Saturday, May 16, 2015

My Favorite Classic Movie Blogathon: Why I Love "The Adventures of Robin Hood"

This post is part of the My Favorite Classic Movie Blogathon in celebration of National Classic Movie Day (May 16th). Click here to view the schedule listing all the great posts in this blogathon.

Much has been written about Warner Bros.' 1938 classic swashbuckler, including several posts at this blog. So, in lieu of a traditional film review, I decided to write about why I love The Adventures of Robin Hood. After extensive reflection, it has boiled down to these six reasons:

Rains, Rathbone, and Cooper.
1. A Perfect Cast. With the possible exception of The Wizard of Oz, I can't think of another large-scale film with a stronger cast from top to bottom. Let's start with the four immortal screen stars in the major roles: Can you imagine anyone more suited to play Robin Hood (Errol Flynn), Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland), Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone), or Prince John (Claude Rains)? Moving on down the cast, Robin Hood features some of the screen's finest character actors in Hollywood history with Alan Hale (Little John), Eugene Pallette (Friar Tuck), and Una O'Connor (Marian's lady-in-waiting Bess). Even the smallest roles are brought to life skillfully by the likes of Melville Cooper (the buffoonish Sheriff of Nottingham), Patric Knowles (Will Scarlet), Herbert Mundin (Una's lovable suitor), Montagu Love (the appropriately-named Bishop of Black Canons), and Ian Hunter (a noble-looking King Richard).

2. Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Score. For much of my youth, I didn't pay attention to a movie's background music unless there was a prominent theme (e.g. Laura). That changed when my sister and I gave my father an album featuring selections from Korngold's greatest scores, including The Adventures of Robin Hood. Korngold's exhilarating music stands nicely on its own, but it's even better as a tailor-made complement to a classic swashbuckler. Ironically, Korngold had doubts for his ability to score an action film, stating that he "had no relation to it." He was oh so wrong!

3. 1930s Technicolor. In his book Harnessing the Technicolor Rainbow: Color Design in the 1930, Scott Higgins wrote: "The Adventures of Robin Hood is a turning point in Technicolor design. For the first time in a three-color feature, the palette is opened wide and intricately organized. Far from returning to demonstration, Robin Hood's assertive design modulates color to effectively direct attention and underscore drama." Certainly, it's a stunning visual screen experience with the many earth tone colors accented by brilliant reds and greens. With the exception of Powell and Pressburger's brilliant color films, I would argue that the three-strip Technicolor films of the 1930s are unmatched in their graphic splendor.

4. The Outlaw That's Really a Hero. This is a plot that always appealed to me and obviously I'm not alone. In addition to the many versions of the Robin Hood legend, there are numerous other engaging literary and cinematic variations such as The Mark of Zorro, Doctor Syn, and The Green Arrow.

Olivia looking concerned during the
archery tournament.
5. It's in the Genes. My parents, especially my father, were huge Errol Flynn fans. Thus, in the pre-VCR days, it was a family event when any of his movies turned up on television. However, it was a special event when it was The Adventures of Robin Hood. I don't think my father ever named a favorite film, but certainly Robin Hood would have been among the front-runners. I'm a firm believer that one's film-watching experience influences how one remembers a movie. I have nothing but delightful childhood remembrances of sitting with my family in front of the TV and watching Errol romancing Olivia, battling Basil, and--through the magic of cinema--splitting an arrow.

6. Let's form a team! I once devoted a whole post to my love of movies in which the hero forms a team to go battle the bad guys, steal something valuable, or liquidate a witch. I call it the Robin Hood Syndrome because, for me, it originated from watching The Adventures of Robin Hood. I think the appeal has to do with the idea that even the bravest hero needs help and that (to paraphrase Mr. Spock) the strength of the many is stronger than the strength of the one.

20 comments:

  1. From one lover of The Great Flynn to another, your piece just shines with the love you have for Robin Hood. The perfect cast -- so right! The Technicolor -- magnificent. The score -- I always have been very aware of the music, and this was the best. The team -- I like that too, and always liked it in the Rooney/Garland "Let's put on a show" movies. Most of all, the family viewing memories. That's exactly how I came to love classic movies, with Mom and Dad. I remember watching Robin Hood with them, and it's a wonderful memory. Thoroughly enjoyable article, Rick! And National Classic Movie Day is such a wonderful idea!

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  2. Excellent!

    When we were kids, my sisters and I would always kneel in front of the TV to take the oath at Sherwood. Last year my daughter invited me to see the movie on the big screen. Movie traditions continue. In other words, "Yoiks and away!"

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  3. What a great family movie tradition! I love it. It's so true about the forming-a-team thing. I can think of very few films that do this I don't like---and even if they don't work, the team part of the film usually does, especially with action/comedies. Thank you for hosting!

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  4. Love this! I'm a huge admirer of this film and Errol Flynn! I enjoyed the way you made your post unique, as well, by making a list instead of re-hashing things we may already know.

    I think watching films with your family is hugely important. I wouldn't enjoy Holiday Inn nearly as much if my mom didn't have us watch it every Thanksgiving since I was a baby. Luckily, there's a theater near my town that shows the classics every weekend, so that's become bonding time for my mom and me. We love it, and we've gotten the other reluctant ones in my family to come too, so it's even better.

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  5. This film is sheer joy to watch, for all the reasons you mentioned - especially that gorgeous 3-strip Technicolour. Can you imagine seeing it in the theatre when it was first released? That would almost be a life-changing moment.

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  6. Reading this brings back memories of watching it as a kid with my dad on a Sunday afternoon. Flynn was a master at these kind of roles. A great choice that now makes me watch to find a copy and watch it once again.

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  7. Great selection Rick, especially for this inaugural National Classic Movie Day boost. And this is a great film - 6 reasons or 60, one never tires of seeing it and its wonderful cast and rousing music.

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  8. Great selection Rick, especially for this inaugural National Classic Movie Day boost. And this is a great film - 6 reasons or 60, one never tires of seeing it and its wonderful cast and rousing music.

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  9. Great choice, Rick! My only reservation about Robin Hood is that whenever I plan to watch it I'm often swayed to pull out the Captain Blood DVD instead—I love that one for many of the reasons you cite here, though Robin Hood certainly does have that (VIVID!) Technicolor going for it!

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  10. This is the first BluRay David and bought -- it's a favorite for both of us. As Richard Dreyfus said, Errol Flynn was truly talented -- not many actors could make us focus on the performance and not the silly tights.

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  11. "The Adventures of Robin Hood" is truly a work of art and your six reasons certainly elevate it to top classic status. The casting is perfection, the story of a group coming together magical, the realization that the errant lead is actually seeking for the higher good mesmerizing, the color brilliant, the music immortal, and the sharing it with people you love is the cherry on top. Thanks for taking us back to Sherwood!

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  12. Rick - you picked a film that is perfectly realized in every way - great job. And thank you for hosting this awesome blogathon - one of the best in ages. I am loving all of the posts.

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  13. Wonderful post! I love how you picked the various elements of this fantastic movie. It's pretty crazy to have a movie with such important visual design, score, and cast that all works so well together! Thanks for hosting this blogathon and making National Classic Movie Day happen!

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  14. My father was and is a huge fan of this film. I remember being allowed to stay up late and watch it with him after my mother went to bed. He had an old copy he taped from the TV. I will remember the score playing in the background as I fell asleep. Thanks for the post and for organizing this blogathon.

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  15. You could sell this to anyone, Rick! I love your breakdown, which to me are the reasons why this is such a beloved classic. Although I adore everyone in this movie I'd never thought of the "perfect cast" idea before and you're right! Not one person outta place! Even Claude Rains' awful wigs are perfectly cast.

    THANK YOU for hosting this blogathon and for coming up with the idea of dedicating a day to our classics.

    Aurora

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  16. I love this film too! I'd humbly like to suggest adding the costumes to your list - wonderful in the Technicolor palette, but they're also extremely subtle. The next time you watch (or perhaps this gives you a new excuse!) see how Olivia de Havilland's costume colours align with Flynn's as the fall in love.
    Thank you so much for organising this wonderful blogathon!

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  17. I love how you explained why you loved this film (the 6 points reasons)! I couldn't agree more with you that Errol Flynn was the perfect Robin Hood and Olivia de Havilland, the perfect Maid Marian. This is certainly the most enjoyable Flynn-De Havilland's film.

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  18. I don't know if my original comment went through, so if it did, excuse the double posting! I love articles with lists - they are so fun. I agree with you on the supporting cast - I feel like they are often overshadowed by Flynn and De Havilland (who are both great). And the luscious Technicolor! I tried imaging this film in B&W and I can't - it would change it completely.

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  19. Gosh, you just listed pretty much all the same reasons why I love the film so much too! Several weeks ago I took the film review approach to sharing my love for Robin Hood but now I wish I had just written why I like the movie so much, like you did. Great post!

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  20. For me, the cast and the Technicolor are the main reasons to love this film. It's visually beautiful, and you don't find a dull performance in it - everybody is in the top!
    This blogathon has been a blast! Thanks for hosting!

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