Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960)

While King Richard is away at the Crusades, some Nottingham nobles and their Sheriff plot to confiscate estates of fallen Crusaders but Robin Hood and Maid Marian foil their plan.

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writer:

Alan Hackney (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard Greene, Peter Cushing, Niall MacGinnis

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Greene	...	Robin Hood
Peter Cushing	...	Sheriff of Nottingham
Niall MacGinnis	...	Friar Tuck (as Niall McGinnis)
Richard Pasco	...	Edward, Earl of Newark
Jack Gwillim	...	Archbishop of Canterbury Hubert Walter
Sarah Branch	...	Maid Marian Fitzwalter
Nigel Green	...	Little John
Vanda Godsell	...	The Prioress
Edwin Richfield	...	The Sheriff's Lieutenant
Charles Lamb	...	Old Bowyer
Dennis Lotis	...	Alan A'Dale

Storyline

The sheriff of Nottingham plots to confiscate the estate of the Lord of Bortrey, who has died on Crusade. The Archbishop of Canterbury speaks against this plot, and the sheriff plans to eliminate him. Robin Hood pretends to undertake the assassination of the Archbishop for the plotters; Maid Marion, meeting him thinks him the leader of a gang of murderers, and leads him into a trap.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | archbishop | archbishop of canterbury | pardon | chancellor | 

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Taglines:

All-New Adventures of Robin Hood! The world's most fearless fighter faces his greatest challenge!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Oliver Reed's voice is not heard; he's dubbed throughout by another (anonymous) actor attempting to sound like Reed's normal voice. Reed's own voice is heard in the film's trailer, where he adopts a very camp lisping French accent.

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Goofs

In one scene, Robin is asked to shoot at a pumpkin. Pumpkins are a New World squash; the earliest references to Robin Hood are from about 1228, well before Columbus' voyage.

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Quotes

Sheriff of Nottingham: This is not a game, Madam, I'm dealing with criminals!

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Crazy Credits

The movie begins and ends with a short song so as to be consistent with the TV series. The song at the end of the movie goes like this: "Friar Tuck his blessing now will give,/The outlaws spare the poor, /And Robin Hood and Marion live/In Sherwood evermore."

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Connections

Version of The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952)

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Soundtracks

Songs
Composed by Stanley Black
Sung by Dennis Lotis (uncredited)

User Reviews

So-so feature film spin-off from the TV series of the 1950s/60s. View once and forget.

One of the big disappointments of my then very young life was setting off with my pocket money to view this one many, many years ago. I was a terrific fan of the Richard Greene TV series and used to gurgle and splutter out the theme song from my first conscious days of television viewing. When I learnt that a full FILM version was therefore showing at the local Odeon, I was expecting great things. I have watched the film now about four or five times since as it has appeared on afternoon TV and must say that my disappointment has still been quite strong every time I have viewed it! So what is the problem, (or, rather, what are the problemS)? Firslty, the whole thing must have been made on the then financial equivalent of 75 pence, i.e. the production values are STILL those of the TV series and while shaky scenery and a small number of bushes CAN be taken as a castle or a large forest in a half hour TV programme, (with a break for commercials), it will not work over one and a half hours on the big screen. Secondly, the acting is on a par with the scenery. Richard Greene moves fairly effortlessly from the small screen to the big, (mind you, he had had quite a few previous roles in the cinema, such as in the 1939 Basil Rathbone version of "The Hound of the Baskervilles"), but the rest of the cast, (with the possible exception of Peter Cushing as the Sheriff of Nottingham), are quite forgettable and it seems strange that NONE of the "familiar faces" from the TV series was prevailed upon to appear in the film version as well. At least it would have provided some continuity and, presumably, would have made the inter-action between the actors come to life more than is the case with the film that emerged. Finally, one hardly expects Marlowe or Schiller in terms of plot development with this kind of thing, (in fact I doubt if I had any idea of plot when I first saw the film, probably just waiting more for the next fight scene!), but, even so, this really is feeble in terms of story and makes the Kostner and Flynn versions seem like high literature in comparison. Mix in fairly flaccid direction, poor editing and continuity and a "bargain basement" music score and what have you got? Something to view while shelling peas or waiting for the rain to clear on a Thursday afternoon or, if you saw the 1950s TV series, a clear reminder of HOW really difficult it is apparently to transfer a TV hit to one on the big screen. If you want Robin Hood for the LATTER, then without question it is, (in ascending order of merit), still: Kostner's "Prince of Thieves", the made-for-TV British version of the same year as Kostner's, (and which was totally overshadowed by the latter), and, (of course - you know already, don't you?), the Errol Flynn 1939 film, (still unsurpassable as a talkie version).

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 January 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sword of Sherwood Forest

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Films, Yeoman Films Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolour)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1