The Adventures of Robin Hood, starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, is one of those movies that has been a part of my life almost since before I can remember. Growing up, our movie collection consisted, in large part, of movies that were recorded off the TV, and that’s how I first encountered The Adventures of Robin Hood (to this day I can tell you where all the commercial breaks were).
Many, including myself, regard The Adventures of Robin Hood as the ‘perfect movie’. But how can we say such a thing, given the number of films that were made after this one? Well, many things make this version of the Robin Hood story the best, and that’s what I want to talk about today.
The Story
As the title implies, The Adventures of Robin Hood is based on numerous Robin Hood tales and legends that have taken many forms over the centuries. In this version of the story, Robin Hood is a Saxon nobleman who comes up against the forces of Prince John (Claude Rains) and Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone). The Sheriff of Nottingham is present, but in this version, he’s more of an oafish figure and is regarded more as a joke than a proper villain. The story takes place while King Richard is held captive overseas and Prince John plots to take the throne in his absence.
While robbing the rich to feed the poor, Robin finds himself falling in love with Lady Marian (Olivia de Havilland), a royal ward. Things come to a head when the previously captured King Richard returns to England in secret and Robin assembles his forces to stop Prince John once and for all.
The Cast
One detail that surely helped to raise The Adventures of Robin Hood to its epic level is the well-rounded cast. Every role in this film is cast perfectly, with special note being given to Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland as the leads while Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains dominate as the main villains of the story.
Speaking of the leads, there’s a certain roguish charm to the way Errol Flynn plays the title character that has led to him sticking in my mind ever since I was a little girl. Of all the actors I’ve seen play the role, I think Flynn came closest to how Robin should be: he’s a man who is deadly serious about his goals but also doesn’t take life in general too seriously, he’s for living in the moment when he can.
And then there’s Olivia de Havilland as Lady Marian. I know most remember her for her turn in Gone With the Wind, but for me this is the role I think of whenever I see her name. Watching Marian grow from a snobby Norman noblewoman into a fervent supporter of Robin’s ideals is one of the best parts of the film.
Of special note in the supporting cast is Alan Hale Sr. as Little John. Sixteen years before this film, Hale also played Little John in the 1922 silent film version of the Robin Hood story starring Douglas Fairbanks, though undoubtedly the 1938 version is the one he’s most remembered for. I also have to give a mention to Herbert Mundin as Much the Miller’s Son. His role is relatively small but memorable as he takes part in several funny moments throughout the story.
The Music
Of course, one can’t talk about The Adventures of Robin Hood without mentioning the fantastic music that Erich Wolfgang Korngold created for this film. Korngold was a brilliant composer of symphonies and opera in pre-war Europe and his skills easily translated to Hollywood’s silver screen. The composer treated this film like he would an opera and it led to a combination of music and picture that redefined what a film score could be and serves as a template for film music to this very day.
An interesting side note: The Adventures of Robin Hood is the first time the composer was given solo credit, as opposed to being fit in with a list of other crew members. Korngold’s stature was such that he insisted on solo credit and it became the standard afterward.
The Swordfighting
Finally, I have to talk briefly about one of my favorite elements of this film: the sword fighting. The Adventures of Robin Hood is well known for its sword fights, especially the climactic duel between Robin and Sir Guy in Nottingham Castle. Both Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone knew how to fence in real life and they used their skills to great effect in this film. The duel between the two is paced to perfection and ranges all over the castle. Korngold’s music again comes into play here, as it turns an already excellent sword fighting scene into an epic duel that leaves the outcome very much up in the air right until the bitter end. This is no more evident than at the end of the duel, when Sir Guy reaches for a dagger to try and stab Robin and the music turns sinister, making you hold your breath as you wait to see if Sir Guy’s trick will work.
What Robin Hood Means to Us
Confession: The first time I watched The Adventures of Robin Hood was for our 100 Greatest Warner Bros. Movies list. I immediately felt cheated for having lived for 40 years without the joy of watching Errol Flynn’s delightful turn in this iconic role. As an ’80s kid, Disney’s Robin Hood remains to this day one of my favorite animated films. It has everything — adventure, drama, romance, humor. It captures the same spirit of Robin Hood that I find so delightful in the 1938 version. Flynn’s swashbuckling swagger is the stuff legends are made of. Basil Rathbone, who I always loved as Sherlock Holmes, is properly villainous as Sir Guy without being just a caricature. And the sword fights are simply epic. It may be nearly 90 years old, but there is no doubt it remains one of the best action movies ever made.
–R.J. Mathews
A Classic for the Ages
In conclusion, The Adventures of Robin Hood remains one of the greatest films ever made, for all the reasons previously described and more. This is a film made when Hollywood was at its true peak and it shows in every frame of the film.
Do you have your own thoughts on The Adventures of Robin Hood? Favorite quotes, scenes, or characters? Sound off in the comments below!
