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Under Revision
(Original version: May 1998)
The
Adventures of Robin Hood
starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland
(Warner
Brothers, 1938)
I
originally wrote this spotlight in May 1998, the 60th anniversary of
the best-loved, most-copied and downright classic Robin Hood film
ever. It wasn't a bad Spotlight, but that was still in the early
days of my website. I am in the process of revising this spotlight to match the quality and depth of my later "Spotlight" articles.
When I was
a kid, I saw a wonderful, exciting, colourful Robin Hood movie.
I raved about it for ages. I made bows out of the branches in the
backyard. I quoted lines from it with that repetitive insanity children
have. Now, I'm not entirely sure about this film. My hazy distant
memories don't exactly match any film. But I'm pretty sure it was the
classic Errol Flynn version. (My faulty memory had conflated Robin and
Will's rescue of Much with the banquet scene.)
Unfortunately,
I got older. I had researched the history behind the legends.
And in my late teens, I fell in love with the British television
series, Robin of Sherwood. I rented a copy of The
Adventures of
Robin Hood. And I hated it! Good King Richard? What rubbish! Bright
colours,
swashbuckling? It wasn't REAL. It wasn't like Robin of Sherwood.
I
thought I knew everything. And the Errol Flynn film seemed like kids
stuff to me. And with that angsty, humourless earnestness of a
teenager, I wanted to dismiss many childish things and prove I deserved
a spot at the grown-up table.
Then, I
got older again. I read Rudy Behlmer's book on the movie. I found
that the writers of The Adventures of Robin Hood had researched
the
history of the legend. They knew what they were doing. That gave me a
little
more respect for the movie. Finally I saw it again, and realized
something important.
 This movie
is FUN! It's charming, delightful with charismatic actors and
the larger than life stories of the ballads. It was classic,
technicolor
fun. And I had dismissed it just because it wasn't like a certain TV
series (which wasn't completely historical or realistic itself, as if
such things truly matter). This movie captures the soul of the legend.
I learned a lesson
in teenage arrogance. One of the joys of truly being an adult --
as opposed to wanting to be one -- is the ability to embrace one's
child-like side.
Since
then, I've seen the movie many times, and own it on both video and DVD.
For my 28th birthday, my mom gave me a poster from the movie which
still proudly hangs on my wall. And a few weeks before that gift, in
the spring of 1998, I had the chance to see The Adventures of Robin
Hood on the big screen. It was wonderful. The audience loved it
too, and we cheered at the end.
Although I
came to my senses and fell in love with the movie all over again, I
know there are some who still see it as silly and irrelevant. Perhaps
the most common complaint about the Errol Flynn Robin Hood can be
summed up by Bugs Bunny in the "Rabbit Hood" cartoon (included on the
special edition DVD).
Yeah, I
know Robin Hood will soon be here. He robs from the rich and he gives
to the poor. Yo ho! He goes skipping -- tra la -- through Sherwood
Forest helping the needy and the oppressed.
Funny, as
most Warner Bros. cartoons are, but not exactly accurate. The tights
(so mocked by Mel Brooks and others) might be absurd, but Errol Flynn's
Robin does not skip. Ever. Douglas Fairbanks' Robin Hood from the 1922
silent film skipped at times. But no matter what he's wearing, there's
a macho, cocky quality to Flynn's Robin Hood. That boldness can be seen
in classic scenes like Robin breaking into Nottingham Castle with a
stag on his shoulders and then verbally fencing with Prince John and
the court. He's defiant and cocksure.
And
Flynn's Robin also has steely resolve. He tells Prince John, "I'll
organize revolt. Exact a death for a death. And I'll never rest until
every Saxon in this shire can stand up free men and strike a blow for
Richard and England." Errol Flynn looks like a leader, and one willing
to fight and die for the cause. Robin's cause, as a freedom fighter,
comes largely from Joseph Ritson's 1795 introduction to a ballad
collection, elaborated by 19th century writers like Sir Walter Scott.
With a Robin Hood who is so selfless, fighting for a just cause --
well, it could be very silly. Most Robin Hoods in this modern tradition
look like overgrown boy scouts. What keeps Flynn's Robin from
being just another bland, well-meaning superhero is a sense of humour.
True, lots of superheroes banter with their foes, but Flynn has this
broad manure-eating grin. He's a trickster and it's a good thing that a
good cause was available, because I think his Robin might cause trouble
no matter who is in charge. Flynn's Robin is clearly enjoying himself,
whereas other Robins don't seem to enjoy themselves. I think the
audience sides with the person having a good time. (This is
why Alan Rickman's funny, trickster sheriff is far more popular than
Kevin Costner's straight-laced Robin Hood.) Flynn brings some of the
rebellious spirit of the ballads to the film. And it's a lucky thing
too.
You see,
Bugs Bunny got something else wrong. This Robin Hood doesn't, strictly
speaking, rob from the rich and give to the poor. He certainly
helps the needy and oppressed. But his followers -- including the poor -- refused to keep the money they stole from Sir Guy. Instead it is used to pay King Richard's ransom.
One
of the most often repeated facts about this movie is that James Cagney
was supposed to play Robin Hood. Since my only experience with Cagney
is bad
impressions of him saying "You dirty rat!", this conjures up weird
images
for me. But in 1935, the same time this movie was planned, Errol Flynn
and
Olivia de Havilland made a splash with Captain Blood.
In Rudy
Behlmer published the screenplay for this movie. He also included a
long introduction showing the various stages of the films development.
One
plan was for Marian to have a small role at best (just as she doesn't
appear
in the early ballads). In another, she was the Empress Matilda (King
Richard's
grandmother.) Another plan was for her to end up with another guy.
Robin
would go off with Richard, return to England and die. (Not unlike the
1970's
movie, Robin and Marian). Naturally, writers' whims couldn't
keep
the legendary lovers apart.
And the
higher-ups wanted a jousting tournament to begin the movie -- much like
that had kicked off Douglas Fairbanks' 1922 film.
I'll quote
from scriptwriter Norman Reilly Raine's memo on this subject.
(quoted in Behlmer)
The
Archery Tournament will suffer pictorially if we stick a jousting
tournament in the beginning. Christ's second coming in a cloud of glory
would seem tame
if we showed the creation of the world first...
The
Fairbanks picture, in order to live up its tournament fade-in,
had to ring in the whole goddamned Crusades, and a light taste of the
real Robin Hood story was dragged in as a tag at the end to justify the
use of
the name.
The
jousting match stayed out. And the real Robin Hood legend resonates
throughout
this movie. Robin Hood wins the golden arrow like in the classic
ballads.
Robin's encounters with Friar Tuck and King Richard are straight out of
the
ballads. As is Robin's quarterstaff duel with Little John. This is Alan
Hale's
second outing as Little John. He played the same role in the Fairbanks
movie
and would do so again in the 1950 movie, Rogues of Sherwood Forest
.
This was
the most expensive movie Warner Bros. had made to date. It cost
$1,900,000 -- a king's ransom at the time. The movie was over budget
and
behind schedule. Director William Keighley was replaced with Michael
Curtiz.
Curtiz filmed the interior scenes like the classic scene where Errol
Flynn
disrupts Prince John's banquet, carrying a stag on his shoulders.
Curtiz
also directed the famous sword duel at the end where Robin kills Sir
Guy
on the staircase.
There are
so many wonderful things to say about this film. The acting is
wonderful. Flynn is extremely charming. DeHavilland's Marian is witty
and
spirited. Basil Rathbone makes a wonderfully evil Sir Guy of Gisbourne.
And
I have a special place in my heart for Claude Rains' conniving and
quipping
Prince John. (Rains went on to play my favourite character in Casablanca
.)
Erich
Wolfgang Korngold's score won the Oscar. As did the movie's gorgeous
art direction.
This is a
great movie! But why take my word for it?
Rent the
movie and see for yourself!
Oh, and
watch out for teenage hubris.
Pay a visit to In Like Flynn
-- the official site run by Errol Flynn's family. Also worth a visit is the Errol Flynn: Rogue Hero site
If you like The Adventures of Robin Hood you might be interested in:
The Adventures
of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland.
For over 60 years this superb technicolor movie has been considered the
definitive Robin Hood film. It's exciting and witty with a wonderful
group of actors. The legend brought to life. This classic
has been released on DVD in a special two-disc set and on Blu-Ray, both with a tonne of features,
including footage of the filming, a commentary track by film historian
Rudy Behlmer, vintage shorts of Flynn's boat cruise and trick archer Howard Hill, and the cartoons "Rabbit Hood" with Bugs Bunny and "Robin Hood
Daffy" with Daffy Duck. There are even bloopers and deleted scenes -- on a 1938 movie! And the film itself has been digitally restored to
its technicolor glory.
Buy the North American DVD (Region 1) on Amazon.com
Buy the European DVD (Region 2) on Amazon.co.uk
Buy the North American DVD (Region 1) on Amazon.ca
Buy the North American Blu-Ray (Region A) on Amazon.com
Buy the North American Blu-Ray (Region A) on Amazon.ca
The Errol Flynn Signature Collection (DVD Gift Set) starring Errol Flynn. This DVD set collects five Errol Flynn movies - Captain Blood, The Sea Hawk, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Dodge City and They Died With Their Boots On. Also included is a new documentary The Adventures of Errol Flynn. Four of these films were directed by Michael Curtiz and all feature at least one of Flynn's co-stars from The Adventures of Robin Hood, including Olivia de Havilland, Claude Rains, Alan Hale and Basil Rathbone. It does not appear that this set has been released in Region 2 (Europe) yet.
Buy the North American DVD (Region 1) on Amazon.com
The Music from The Adventures
of Robin Hood by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. This is the
Oscar-winning music from the 1938 movie starring Errol
Flynn. A classic Hollywood score.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy it on Amazon.co.uk
Check out The
Adventures of Robin Hood by Rudy Behlmer. (University
of Wisconsin Press, 1979.) This book includes the script, including
scenes and stills cut from the movie. The introductory article is
extremely informative.
Buy it on Amazon.com
Buy it on Amazon.co.uk
Buy it on Amazon.ca
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