The
Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Warner
Bros.
Cast:
Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains.
Rating:
G.
Run
time: 102 mins
Genre:
Action . . . with drama, a dash of romance and knockabout
comedy. It's got it all!
Verdict:
Brilliant
(see rating
system)
One
of the classic films of Hollywood's "Golden Age",
The Adventures of Robin Hood looks better than ever and the
remastered Technicolor picture is a delight.
More
importantly, the movie still holds up and remains the best
version of many big screen romps through the Robin Hood legend
(the 13th century English outlaw who supposedly stole from
England's rich to give to the poor).
With
a twinkle in his eye and a spring in his step, matinee idol
Errol Flynn made the Robin Hood role his own and no one has
come close to matching his performance. For a start, Flynn
was in peak physical condition when the movie was made, tall,
muscular and dominating every scene.
And
Flynn had a classic villain to play off - Basil Rathbone at
his most devious as Sir Guy of Gisbourne, the treacherous
aristocrat trying to help the equally nasty Prince John (Claude
Rains) steal the English throne while King Richard (Ian Hunter)
is away at war.
Gisbourne
and Robin Hood share one thing only - they both desire the
ravishing Lady Marian (Olivia de Havilland.
The
basic story has Prince John's followers treating their English
peasants cruelly, raising taxes and flogging or executing
those who dare oppose them. Tiring of the maltreatment, Robin
of Loxley (Flynn) forms an army loyal to King Richard, making
the dense Sherwood Forest his base. Their aim is to protect
ordinary folk while making sure Prince John does not become
king.
Packed
with action, including exciting battles and sword play, the
movie is expertly directed by Michael Curtiz, whose credits
include another classic, Casablanca.
One more thing, composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold provided
a brilliant musical score that adds much to the film - the
opening march of the merry men for example makes you want
to jump out of your chair!
Warner
Bros. does a great job with a 2-disc edition of this classic
packed with extra features on the making of the movie.
