I have enjoyed the various Robin Hood movies that I've seen, some more than others.  I have heard a little bit about some of the earlier versions of the characters even though I hadn't seen those movies.  I recently went ahead and picked up The Adventures of Robin Hood, a 1938 movie starring Errol Flynn.

While returning home from the Crusades, King Richard is taken captive and a large ransom is demanded.  Prince John, the King's brother, takes control and starts treating the Saxon commoners horribly.  Prince John claims he is raising taxes to pay the ransom, but he really intends to use the money to secure himself as the new King.

One Saxon noble, Robin, the Earl of Locksley, isn't happy about what Prince John is doing and decides to stand up for the rights of the people being oppressed.  Since he loses his land and title, Robin starts living in Sherwood Forest with Will Scarlett.  It doesn't take long before more men join Robin to fight against Prince John.  Maid Marian is less than impressed when they first meet, but it doesn't take her long to change her mind.  Prince John and his supporters start plotting how to make sure he stays in power.

The story in The Adventures of Robin Hood is slightly different from some of the other versions of the story I've seen, but the basic idea is still the same.  Prince John starts taking over while his brother is gone fighting in the crusades.  Robin doesn't agree with what is happening and stands up to help the commoners, becoming an outlaw in the process.  He and his followers take from the rich to help the poor, all the while, remaining loyal to King Richard.  This version of the story makes no mention of Robin fighting in the crusades like some of the others have.  

I remember hearing a little about Errol Flynn playing Robin Hood, but I had never seen The Adventures of Robin Hood before this.  Since I have liked the other Robin Hood movies that I've seen, I decided to go ahead and pick it up.  I really wasn't surprised by anything, though that makes sense since I have seen various versions of the story before.  Some things are different, but things are still mostly predictable.  The movie is very fun and entertaining and I think it has held up well even though a few things do look a bit dated now.  The outfits that Robin and his men wear are really brightly colored which seems a bit odd to me.  Will is wearing a bright red outfit for a while, and even once he dresses more like Robin, he still wears some red.  I would think it would be harder to hide in Sherwood Forest wearing those colors.  Early in the movie, Robin's outfit even has some kind of jewels on it.  That does look out of place, but it doesn't make me enjoy the movie any less.  

There is a good amount of action throughout The Adventures of Robin Hood.  Robin gets into fights with various characters.  He uses his bow and arrow several times as well as sword fighting.  The fights are done well, though it does look like the film is speeded up a little in those sequences.  The men who support Robin also get into fights as well.  There are one or two times when large groups of men end up fighting.  It is harder to keep track of who is who during those scenes since so many are involved.  Even with all the fights, there really isn't that much violence to what is going on.  Most of what is shown is rather mild.  The movie is rated PG, so there really isn't anything objectionable in the movie.  I do think the movie works as a fun adventure type of movie.  

Robin and Marian meet for the first time during the course of The Adventures of Robin Hood.  She has traveled with Prince John and at first seems to fully support him.  She doesn't care for Robin at all at that point.  Her feelings only start to change after Robin shows her all the people that he is helping who had been hurt by Prince John.  It doesn't take long for her to decide that she loves him.  The two of them are shown kissing once or twice and that is it for any sort of romance in the movie.

Several of the characters in The Adventures of Robin Hood have been in the other versions of the stories that I've seen, while a few are new to me.  Robin is much like he has been in other versions, standing up to defend the people that Prince John is taxing.  Robin and some of his supporters do laugh a lot, even in some situations when things are really that funny.  This is the first movie that I've seen with Errol Flynn.  I think he did well with the part.  Will Scarlett is Robin's friend.  Will supports Robin and is frequently involved in what is happening.  Patric Knowles is fine in the part.

Little John joins Robin after the two men have a fight.  Little John becomes very loyal and he risks danger in more than one situation.  Alan Hale does fine with the part.  Robin also fights Friar Tuck before convincing him to join the men.  Eugene Pallette does fine with the part even though Tuck doesn't do as much as some of the others.

Prince John is the brother of King Richard who is plotting how to become King.  He thinks nothing of treating others horribly.  Claude Rains does really well with the part.  King Richard is only briefly shown, so Ian Hunter doesn't have a lot to do.  Sir Guy of Gisbourne is a nobleman living near Sherwood Forest who is supporting Prince John.  Guy wants Robin dead and he also has his eye on Marian.  Guy isn't a likable character.  Basil Rathbone does really well with the part.  The Sheriff of Nottingham is around, though he doesn't have as much to do as he has had in other Robin Hood movies.  

Maid Marian travels with Prince John to Nottingham.  She is from a noble family and looks down on others at first.  That changes later in the movie after she spends some time with Robin.  She is mostly shown observing things and she ultimately has to be rescued.  Olivia de Havilland does fine with the part.  Bess seems to be a lady in waiting or some kind of servant to Maid Marian.  She is only really shown in a few scenes, but she does do something important at one point.  Una O'Connor is fine in the part.

Main Cast
    
Melville Cooper - Sheriff of Nottingham
Olivia de Havilland - Maid Marian
Errol Flynn - Robin Hood
Alan Hale - Little John
Ian Hunter - King Richard
Patric Knowles - Will Scarlett
Una O'Connor - Bess
Eugene Pallette - Friar Tuck
Claude Rains - Prince John
Basil Rathbone - Sir Guy Gisbourne

Directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley

Blu-ray Information

I found the Blu-ray of The Adventures of Robin Hood for only $10 at Walmart.  I have seen it at that price a few other places as well.  The picture quality for the movie is wonderful, especially considering how old the movie is.  There are a lot of special features on the disc, including a few cartoons dealing with Robin Hood in some way.  There are newsreels, documentaries on the movie, excerpts from different Robin Hood movies, home movies shot during the filming of the movie, outtakes - which are really just deleted scenes - two short subject films, and a studio blooper reel from 1938.  There are also trailers to several other movies.  The extras are interesting and entertaining. 

The Adventures of Robin Hood is a fun, entertaining version of the Robin Hood story.  The movie has held up well and still deserves to be seen.  People who enjoy movies about Robin Hood should give this one a chance.

This review is part of CaptainD's Good Movies EpiGuide 3 Write Off.

Robin Hood Movie Reviews
Robin Hood (1973) ~ Robin Hood (2010) ~ Robin Hood: Men in Tights ~

Recommended: Yes