The Adventures of Robin Hood

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Directed by: Michael Curtiz; William Keighley

Writers:Norman Reilly Raine; Seton I. Miller (original screenplay)

WATCHING a DVD of The Adventures of Robin Hood is a revelation. It's incredible to think that this restored classic was released as long ago as 1938 - nearly seventy years ago!

One reason why it has stayed the course and still appears regularly on television is that it was made in colour - Technicolor. Many younger people today just have no patience to watch black and white films. This is a big mistake as they then miss out on many of the terrific classic movies I have featured in this series of classic reviews.

As virtually all films today are made in colour, it is hard for a modern audience to imagine the impact of a full-colour film on an audience in 1938. The colours are rich and natural looking, especially in outdoor settings. Its fresh new look and vivid colours then must have blown the cinema-going public away back then. It's no wonder that it took three Oscars that year, for art direction, original score and film editing.

Errol Flynn was made for swashbuckling and it shows in this marvellous movie. Flynn looks like he enjoyed every minute as the outlawed Robin of Locklsey takes on the tyrannical Prince John and his lackeys, the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisbourne. Oddly enough, James Cagney was originally cast in the role of Robin Hood. Cagney had a big row with Warner Brothers and walked off the set. Enter Tasmanian-born Flynn, who had impressed the directors with his role in the pirate movie, Captain Blood.

The story is well known. A Saxon nobleman, Robin of Locksley, opposes the rule of the Norman usurper, Prince John who has terrorised and taxed the whole countryside and treated the Saxons very badly. Claud Rains makes a scheming Prince John and Basil Rathbone excels as the evil Guy of Gisbourne while the Sheriff of Nottingham (Melville Cooper) brings some comic relief to the production. There’s also great character acting from the merry men and Marian’s nurse.

The on-screen chemistry between Robin and the lovely Maid Marian as his love interest was given a boost by a real-life relationship between Flynn and DeHavilland. This film has it all: good versus evil, Normans versus Saxons, the True King versus the Usurper, the rivalry between Robin and Gisbourne for Marian's affections, comic moments, sword-fighting and archery. The final fight between Gisbourne and Robin set the standard for on-screen duelling for decades to come. The sets are sumptuous and - as you'd expect - extremely colourful.

This is a fun, thrilling classic that all the family can enjoy. Warner Brothers have gone to a lot of trouble with their DVD release. The first disc is taken from a restored print of the movie. The quality is superb. The second disc gives the history of Technicolor and its use in film making. There's also a background story to the making of The Adventures of Robin Hood, Robin Hood through the ages, some vintage cartoons bloopers and out takes. It's good for at least another seventy years!