The Adventures of Robin Hood

Michael Curtiz (1938)

101min

U Certificate

Review

Our Score

by Adrian Turner

Shot in bright-as-a-button Technicolor, this swashbuckler is an action picture that, over 75 years on, still delights people of all ages, even youngsters weaned on computer games. It was intended to star James Cagney (oh, yes), but seems tailor-made for Errol Flynn as Sherwood's noblest outlaw. Flynn woos Olivia de Havilland and crosses swords with Basil Rathbone's Sir Guy of Gisbourne and Claude Rains's Prince John, while Erich Wolfgang Korngold's music goes brassily heraldic. A few weeks into production, studio boss Jack Warner thought the rushes lacked sparkle and replaced director William Keighley with Michael Curtiz. The result was a box-office smash and Oscars for the score, editing and interior decoration.

Summary

An outlawed nobleman living deep in Sherwood Forest recruits a band of merry men to steal from the cruel Norman aristocracy and redistribute the wealth to the downtrodden peasants. However, they soon face a more pressing task - stopping the evil Prince John and his ally Sir Guy of Gisborne from seizing King Richard's throne. Swashbuckling adventure, with Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains.

Cast & Crew

Robin Hood Errol Flynn

Maid Marian Olivia de Havilland

Sir Guy of Gisbourne Basil Rathbone

Prince John Claude Rains

Will Scarlet Patric Knowles

Friar Tuck Eugene Pallette

Little John Alan Hale

High Sheriff of Nottingham Melville Cooper

King Richard Ian Hunter (1)

Bess Una O'Connor

Much the Miller's son Herbert Mundin

Bishop of Black Canons Montagu Love

Sir Essex Leonard Willey

Sir Ralf Robert Noble

Sir Mortimer Kenneth Hunter

Sir Geoffrey Robert Warwick

Sir Baldwin Colin Kenny

Sir Ivor Lester Matthews

Dickon Malbete Harry Cording

Captain of Archers Howard Hill

Director Michael Curtiz

Director William Keighley

Other Information

Language: EnglishColourTheatrical distributor: First National Film Dist LtdAvailable on: video, DVD and Blu-ray

Drama

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Michael Curtiz (1938)

Review

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