Review of Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) by Greg W — 05 Aug 2013

The Adventures of Robin Hood ran on ITV for 143 episodes between 1955 and 1959, it was a success at home and abroad. Hammer bought the rights to make a film, and called upon Hammer veteran Terrence Fisher to direct this film.

Filmed in a green and luscious Ireland, it's a lavish and beautiful looking adventure with a good cast as well. It's also one of the better Robin Hood adaptations on film too, and it looks like some serious money was spent on this film too.

When the Sheriff of Nottingham (Peter Cushing) is looking to confiscate the estate of a soldier who fought in the Crusades, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Hubert Walter (Jack Gwillim) speaks out against the Sheriff's plans, and the Sheriff plans to kill him.

The Sheriff sends Earl of Newark (Richard Pasco) and Lord Melton (Oliver Reed) out to do it, but they try and trick Robin Hood (Richard Greene) to do it, but when Robin Hood learns of who his target is, he goes about trying to protect the Archbishop, and defeat the Sheriff.

It's a good adventure film with a good cast, Greene reprises his role of Robin Hood from the TV production, while Cushing hams it up as the Sheriff. Razz But, there is much to admire with this adaptation, and there is a lot of fun to be had too.