The English folktales of old get a Saturday morning "Gee-whiz!" child-like makeover courtesy of Warner Brothers and Technicolor. Errol Flynn, for me, is the best of any and all people to portray Robin Hood. The way he swaggers into the king's court, gives him lip, and fights his way out is the perfect blend of cocky arrogance and self-righteous do-gooder. Or the way he jumps back and forth from action scenes, to troop rallying, to romantic scenes with Maid Marian and makes it all seem believable is a great achievement. Olivia de Havilland is sweet, tough, and clever as Maid Marian, and is the perfect compliment and foil for Flynn. All of the close-ups of her pretty face show why a man such as Robin Hood would give up the exciting life for domestic bliss. Claude Rains adds an appropriate amount of camp to the proceedings as a lisping, vamping effete take on Prince John. He is both annoyed and amused by Robin Hood, and is seemingly stuck between hissing at him and ordering people to kill him. The artificiality of the sets, the very obvious matte paintings and wood-painted-as-stone only adds to the illusion and the overall sense of fun, excitement, and child-ish innocence. Other versions of Robin Hood might have had better special effects and production design, but nothing will beat this one, especially for the arrow splitting the arrow scene.
One of the bets movies ever. The technicolor was awesome (especially for a movie that is this old), and the movie had one of the best sword fighting ever
Okay, this isn't the best MOVIE in the world. I mean, it barely involves any real character drama and the story is treated like a bedtime fairy tale. But the movie is fun. I think I may have ended my review right now, but I will try to go into more detail.
I would call this the first real, big-budget action movie. Robin Hood, played by Errol Flynn, is given little background in this story. We know from his title and some breif mentions, that he is nobility and because of the injustices done to the Normans (or the Saxons, I forget), he decides to become an outlaw and outrightly oppose Prince John. Now, everyone knows the tale backwards and forwards. (If you don't, shame on you!) This movie pretty much tells all the highlights of that famous tale...except for one thing. While there is a Sheriff of Nottingham in this film, he plays a background character, leaving Sir Guy of Gisborne to take the role of the lead villain. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with that. After all, Sir Guy pretty much plays the same character, I just wonder why that decision was made. Perhaps my Robin Hood folklore is mistaken.
The scope on this movie is fantastic. While I know Errol Flynn has been in other action epics, the scale was never this large. The cast in this movie is astronomical and the sets alone are grandiose. Then there are the costumes. In no way are these costumes trying to mimick accuracy. Everyone in this movie is wearing tights and they're all brightly colored to take advantage of the new technology available to them. These merry men come off more like superheroes than outlaws living in the woods, but that doesn't bother me in the least. The movie doesn't try to cover up for the fact that this is sword-fighting fiction for boys to marvel at larger than life characters.
I do have to stress, though, the lack of substance to this movie. The romance is very superficial. While Marian scoffs at the brigand Robin of Locksley at the beginning, her tune is quickly changed when she sees his efforts in Sherwood. While I appreciate that someone can eat a nice big bowl of humble pie, I doubt one goes from hatred to mad intoxication so readily. Errol Flynn's performance is more that of Kirk Alyn's Superman than of a man impassioned by his country, but he has amazing swordfights and manages to scale walls with the best of them. Yes, the movie is beyond belief, but if you go in knowing that, it really is a good time. Really, grabbing a blanket and a bowl of popcorn while curling up on the couch might make you a wide-eyed child once again. That's more than most movies deliver today.
Good old fashioned storytelling. The Raiders of the Lost Ark of its time. Errol Flynn is a joy to watch and the sword play is timeless, not to mention Korngold's magnificent score.
From the opening music chords to the dashing swashbuckling finale, this film is the ultimate of that genre as well as Errol Flynn's crowning achievement. He makes Robin Hood a fun and jolly hero with honor and ever quality imaginable that a leader should possess. He may not be British, but he is close enough and has the right accent. Michael Curtiz, the man behind the other Errol Flynn films that made my list those being The Sea Hawk, and Captain Blood, directs this with a fun, but serious air although he can't take all the credit as William Keighley directed first off, but was replaced by Curtiz early in production. Erich Wolfgang Korngold composed a masterful score for this. I could go on, but I will suffice to say that this is a dashing film that stands as one of the best of the Action/Adventure genre.
After recently reading a most excellent version of this tale to my family, we found it necessary to make this purchase. We were not disappointed. Of course, all critics rate this film very highly and I can see why.
There's so much to praise -- the technicolor. Basil Rathbone, Olivia deHavilland, and (of course) the perfect Robin Hood of all time, Errol Flynn.
We were surprised at the humor and how non-dated it is. It's hard to remember that this was made in 1937. Swashbuckling indeed! And perfectly cast. We longed for another 2 hours.
hasn't been touched yet, particularly by film lovers, as one of the classic films of all times. watchable? that's how i judge film :"can you watch it again w/o a emergency lobotomy?" this film eats that test, and your brains, cause you wanna live in england after watching it, wanna run around the woods and swordfight invaders, wanna go and save the girl, and want her to want you to...
the swordfight on the staircase between errol flynn and basil rathbone is THE definitive film swordfight.
Wow. Mr Flynn really shows us why he is considerd one of the all time best actors in this wounderful version of the Robin Hood story. All in all maby the best Robin Hood version.
''Now some of you might think that our loyal host intended this treasure for the coffers of Prince John, instead of to ransom the king- and you'd be right. But a strange thing happened. A change of heart overtook him in the forest and there it is safe and sound!''
When Prince John and the Norman Lords begin oppressing the Saxon masses in King Richard's absence, a Saxon lord fights back as the outlaw leader of a rebel guerrilla army.
Errol Flynn: Robin Hood
Olivia de Havilland: Maid Marian
Another classic that I've watched so many times when i was little and growing up. Robin Hood played by Errol Flynn is a wonder to behold everytime you watch it. He's got charisma, a flair for the dramatic and a real penchant for keeping you watching. He gives the whole film a huge boost.
Granted it's dated yes, but timeless yes also. It's of a bygone era when films had a quality lacking in today's cinema.
Going back to Errol Flynn, this guy was a legend in his time and he's amazing in this. Olivia de Havilland also dazzles as Maid Marion and the Sheriff of Nottingham played by Melville Cooper is somewhere in between camp and jovial villainy. Eugene Palette as the plump Friar Tuck is also a huge part of comic relief as is Little John played by Alan Hale. They really fit their roles perfectly.
The music well suited to the late 1930s, Warner Brothers going all out with this big budget retelling of the Legendary Robin Hood.
The last sword fight truly needs to be marveled at. Choreography wise it's aged well and still entertaining to watch.
An old favourite classic. Kevin Costner should have watched this!
I've seen this a million times!!! Based on the well-known English legend, Robin of Locksley is a noble who is forced to become an outlaw when Prince John the usurper tries to take the throne from his absent brother. He flees to Sherwood forest where he gathers together his Merry Men and is called Robin Hood. He begins to rob the rich and give back to the poor, the townsfolk that are heavily-taxed by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Meanwhile he still has to defend the throne, and woo Maid Marian.
I've read the novel, and while it was much better than the movie in most ways, I would reccomend this if you're interesting in Robin Hood. First of all, the name. Robin is also used as a girl's name and is not one I care for, Hood is fine though. Olivia de Havilland played her role well, but I would not have chosen Errol Flynn after reading up on his life. I myself, plan to remain cleanshaven all my life, and took a liking to Will Scarlet. He would have made a more kinder Robin Hood in my opinion. And there should be no killing unless it is to save your life. There are flaws in what Robin did, for you really shouldn't steal, and on that I would change the story. Perhaps have Robin Hood have permission from King Richard, or something of that nature.
Errol Flynn is perfect as the laughing outlaw, Robin Hood, in the best adaptation of the classic legend. Olivia de Havilland is a lovely Marian and I enjoyed Claude Raines as Prince John. A throughly enjoyable classic for everyone, not just kids!
Easily the best Robin Hood film I've seen, although that's not really saying much. The definitive Robin Hood film ahs not, in my opinion, been made as of yet.
But don't get me wrong, this is a pretty good Robin Hood film. Errol Flynn captures the charming roguishness of the character nicely.
An incredibly fun film with non-stop action and a fantastically complicated story - who cares about historical inaccuracies when you have a movie like this? And Errol Flynn isplain old too sexy for words in it.
Wonderful rendition of the legend! Errol Flynn brings full-blooded life and joy to the character. And the chemistry of Flynn, DeHavilland and Rathbone is always electric.
On a final note, I don't think Michael Curtiz could make a bad movie if he were forced at gunpoint. :D
I'm not big into classic Hollywood flicks but I loved this one. It's just plain fun and of course somewhat political being Robin Hood and all. The heroics and swordfights, the action and the fun and even a bit of romance. It's one of those "got something for everyone", but I really loved it.
MCT:July 8, 2008
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MCT:November 18, 2007
