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Errol Flynn,
Errol Flynn,
Olivia de Havilland,
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Michael Curtiz,
William Keighley,
Michael Curtiz,
more...
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: Warner Home Video
: Classics, Classic Action/Adventure, Classic Action/Adventure, Adventure, Classic Action/Adventure, Swashbucklers
: English, Spanish, French
: English, Spanish, French
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In order to avoid the material copyrighted by Douglas Fairbanks Sr. for his 1922 Robin Hood, the scripters of this Flynn version relied on several legendary episodes that had never before been filmed, notably the battle between Robin and Little John (Alan Hale Sr., who played this part three times in his long career) and the "piggy-back" episode between Robin and Friar Tuck (Eugene Pallette). The film ties together the various ancient anecdotes with a storyline bounded by the capture in Austria of Richard the Lionheart (Ian Hunter) on one end and Richard's triumphant return to England on the other. Robin Hood is already an outlaw at the outset of the film, while Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland) is initially part of the enemy camp, as one of Prince John's (Claude Rains) entourage. Marian warms up to Robin's fight against injustice (and to Robin himself), eventually becoming a trusted ally. James Cagney was originally announced for the role of Robin Hood, just before Cagney left Warner Bros. in a salary dispute. William Keighley was the original director, but he worked too slowly to suit the tight production schedule and was replaced by Michael Curtiz (both men receive screen credit). A lengthy opening jousting sequence was shot but removed from the final print; portions of this sequence show up as stock footage in the 1957 Warners film The Story of Mankind. The chestnut-colored Palomino horse ridden by de Havilland in the Sherwood Forest scenes later gained screen stardom as Roy Rogers' Trigger. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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| The Adventures of Robin Hood (Bonus Disc) (1938) |
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| Outstanding set that is a must own
by highgrove
August 5, 2007 - 7:58 AM PDT
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1 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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| This film was always a favorite of mine over the years, but I hadn't seen the restoration till borrowing this set recently, and it was like seeing it for the very first time! It's the best restoration of any I have ever seen, the colors look better than films made today, and the film itself has adventure, good humor, romance, and derring-do (epecially the swordplay between Flynn and Rathbone) that make two hours fly by like the singing arrows in the archery competition. You can watch the film four different ways: by itself, by choosing to run it so you only hear Korngold's great soundtrack and turn on the subtitles if you want the dialogue, by running it with film historian Rudy Behlman's commentary (one of the best I've heard on any movie), or as a night at the movies in 1938, with a coming attractions trailer, newsreel, musical short, and cartoon preceding it. And the set is packed with a gazilion bonus features: a documentary on the film, a documentary on previous film versions of Robin Hood, two WB cartoons influenced by the movie, trailers of ten other Errol Flynn movies, Flynn's own documentary The Cruise of the Zaca, the radio program of Robin Hood, and more. All at a price that is cheap for what they're giving you. Great for all ages, and a movie that never fails to delight. |
| Bright, Frothy Fun
by Maasgarid
December 12, 2005 - 11:49 AM PST
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2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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This film does not look 70 years old. It looks GREAT. Clearly Warner Bros. spared no expense when restoring this film, because it looks like it could have been made yesterday. Every frame is clear and lively, and everything really pops off the screen.
Technical aspects aside, it's just a great movie. None of the dialogue feels dated, and the action scenes are pretty well done, considering you can actually see what's going on. No jump cuts here (damn you MTV!). Some of the horseback scenes had me cringing and wishing the SPCA had been formed sooner, though.
Literally anyone can watch this film. There's nothing offensive in any of it, but it's still exciting and interesting. Highly recommended.
SHINING MOMENT: The costume design. I still think it's impossible to be stealthy in a forest when you're wearing the Amazing Technicolor Tunic(TM) (tights and sequins sold separately). |
| Perfect
by Brockton
December 15, 2003 - 12:15 PM PST
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4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
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I saw this movie awhile back on VHS and concluded that only one thing could have improved it, and that would be a color restoration. Well, they've done it with this new DVD release. The colors are fabulous.
This movie is a marvel of casting (not only the principals, like Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, Olivia deHavilland, and, one of my all time favorites, Claude Rains, but the support cast as well--not a single misfire), direction, and script (you won't find a better mix of action and humor).
A warning to those who may be too hip for this simple bill of fare: This movie contains no cynicism. It's just straight-forward fun.
Highly recommended for those of you with elementary school age children.
I'd give it three thumbs up, if I had an extra hand. |
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