The Adventures of Robin Hood

[DocDrako]

I just watched this on Blu-Ray (got it at Wal*Mart for $10) and I just wanted to say how much I love this movie. The colors are beautiful (Technicolor RULES!), and the characters are cast so well. Errol Flynn is great as Robin Hood, Basil Rathbone & Claude Rains were great as Sir Guy of Gisbourne & Prince John, and Olivia de Havilland was beautiful as Maid Marian. And did you know Alan Hale Sr (father of Gilligan's Island's Skipper) played Little John in three separate productions of Robin Hood? (I watched the extras too.) I also found out that Trigger (Roy Rogers' world famous horse) was in this film before he (the horse) was famous.

Great actors, great sets, great costumes, great action, and great acting. Another plus was the fact that there was no CGI. I didn't see one thing that made me say, "That's CGI." No CGI people, no CGI backgrounds, no CGI arrows, no CGI battles. It was all tangible and real. Sure there were some matte paintings, but that's okay. I loved the shadow duel too.

Does anyone else love this movie?

:2thumbsup:

Hollywood needs to remember where they came from. I want my Technicolor back for one thing.

[The Toyroom]

A true classic from my youth....It's been many many years since I've seen this. I need to hunt down the DVD :wink:

[Mikey]

Great movie and the only Robin Hood movie I can tolerate --- not counting Men In Tights :)

[madmarva]

One of the best films from arguably Hollywood's greatest year, 1939. Really fun movie. Flynn's sword fight with Basil Rathbone is one of my favorite scenes ever.

Other great movies from 1939:
Gone With the Wind
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Wizard of Oz
Adventures of Robin Hood
Stagecoach
Of Mice and Men
Love Affair
Goodbye Mr. Chips
Son of Frankenstein
Young Mr. Lincoln
Gunga Den
Destry Rides Again
Drums Along the Mohawk
Adventures of Sherlocke Holmes
The Roaring 20s

[DocDrako]

One of the best films from arguably Hollywood's greatest year, 1939. Really fun movie. Flynn's sword fight with Basil Rathbone is one of my favorite scenes ever.

Other great movies from 1939:
Gone With the Wind
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Wizard of Oz
Adventures of Robin Hood
Stagecoach
Of Mice and Men
Love Affair
Goodbye Mr. Chips
Son of Frankenstein
Young Mr. Lincoln
Gunga Den
Destry Rides Again
Drums Along the Mohawk
Adventures of Sherlocke Holmes
The Roaring 20s

I've only seen three of those films. I'll have to change that.

I hated "Gone With The Wind". Scarlet O'Hara got on my nerves so much that I've sworn never to watch it again. The actress is no doubt talented, but the character annoyed me to no end. Was she supposed to?

:wall:

[Goblin19]

Love the movie. The colors are so vibrant. Plus, Errol Flynn is one of my all time favorite actors.

[johnnystorm]

One of my favorite films of all time..."Welcome to Sherwood!" A poster of Errol Flynn as Robin has a place on the wall of my office even now.

Those archery shots were 'live', performed by archer Howard Hill:

Howard Hill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Hill)

This is the kind of film I wish someone would still do, instead of crapola like Prince of Thieves or that Russell Crowe movie.

[jds1911a1]

In like Flynn - While it Don't feel it the best Erol Flynn movie ever (I actually like Captain Blood better) it is a close second. It was a masterpiece and the costuming takes full advantage of technicolor without going over the rainbow (Wizard of Oz)

[The Toyroom]

I hated "Gone With The Wind". Scarlet O'Hara got on my nerves so much that I've sworn never to watch it again. The actress is no doubt talented, but the character annoyed me to no end. Was she supposed to?

:wall:

Yeah I think she's supposed to :smiley1: Her character is one who is spoiled and used to getting her way and that's where the head-butting comes in with Rhett Butler.

I think Vivian Leigh is sorta hot in that movie....:yes:

[knight errant00]

What a great movie!

I got my kids started on films like this when they were young, and they really can now pick out how the newer takes pale by comparison.

I watched this on DVD with my daughter four years ago when she was 6, and it got her on a kick iwht the Robin Hood character that she's never come off (watched the BBC series, wanted to see the Crowe movie), but she still always comes back to this.

Although I love this one, I have to admit, that if "The Sea Hawk" had been made in color, it might have been the one Flynn was best remembered for -- I know a lot of people love "Captain Blood", but "Hawk" I've always thought was the better of the two.

And why can't they make movies like this any more?

[megoapesnut]

Got this the day it as released on Blu-Ray as it is one of my favorite flicks. Picture quality is amazing. I wish the studios would clean up every movie as good as this one when releasing on Blu-ray.

[DocDrako]

I added "The Sea Hawk" and "Captain Blood" to my Netflix Queue. Did you know they originally chose James Cagney to play Robin Hood? Seems weird after seeing Errol Flynn in the role. But then, I only know Cagney by sight and not by his skill. Maybe he could have been good.

:grin:

[EmergencyIan]

"The Adventures of Robin Hood" is a true classic. My wife and I watched it in high def this past winter. The movie is well acted, the action is great and it looks beautiful.


- Ian

[JediJaida]

Cagney was a good actor for his genre,a but there is no WAY he could have carried off Robin Hood.

An actor from the upper East Side of Manhattan, with a very thick accent, playing an Englishman? It never would have gone over with audiences.

Plus, I really can't see him having any kind of chemistry with DeHavilland.

When she and Flynn worked together, they had a chemistry that few people today can manage.

And the reason they don't make stuff like this anymore is because of a definite lack of talent in Hollywood.

To make a movie like this, of the same quality of script, sets, cast and costumes, you'd either have to go indie or to a place like New Zealand.

[jds1911a1]

What a great movie!

I got my kids started on films like this when they were young, and they really can now pick out how the newer takes pale by comparison.

I watched this on DVD with my daughter four years ago when she was 6, and it got her on a kick iwht the Robin Hood character that she's never come off (watched the BBC series, wanted to see the Crowe movie), but she still always comes back to this.

Although I love this one, I have to admit, that if "The Sea Hawk" had been made in color, it might have been the one Flynn was best remembered for -- I know a lot of people love "Captain Blood", but "Hawk" I've always thought was the better of the two.

And why can't they make movies like this any more?

I rate Sea Hawk as 3rd on my Flynn list only becuase Blood came first but it is also very very good

[jds1911a1]

I added "The Sea Hawk" and "Captain Blood" to my Netflix Queue. Did you know they originally chose James Cagney to play Robin Hood? Seems weird after seeing Errol Flynn in the role. But then, I only know Cagney by sight and not by his skill. Maybe he could have been good.

:grin:

He was a big name in 37-39 mostly know for tough guy urban characters. He had great chops but not for a period piece in England, I'm glad they didn't go that route it would have been like Prince of theives - just wrong