The Adventures of Robin Hood

Featuring Errol Flynn and Olivia de  Havilland. 1938 

The Victorians would have loved this film, it a romantic romp and probably owes much to the stories of Sir Walter Scott and the illustrations of Howard Pyle rather than Robin Hood's 'true' tale.  

                                                            "Its injustice I hate, not the Normans"  Robin says

Which is just as well, as Flynn's Robin doesn't take much of a stand against John, and the Crusades only get a passing mention and as usual 'good' King Richard swans in an out of the film just as he swanned in and out of the country in real life!  

None the less, its a decent, rousing swashbuckling film, and really not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon. 

The story of Robin Hood, a local hero, who took on the might of the realm, has its roots in late 15th century to early 16th century English ballads. 

Walter Bower, a Scottish abbot of Inchcolm Abbey wrote in 1440 

     "Then arose the famous murderer, Robert Hood, as well as Little John, together with their accomplices from among the                       disinherited, whom the foolish populace are so inordinately fond of celebrating both in tragedies and comedies,                                       and about whom they are delighted to hear the jesters and minstrels sing above all other ballads."

This film is proof that Bower was not wrong. 

The Adventures of Robin Hood is a bit of a fairy tale, Errol Flynn, with sword in one hand and his eye of the beautiful Maid Marion, jumps from the highest branches of trees, managing to land with both feet firmly on the ground and both hands on his hips, all this without his plucky little grin ever leaving his face.

 What a hero!