (uncredited), Lotta Woods, based on The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas Starring: Douglas Fairbanks, Marguerite De La Motte, Belle Bennett, Dorothy Revier, Nigel De Brulier, Ullrich Haupt Cinematography: Henry Sharp Editor: William Nolan Studio: United Artists Distributor: United Artists Release Date: February 21, 1929 (USA) Runtime: 95 minutes Format: Black & White | Silent with synchronized score, music, and limited dialogue Country: United States Language: English intertitles Genre: Adventure | Historical | Drama | Swashbuckler --- Summary: The Iron Mask (1929) is an epic silent adventure film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Douglas Fairbanks in one of his most iconic roles as D’Artagnan, the fearless leader of the Three Musketeers. A sequel to the 1921 classic The Three Musketeers, the story continues decades later as D’Artagnan, now older and wiser, must once again fight for honor, friendship, and France itself. The plot follows Louis XIII’s twin sons, one of whom is hidden away and imprisoned with an iron mask to protect the throne from treachery. D’Artagnan and his musketeer comrades uncover the plot and risk everything to set things right, culminating in heroic sacrifice and bittersweet loyalty that defines the spirit of the Musketeers. --- Background: The Iron Mask was Douglas Fairbanks’s final silent film, though it features limited spoken dialogue sequences added after production — part of the industry’s shift to sound. Fairbanks personally financed much of the project and wrote parts of the scenario himself. This film represents both the culmination of the swashbuckling genre Fairbanks pioneered and a poignant farewell to the silent era that made him a global superstar. Director Allan Dwan brings grandeur, swordplay, and elegance to every frame, while cinematographer Henry Sharp crafts luminous visuals that emphasize adventure and emotion in equal measure. --- Trivia: Fairbanks personally wrote and recorded a spoken prologue and epilogue, addressing his audience directly — a rare gesture bridging silent and sound cinema. The film reunited Fairbanks with Nigel De Brulier, reprising his role as Cardinal Richelieu from The Three Musketeers (1921). Widely considered one of Fairbanks’s greatest performances and a defining film of the late silent period. The story of The Man in the Iron Mask would later inspire numerous adaptations, including the 1939 and 1998 films. --- Legacy: The Iron Mask (1929) stands as Douglas Fairbanks’s swan song to silent cinema, blending high adventure with heartfelt farewell. Its mixture of silent artistry and early sound technology captures the spirit of an era in transition — and the enduring ideal of “All for one, and one for all.” --- Hashtags: #TheIronMask1929 #DouglasFairbanks #AllanDwan #SilentFilm #Swashbuckler #Musketeers #ClassicCinema #AdventureFilm #UnitedArtists #GoldenAgeHollywood #ManInTheIronMask #SilentToSoundEra #HistoricalAdventure