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The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

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1:47 | Trailer
When Prince John and the Norman Lords begin oppressing the Saxon masses in King Richard's absence, a Saxon lord fights back as the outlaw leader of a rebel guerrilla army.

Writers:

Norman Reilly Raine (original screenplay: based upon ancient Robin Hood legends), Seton I. Miller (original screenplay: based upon ancient Robin Hood legends)
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Popularity
3,475 ( 440)
Won 3 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Errol Flynn ... Robin Hood
Olivia de Havilland ... Maid Marian
Basil Rathbone ... Sir Guy of Gisbourne
Claude Rains ... Prince John
Patric Knowles ... Will Scarlett
Eugene Pallette ... Friar Tuck
Alan Hale ... Little John
Melville Cooper ... High Sheriff of Nottingham
Ian Hunter ... King Richard the Lion-Heart
Una O'Connor ... Bess
Herbert Mundin ... Much
Montagu Love ... Bishop of the Black Canons
Leonard Willey Leonard Willey ... Sir Essex
Robert Noble Robert Noble ... Sir Ralf
Kenneth Hunter Kenneth Hunter ... Sir Mortimer
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Storyline

Sir Robin of Locksley, defender of downtrodden Saxons, runs afoul of Norman authority and is forced to turn outlaw. With his band of Merry Men, he robs from the rich, gives to the poor and still has time to woo the lovely Maid Marian, and foil the cruel Sir Guy of Gisbourne, and keep the nefarious Prince John off the throne. Written by Little Pine Weasel <kristinat@cerritos.edu>

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Taglines:

THE SCREEN'S MOST DASHING STAR! (print ad - Lubbock Avalanche Journal - Palace Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - May 15, 1938 - all caps) See more »


Certificate:

G | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Prince John would have been about 28 years old at the time the story is set; Claude Rains, who plays him, was 49 at the time. See more »

Goofs

All the sword fighting scenes show the characters using one-handed swords. At this time, swords were two-handed swords, the necessary refinements in steel making that allowed lighter, more maneuverable swords had not been developed. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Title card: In the year of Our Lord 1191 when Richard, the Lion-Heart, set forth to drive the infidels from the Holy Land, he gave the Regency of his Kingdom to his trusted friend, Longchamps, instead of to his treacherous brother, Prince John.
Title card: Bitterly resentful, John hoped for some disaster to befall Richard so that he, with the help of the Norman barons, might seize the throne for himself. And then on a luckless day for the Saxons...
Town Crier announcing capture of Richard: News has come from Vienna: "Leopold of Austria has seized ...
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Crazy Credits

The Warner Brothers shield is in the form of an English coat of arms. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream (2005) See more »

User Reviews

 
Errol Flynn was the best swashbuckler of the sound era...
22 May 2000 | by Nazi_Fighter_DavidSee all my reviews

Michael Curtiz received only a single Academy Award for directing the best of wartime espionage movies "Casablanca" but made great classics like "Captain Blood", "The Charge of the Light Brigade", "The Sea Hawk" and "The Adventures of Robin Hood," orchestrating enthusiastically great stars and skilled technicians... He refined with charm and elegance plot and character with fluid camera movement and exquisite lightning, mixing action with peculiar sense of humor capturing with brilliant photography the natural look of Sherwood Forest, the cool tones of Nottingham Castle and the inn at Luton with its crackling fireplace...

The film had great marvelous scenes: When Robin decides to tackle with a staff Little John (Alan Hale); Robin's swordsplay with the gallant Friar Tuck (Eugene Palette); Robin and his Forest outlaws giving a warm welcome to Lady Marian and to the treasure's wagon lead by Sir Guy and the High Sheriff ; The Archery Tournament; Robin's Merry Men entering Nottingham Castle; and the magnificent final duel, with a masterful score, between Robin & Sir Guy...

Errol Flynn was the best swashbuckler of the sound era... He was ideally cast as the Saxon knight Sir Robin of Locksley who became a rebel outlaw robbing the rich to feed the poor... With his Merry Men he saved Saxon England against Norman ambitions... His most frequent enemies were the noisy High Sheriff of Nottingham (Melvin Cooper), the evil Bishop of Black Canon (Montagu Love), the eloquent chief conspirator Sir Guy of Gasbourne, and Prince John...

Flynn's splendid figure 'leaping, jumping, scaling and swinging' made him a great leader of men sheltering the old and the helpless... He was a romantic hero 'twinkling' with malice, gallantly courting the exquisite Olivia De Havilland...

Olivia De Havilland was a pretty and delicate woman in love with a brave and reckless outlaw...

Basil Rathbone, superb as the arrogant Sir Guy of Gisbourne, spreads terror by torturing, rivaling Robin for Lady Marian...

Claude Rains was the treacherous prince John who orders his Norman knights to oppress the helpless Saxons suffocating them with thefts, and burning their farms... He vows that Robin must be captured...

Winner of 3 Academy Awards (Art Direction, Original Score and Film Editing) "The Adventures of Robin Hood" is a delighted tale of high adventure, a tale of action and colorful pageantry, a great film for all the family...


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Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 May 1938 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Adventures of Robin Hood See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$1,900,000 (estimated)
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Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros. See more »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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