Review of The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) by Tim H — 28 May 2008

Technicolor? 1930's? Wow.

Okay, this isn't the best MOVIE in the world. I mean, it barely involves any real character drama and the story is treated like a bedtime fairy tale. But the movie is fun. I think I may have ended my review right now, but I will try to go into more detail.

I would call this the first real, big-budget action movie. Robin Hood, played by Errol Flynn, is given little background in this story. We know from his title and some breif mentions, that he is nobility and because of the injustices done to the Normans (or the Saxons, I forget), he decides to become an outlaw and outrightly oppose Prince John. Now, everyone knows the tale backwards and forwards. (If you don't, shame on you!) This movie pretty much tells all the highlights of that famous tale...except for one thing. While there is a Sheriff of Nottingham in this film, he plays a background character, leaving Sir Guy of Gisborne to take the role of the lead villain. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with that. After all, Sir Guy pretty much plays the same character, I just wonder why that decision was made. Perhaps my Robin Hood folklore is mistaken.

The scope on this movie is fantastic. While I know Errol Flynn has been in other action epics, the scale was never this large. The cast in this movie is astronomical and the sets alone are grandiose. Then there are the costumes. In no way are these costumes trying to mimick accuracy. Everyone in this movie is wearing tights and they're all brightly colored to take advantage of the new technology available to them. These merry men come off more like superheroes than outlaws living in the woods, but that doesn't bother me in the least. The movie doesn't try to cover up for the fact that this is sword-fighting fiction for boys to marvel at larger than life characters.

I do have to stress, though, the lack of substance to this movie. The romance is very superficial. While Marian scoffs at the brigand Robin of Locksley at the beginning, her tune is quickly changed when she sees his efforts in Sherwood. While I appreciate that someone can eat a nice big bowl of humble pie, I doubt one goes from hatred to mad intoxication so readily. Errol Flynn's performance is more that of Kirk Alyn's Superman than of a man impassioned by his country, but he has amazing swordfights and manages to scale walls with the best of them. Yes, the movie is beyond belief, but if you go in knowing that, it really is a good time. Really, grabbing a blanket and a bowl of popcorn while curling up on the couch might make you a wide-eyed child once again. That's more than most movies deliver today.