The Adventures of Robin Hood Movie Review 1938

Rollicking technicolor tale of the legendary outlaw, regarded as the swashbuckler standard-bearer. The justice-minded Saxon knight battles the Normans, outwits evil Prince John, and gallantly romances Maid Marian. Grand Castle sets and lush forest photography display ample evidence of the huge (for 1938) budget of $2 million plus. Just entering his prime, Flynn enthusiastically performed most of his own stunts, including intricate swordplay and advanced tree and wall climbing. His Robin brims with charm and bravura. THe rest of the cast likewise attacks with zest: de Havilland, a cold, but ultimately sympathetic Marian; Rains's dastardly Prince John; and Rathbone's convincing Sir Guy to Robin's band of very merry men. Based on the many Robin Hood legends, as well as Sir Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe" and the opera "Robin Hood" by De Koven-Smith.

Distribution

Criterion Collection, 210 E. 52nd St., 578 Broadway, New York, NY 10022, Phone: (212)212756-8822, Toll-free: 800-446-2001, URL: http://www.criterionco.com, Remarks: Does not sell directly to consumers

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 102 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Robin Hood, Swashbucklers, Medieval Romps, Royalty, British, Trees & Forests

Screenplay

Seton I. Miller, Norman Reilly Raine

Cast

Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Claude Rains, Basil Rathbone, Alan Hale, Una O'Connor, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Herbert Mundin, Melville Cooper, Ian Hunter, Montagu Love

Cinematography

Gaetano Antonio "Tony" Gaudio, Sol Polito

Director

Michael Curtiz

Music

Erich Wolfgang Korngold

Awards

Oscars 1938: Film Editing, Orig. Score, Natl. Film Reg. 1995.