 Dashing Errol Flynn triumphs in this lavish, fast-paced version of the Robin Hood legend, a winner of three Academy Awards in ravishing Technicolor. Doing many stunts himself, Flynn is at his athletic, romantic best in a role originally intended for James Cagney. Olivia de Havilland (as Maid Marian), consummate screen villains Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains and a boisterous who's who of character actors co-star. Welcome to Sherwood! Storyline: Sir Robin of Locksley, defender of downtrodden Saxons, runs afoul of Norman authority and is forced to turn outlaw. With his band of Merry Men, he robs from the rich, gives to the poor and still has time to woo the lovely Maid Marian, and foil the cruel Sir Guy of Gisbourne, and keep the nefarious Prince John off the throne. Written by Little Pine Weasel Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Greg Maltz on March 18, 2009 -- After receiving much praise for Blu-ray releases of Casablanca, How the West Was Won and The Searchers, Warner hit an in-the-park home run with an Errol Flynn classic from 1938. We can forgive the fact that it came out on HD DVD first. The Adventures of Robin Hood showcases a charming young Flynn in full swashbuckling mode--only instead of his adventures on the high seas, this time he sports green tights, a feather in his cap, shows expertise in archery and steals from the rich to give to the poor. Viewers will no doubt vary in their ability to get past the dated speech, sets and styles, the film is excellent. Not only is Flynn at his best, but Olivia De Haviland, and Basil Rathbone shine in wonderful supporting roles. An adventure, a love story and a tale of morality, The Adventures of Robin Hood is a great family movie from a more innocent time. Director Michael Curtiz of Casablanca fame gets all the right shots and performances from his cast. With a bevvy of bonus featurettes and a technicolor transfer that traverses time, the Blu-ray comes strongly recommended. It's interesting to see just how little has changed in the Hollywood formula. Certainly, films have become faster, louder and more gratuitous in many ways, but the underlying formula today and in Flynn's time was basically the same. Set up a hero, develop a challenge or set of hurdles and have him face off against a villain, throw in a love interest and they all live happily ever after. The story of Robin Hood works very well--even in a Shakespearean sense--so transferring the plot and drama to the screen has been done again and again: from Flynn's graceful, triumphant lead to a Disney adaptation to Kevin Coster's attempt to the new TV series. The Adventures of Robin Hood is the definitive version that covers all major exploits. The sparring between Robin Hood and Little John, the stealing of taxes from the palace coffers, the archery contest in which Robin Hood splits an arrow, the swooning and engaging encounters with Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland) and the face-off against the diabolical Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone)--it's all there for a new generation of viewers to enjoy like never before in this fantastic Blu-ray edition. The inclusion of director Michael Curtiz is another noteworthy element of the film. Forever known for his masterpiece, Casablanca, which is also an excellent Warner Blu-ray release, Curtiz was not Warner's first choice for The Adventures of Robin Hood. The job had initially gone to William Keighley, who had worked well with Flynn during production of The Prince and the Pauper. But the studio was not impressed with Keighley's progress. Having directed two Flynn films, The Charge of the Light Brigade and Captain Blood, Curtiz was the logical choice to replace Keighley. Curtiz's trademark character relationships are all over the Robin Hood film, from the cartoonish Sheriff of Nottingham (Melville Cooper) to the intrigue between Maid Marian and Robin Hood to the strong yet subtle moral exposition behind the story of stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Thankfully, Warner is not ignoring its 60+ year old films in its rollout of catalog titles, with Casablanca already released on Blu-ray and The Wizard of Oz coming soon. In its Blu-ray release of The Adventures of Robin Hood Warner hits the bullseye with another worthy addition, well produced, with great entertainment value, showcasing the charm and energy of one of the most legendary actors to ever grace the silver screen: Errol Flynn. Highly recommended. Cast Notes: Errol Flynn (Robin Hood), Olivia de Havilland (Maid Marian), Basil Rathbone (Sir Guy of Gisbourne), Claude Rains (Prince John), Patric Knowles (Will Scarlett), Eugene Pallette (Friar Tuck), Alan Hale (Little John), Melville Cooper (High Sheriff of Nottingham), Ian Hunter (King Richard the Lion-Heart), Una O'Connor (Bess), Herbert Mundin (Much), Montagu Love (Bishop of the Black Canons), Leonard Willey (Sir Essex), Robert Noble (Sir Ralf), Kenneth Hunter (Sir Mortimer). User Comment: Igenlode Wordsmith from England, 8 May 2004 • This film *is* the Robin Hood of the screen: it's merry and witty, tender and bold, impudent, dashing and brightly clad... and an undoubted legend in its own lifetime! I recently had the chance to see it in the cinema for the first time, with the release of the remastered print, and wondered if it could possibly hold up to televised childhood memories. The joyous answer is that indeed it does. It's not only the breathtaking adventure I remembered; it's a fiery and surprisingly gentle romance that isn't afraid of laughs. It's unthinkable, once you've seen it, to imagine this film with anyone other than Errol Flynn. Every subsequent interpreter has had to struggle to reclaim the part from the memory of his roguery and grace - and most modern 'Robin's have been handicapped by an insistence on authentic mediaeval murk and grime. In the 1930s, with Technicolour the latest craze, mud and homespun were the last thing a studio wanted. Flynn's Robin Hood sports the Lincoln green of legend and a forest as brightly coloured as a painted backdrop, and the rich furs and silks on show at Nottingham Castle are straight out of fairy-tale; or an illuminated manuscript. The story itself is purest escapist magic. Greedy barons, a wicked usurper, a rightful king in exile, and a proud beauty in distress... and, of course, England's eponymous outlaw hero, robbing the rich to give to the poor with a jest on his lips in true swashbuckler style. The script sparkles. And the stunts, in those days before wire-fu or CGI, are all for real and still take the breath away. Flynn was in superb physical condition at the time - co-star Basil Rathbone, who played his proud opponent and would-be suitor to Marian's hand, Guy of Gisbourne, described him simply as 'a perfect male animal' - and misses no opportunity to show off his flamboyance. Unlike today's pretty-boy heroes, however, Flynn shows a surprising talent for acting with his face alone. The expressive reaction shots throughout his boudoir scene with Marian tell a different tale to the quickfire banter of his words, and, like Marian, despite ourselves we are drawn in. Olivia de Havilland, as Marian, is somewhat ill-served by her period costume - she is at her most beautiful in this scene, without her hair confined in her wimple - but together they duel their way through a classic tempestuous romance of the high-born lady and the outlaw, ultimately risking their lives to save each other. Marian is no anachronistic action heroine, but no-one, not even Robin, can keep her from what she thinks is right. As Guy of Gisbourne, Basil Rathbone is also playing one of the landmark roles of his career, and gives a superb performance. His Gisbourne is no cardboard villain, but a clever, arrogant man, who matches wits and blades with Robin as a worthy rival, and whose courtship of Marian is not without grace. And his wily master, rufous Plantagenet Prince John (Claude Rains, in a small but well-cast part) is no fool either. He knows precisely what he wants and what he can get away with, wasting no time in bluster or empty threats. Comedy of a broader nature is provided by the cowardly Sheriff of Nottingham, and by Bess, Marian's maid. But even Bess's farcical courtship with timid Much (she has buried more husbands than he has had kisses) is not without its tender moments, and perhaps only the Sheriff is entirely a cut-out figure of fun. Few people can whistle 'the theme from Robin Hood'. But the famous Korngold score, with its full orchestral depth and rousing fanfares, is as familiar today as it was seventy years ago, when it won its Academy Award. From the faultless casting through unforgettable pageantry and timeless romance to the final spectacular duel, when Robin and Gisbourne meet "once too often", this picture richly deserves its reputation as *the* Robin Hood on film - from which on present showing it is unlikely ever to be dethroned. Summary: In like Flynn - the ultimate Sherwood classic. Summary: Errol Flynn was the best swashbuckler of the sound era.... IMDb Rating (07/25/14): 8.0/10 from 34,465 users IMDb Rating (12/30/08): 8.1/10 from 17,966 users Top 250: #193
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