Classic Film: The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Source: Gary Dennis

(14 ratings)

When Movie Place was in business, I cannot tell you how many tweens I recommended this picture to and who would almost always tell me later that they loved it and would very often rent it again.

It is in color (Technicolor that is), it is big, it is fast and it is funny. The prints of this picture have been restored so it looks like it was made yesterday. Originally, this picture was to be just a shot-by-shot remake of the Douglas Fairbanks version from 1919. However at a cost of $2,000,000, this was the most expensive picture made at Warner Brothers up until then (1938). Originally slated to star James Cagney and begun by a different director, this picture has become a "classic". The preview audience reaction was so positive that the film was released without any alterations to the plot or picture and recouped the $2,000,000 investment, and then some.

When the evil Prince John and the Norman Lords begin oppressing the Saxon masses in King Richard's absence, a Saxon lord, Sir Robin of Locksley, fights back as the outlaw leader of a rebel guerrilla army. As the "rob from the rich and give to the poor" defender of downtrodden Saxons, Sir Robin runs afoul of Norman authority, Sir Guy of Gisbourne (the great Basil Rathbone) and Prince John (Claude Rains) and is forced to turn outlaw. With his band of Merry Men, he fights a good deal of injustice and cruelty, but still has time to woo the lovely Maid Marian, foil the cruel Sir Guy, and keep the nefarious Prince John off the throne.

Warner Brother work horse and studio style setter Michael Curtiz took over from director William Keighley when the producers felt that the action scenes lacked impact. Errol Flynn was not happy when Michael Curtiz took over production, as he didn't care for Curtiz's dictatorial methods and the two fought often during production of The Charge of the Light Brigade. During one fight sequence, Errol Flynn was jabbed by an actor who was using a sword that didn't have a safety guard on the point. The other actor apologized and explained that the director (Curtiz) had instructed him to remove the safety feature in order to make the action "more exciting". Errol Flynn then climbed up a platform where Michael Curtiz was standing next to the camera, grabbed him by the throat and asked him if he found that "exciting enough".

At the time, this film held the distinction of employing the largest number of stuntmen on any one production. The stunt players wore heavy padding underneath a steel breastplate, overlaid with balsa wood to absorb the impact of arrows. The production used all 11 of the Technicolor cameras in existence in 1938; they were all returned to Technicolor at the end of each day's filming.

At the time, the palomino upon which Olivia de Havilland rode was named "Golden Cloud" and was owned by Hudkins Stables, a stable that leased horses and Western equipment for films. Roy Rogers bought "Golden Cloud" for $2,500. Character actor Smiley Burnette, who was Rogers' sidekick in his early movies, suggested the name of "Trigger". The name stuck and Rogers rode Trigger in his first starring Western, Under Western Stars.

There exists a juicy bit of gossip in The Warner Brother files/records, archived at the USC Cinema Television Library. Interoffice memos clearly indicate that Olivia de Havilland was not the first choice for the role of Marion. The original actress, whose name is blacked out in each document, became pregnant out of wedlock, and could no longer accept the role.

This was a picture that used to be shown all the time on regular broadcast television. There is violence, but I have seen programs on the Cartoon Network, during the day when kids are watching, that are way more violent. I am not justifying the violence in The Adventures of Robin Hood, all I am saying is that it is not gratuitous and it is a sort of toned down historical accurateness. The sword fights are thrilling and are some of the best duels ever filmed. It is very much worth recording.

Midnight (or 12:00 AM) on February 5th on Turner Classic Movies.

The venerable Gary Dennis launched the website, nycmovieplace.com, after closing his retail location, Movie Place, in New York City. Upon the store's closing, he auctioned off what was considered one of the greatest private collections of DVDs and videos ever assembled! Visit Gary's website at nycmovieplace.com for his truly unique brand of movie suggestions and commentary.