The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938, William Keighley and Michael Curtiz)
Everyone knows Robin Hood. Even if you haven’t seen this version, chances are that you’ve at least seen the Kevin Costner movie from 1991 or the far superior animated Disney version from 1973.
I quite enjoyed this movie, even though it was the silliest thing I’ve seen in a long time. This is a very lighthearted fare, and tremendously entertaining. Errol Flynn plays the titular character, and is joined by the likes of Claude Rains and the always lovely Olivia de Havilland. Flynn, of course, was a marvellous swashbuckler, and he pulls out all the stops here.
The movie is shot in glorious Technicolor, which deeply enrichens the depth of the colours, and makes the costumes and sets really pop. It was rather eye-catching, I must say. And yes, silly. This is not a particularly violent or bloody film, even though a number of people get killed. It’s perhaps a sign of the times, but this movie is entirely frivolous and goofy throughout. I couldn’t help but laugh in a few spots, when they use particularly poncy English, or swing around from lamps and trees.
Still, this movie was tremendous fun. A perfect Sunday afternoon matinée.
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