The Adventures of Robin Hood [Blu-ray] [1938] [US Import]

The decadent Prince John (a smoothly conniving Claude Rains) takes advantage of King Richard's absence to tax the country into poverty but meets his match in the medieval guerrilla rebel Robin Hood and his Merry Men of Sherwood Forest, who rise up and, to quote a cliche coined by the film, "steal from the rich and give to the poor". Stocky Alan Hale Sr plays Robin's loyal friend Little John (a part he played in Douglas Fairbanks' silent version), Eugene Palette plays the portly Friar Tuck and Melville Cooper is the bumbling Sheriff of Nottingham. Flynn's confidence and cocky charm makes for a perfect Robin and his easygoing manner is a marvellous counterpoint to Rathbone's regal bearing and courtly diction. The film climaxes in their rousing battle-to-the-finish sword fight, a magnificently choreographed scene highlighted by Curtiz's inventive use of shadows cast upon the castle walls. --Sean Axmaker

For this DVD release picture and audio have been restored and digitally transferred, and I must say that the picture quality, sharpness and colour are simply mind-blowing and completely belying their age.

The special features spread over the first and second disc are all of great interest. Film historian Rudy Behlmer provides significant audio commentary to the movie. There is a documentary about the making of the movie, and features that will learn you everything about the cast, the crew, and even the figure of Robin Hood and his many movie adaptations. From the movie itself there are a few outtakes and bloopers. Not to be missed by anyone interested in Hollywood history is a revealing documentary about the development and fame of Technicolor (narrated by Angela Lansbury). And much more, turning this set into a surefire investment that will provide many hours of home movie pleasure.
In short: highly recommended.


Robin Hood of Nottingham   February 7, 2004
C. Gilbert (Robin Hood Country)
20 out of 22 found this review helpful

Swashbuckling 1938 adventure with that romance that we used to get on wet Sunday afternoons. This is in TECHNICOLOUR - hard to beleive it came out that early. This required the noisy camera the size of a washing machine to be kept in a huge lead lined soundproofed box weighing a few hundred weight. The film was shot with three films simultaneously. That said thay must have had some heavy engineering at Warner Brothers to take the moving shots across the crowds. The re-enhanced colour is spectacular and all of Lady Marion's cosis are obviously real silk. Rush out and get it (I mean log-on) before Yorkshiremen steal the whole lot. There are endless references to Nottingham to make us feel that Robin Hood is still our very own! (still the question of why the rebuilt castle is so un-castle like).

This is a spiffing good piece of old cinema - a must for granny too.


Unmissable!   February 1, 2004
E. A. Redfearn (Middlesbrough)
14 out of 18 found this review helpful

Now rated as an all time classic movie, it makes a welcome addition to the ever growing DVD catalogue, and it should not be missed. What is excellent about this DVD presentation is that amount of extras which it contains. It will take you hours to get through them all. Trailers, the making off . . . .the story of technicolor; even some home movies taken on set by Basil Rathbone. And even a couple of cartoons thrown in for good measure! And for admirers of Erich Wolfgang Korngold who scored the music, there is a full movie version which can be sat through without dialogue, you only hear the music. Wonderful! Picture being digitally remastered from various existing prints can be as good as expected bearing in mind this movie was made in 1938. Sound is adequate though. The extras themselves are worth the price alone, so you cannot afford to miss it.


A Five Star Classic!   October 5, 2003
E. A. Redfearn (Middlesbrough)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

Probably the greatest adventure film ever made. From start to finish, it is quite simply superb. The most expensive film ever made at the time, and it shows it too. Wonderfully cast, Errol Flynn as Robin Hood; the beautiful Olivia de Havilland as Maid Marian; ably supported by Basil Rathbone as Sir Guy de Gisbourne and Claude Rains as the evil King John. It has everything; romance; fantastic set pieces; (the scene where Robin Hood is rescued from the gallows has to be seen to be believed,) and fight scenes which are superbly directed by Hungarian director Michael Curtiz. Even simple scenes where King Richard the Lionheart (well played by British actor Ian Hunter) who reveals himself to the outlaws in Sherwood Forest is very moving. And accompanied by a rousing music score by Austrian composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Movie makers can and should learn from this because everytime you see it, you learn something new. The updated Kevin Costner version is dull by comparison, mainly through Costner's lack of charisma. The Costner version showing Robin Hood asking his men to swear an oath to King Richard in the forest is painful to watch as it seems dull in comparison to the wonderful Errol Flynn version of the same scene which never fails to bring a lump to one's throat.

Picture quality is very good too, marvellous technicolor for its time. About time it was released on DVD though, with a digitally remastered soundtrack. It will be a must buy; cannot wait for that.


One of the few old movies I actually like   January 21, 2004
Ms. R. Mccombie (UK)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

I have loved this film for as long as I can remember. I am notorious in our household for my prejudice (!) against old films, but this is one of the few I do actually love. Errol Flynn is very dashing and the ultimate Robin Hood in the same way that Colin Firth is the ultimate Mr Darcy. The film is brilliantly cast, with an excellent soundtrack and plenty of exciting action. The sets are realistic, and the acting is superb. What more can I say!