Review of The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) by Danny R — 22 Feb 2016
Michael Curtiz & William Keighley's beloved classic cinematic telling of the adventures of the legendary medieval hero is one of the greatest adventure motion pictures ever filmed and the definitive swashbuckler.
The dashing, charismatic Errol Fynn is truly the quintessential Robin Hood, and delivers a brilliant performance in the most memorable role of his career, and one of the most iconic trues in cinematic history.
A glorious Technicolor film overflowing with spectacle and pageantry, breathtaking scenes of action, drama and humor. It is a dark time in the kingdom when the cruel and decadent Prince John, has declared himself Regent of England by self-appointment, after his brother Richard, the Lion Hearted has been captured and imprisoned in Austria by Emperor Leopold.
Prince John is played with a superb sarcastic malice by Claude Rains, one of the finest character actors of all time. Prince John along with the wicked aristocratic Sir Guy of Gisbourne, played by Basil Rathbone in an exceptional performance, and the bumbling Sheriff of Nottingham, played marvelously by Melville Cooper, plan to tax the peasants into poverty, to raise a ransom to save the King, but in reality they are just lining their own pockets, and buying they way to the throne.
It's is now up to Robin and his men to stop this wicked conspiracy. Fine direction by Curtiz & Keighley, with the beautiful Olivia de Havilland as luminous the Maid Marian, she delivers a truly elegant performance, and rest of the supporting cast all give exceptional performances, they included Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Alan Hale, Ian Hunter, and Una O' Connor.
The color cinematography by Tony Gaudio and Sol Polito is astonishingly beautiful. The climatic sword-fight between Flynn and Rathbone is one of the most famous scenes in all of filmdom. Erich Wolfgang Korngold's wonderfully rousing musical score won an Academy Award, as did the art direction and editing.
A triumphant and delightful tale of high-adventure. Highly Recommended.
This review of The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) was written by Danny R on 22 Feb 2016.
The Adventures of Robin Hood has generally received very positive reviews.
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