This film is over 80 years old and still remains the standard for all other Robin Hood films to aim for. It will never be beaten. Errol Flynn will always be the definitive Robin Hood.
This is the film that really cemented the version of the story that existed for most of the 20th century and probably a fair bit before then as well, the way the Merry Men were assembled, the way Little John and Friar Tuck were recruited into the band, Will Scarlett being Robin’s oldest ally and second-in-command . . . the only named member of the gang not represented in this film is Alan A-Dale. And I guess they got around that by giving Will the lute. As for the bad guys, we have all the main ones, Prince John, the Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy of Gisborne. Notably it’s Guy in this movie who is the main villain, not the Sheriff, who functions more as the comic relief. That’s perhaps the biggest departure from the standard form of the legends. The archery contest is one of the most famous parts of the legend, and this film does it more than justice.
I first saw this film in about 1992, at which point Patric Knowles (Will Scarlett) was still alive. Now the only one left is Olivia De Havilland, she’s just turned 103. She was perfect as Marian, who is more than just a damsel in distress, she’s able to hold her own here, and while some of the male characters may display some sexist attitudes, she can give as good as she gets. As for Knowles, he was described as “having everything Flynn had except for that extra zing”.
Perhaps the most interesting note in casting terms is Alan Hale as Little John. He had earlier played the same character in the 1922 silent version (starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr), and would reprise the role again in the 1950 film “Rogues Of Sherwood Forest” (his final role before his death I think), which I think may have been made as a sort of sequel to this one.
Claude Rains as Prince John and Basil Rathbone as Sir Guy were both great. Rathbone is best remembered for playing Sherlock Holmes, and he certainly had the look for that part, but he does very well here, holding his own against Errol Flynn right up until the end when, let’s face it, he doesn’t have a chance - if you’re playing the villain in a swashbuckler and Errol Flynn is the hero, you know you’re not getting out of this alive! Claude Rains also had a number of notable credits in his time, he starred in The Invisible Man, as well as Casablanca (which we have yet to cover here and must get round to at some point!).
This was one of the first “big budget epics” ever made, it cost $2m which for 1938 was a lot, but it made every penny back double, grossing $4m worldwide at the box office. So it was definitely worth it! The location scenes were gorgeous, as were the sets, the costumes, everything. The only thing that gets an “unplanned laugh” from me is near the end when Robin is fighting with a bent sword. But it’s all part of the charm.
I could happily watch this film once a year for the rest of my life.
When people say “they don’t make 'em like that anymore” - THIS is what they are pining for.
10/10.