The knee-jerking reaction of watching this Technicolor swashbuckler is holy cow how is it possible this picture was made in 1938? Its brightly rich palette, advanced back projection technology, meticulously tailored garments and detailed mise en scène, must be cutting-edge and it did cost a great amount of fortune to make it happen, the most expensive film for WARNER BROS. at its time, but the reward was also colossal.
The second Flynn-de-Havilland cinematic fare out of 8, this version of Robin Hood (Flynn)'s tale is chiefly diverted to his romance with Maid Marion (de Havilland), Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Rathbone) assumes the duty as his sworn enemy and he takes this job very seriously, joining the collision with the treacherous Prince John (Claude Rains is a pitch-perfect villain with debonair), declares a Norman war against Saxons. Among the cohorts of Robin Hood, we will get to know Will Scarlett (a cloyingly jolly Knowles, so tell me there is no gay innuendo and I am not the only one), Friar Tuck (Pallette), Little John (Hale) and his equally valiant servant Much (Mundin).
There are enjoyable action sequences bordering on acrobatics, one notable example is the guerrillas are hiding in the trees, waiting for the right moment to leap on the cavalries like some amusing escapade, the hand-to-hand combats are never large-scaled, fencing and archery are the main feats, great stunt work nonetheless.
The characterisation never intends to be profound, Flynn and de Havilland are jumping on the bandwagon of star-making and embody all the virtues which that era requires, itwas a massive crowd-pleaser and eye-opener at the same time, even today, its flair will not diminish too much thanks to its top-notch teamwork, leads by directors Michael Curtiz (CASABLANCA 1942, 9/10) and the lesser-known studio journeyman William Keighley, more significantly it beckons a wonderful cinema year of 1939.
The second Flynn-de-Havilland cinematic fare out of 8, this version of Robin Hood (Flynn)'s tale is chiefly diverted to his romance with Maid Marion (de Havilland), Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Rathbone) assumes the duty as his sworn enemy and he takes this job very seriously, joining the collision with the treacherous Prince John (Claude Rains is a pitch-perfect villain with debonair), declares a Norman war against Saxons. Among the cohorts of Robin Hood, we will get to know Will Scarlett (a cloyingly jolly Knowles, so tell me there is no gay innuendo and I am not the only one), Friar Tuck (Pallette), Little John (Hale) and his equally valiant servant Much (Mundin).
There are enjoyable action sequences bordering on acrobatics, one notable example is the guerrillas are hiding in the trees, waiting for the right moment to leap on the cavalries like some amusing escapade, the hand-to-hand combats are never large-scaled, fencing and archery are the main feats, great stunt work nonetheless.
The characterisation never intends to be profound, Flynn and de Havilland are jumping on the bandwagon of star-making and embody all the virtues which that era requires, itwas a massive crowd-pleaser and eye-opener at the same time, even today, its flair will not diminish too much thanks to its top-notch teamwork, leads by directors Michael Curtiz (CASABLANCA 1942, 9/10) and the lesser-known studio journeyman William Keighley, more significantly it beckons a wonderful cinema year of 1939.