Robin Hood, again? This hero is worth to give one more article in each category before moving another subject. Now, we will not talk about the latest Robin Hood’s movies with Taron Egerton (2018), Russell Crowe (2010) nor even the one played by Kevin Costner (1991). The movie that I’m talking about was produced long time ago as it was seen on movie theaters in 1938. It’s call « The adventures of Robin Hood »
Movie’s Card
- Title: The adventures of Robin Hood
- Release: 1938
- Time: 102 minutes
- Realisation: Michael Curtiz and Seton Miller
- House of production: Warner Bros. and First National Pictures
- Musique: Erich Wolgang Korngolg
- Starring:
- Errol Flynn (Robin)
- Olivia de Havilland (Marianne)
- Basil Rathbone (Guy de Gusibourne)
- Claude Rains (Prince John)
- Melville Cooper (Sherif of Nottingham)
The tale tooks place in 1191 when the good King Richard Lionheart was abudcted as he went back from the crusade. To returning free, England was ordered to pay a ransom. Prince John organised the collect in order to keep for himself. Whatever if his brothe died! The prince wants the crown. English people could famish under the taxt collect if it was not for Robin Locklsey’s intervention. Born noble, he was bannish and made out-of-law. He takes pleasure to rob Prince John and holds up Prince’s lackey, Guy of Guisbourne and the Sherif of Notthingham. Robin also can count on this loyal fellows and the great Lady Marianne who risk their life for Robin Hood’s cause without a doubt.
This movie is one of few that all family with no age limit can watch. Again, I grow up with it. Sure, it’s nothing compared to nowadays’ realisations. The editing is not clean as what we watch now, colours was added later and the fighting scene are smoothless. However, the easy-going of this production is nice to watch. Nostalgia again? Maybe.
Back to the story. I really appreciated interections between the characters and the way of they met. Specially the scene of the banquet. The storyline is simple yet consistent. Prince John is more elegant than his clique but still more frithtening as he is shifty. Guy of Guisbourne is make up as an cupid being, intelligent and attracted by Lady Marianne. The Sherif of Nottingham is a comic character with great ambitions but not smart enough to reach his goals.
The gang of Robin Hood will be incomplete without Little John’s stature, Scarlett full of malice, the love of bier to Friar Tuck and no to mention all the men who join them in Sherwood. In this version, Lady Marianne is not just a maiden in destress that is waiting someone to protect her. In her way, she goes up against those who treat her. She bets her life to the ideal of the one who win her heart because she believes that his cause is right.
Before leaving, some informations about this movie that I found during my research. The RobinHood’s movie was order because the society wanted that the usual gangsters’ movie move to something more « decent ». Many storylines follow this new direction in differents house of production. Someone suggested to put in front the tale about Robin Hood and Warner agreed with it. Unfortunately, they only possessed the copyright for a comic opera of the hero. In the same time, they eyed on the originials scripts of Edward Small on the hand of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). On their side, MGM was producing operettas and were interest on the copyright of the Warner Bros. Next move? A simple swap! And both of them knowed sucess.
I have still one more category to do on Robin and after, I swear it, I’ll move another topic… Swear it … Well, you know, when you like a flavour, you just can not take another bite of the cookie later.
Chapeau Rouge et Livres en bottes 