The Adventures of Robin Hood

Page Two

This video shows clips of Basil Rathbone trying on helmets for his role as Sir Guy of Gisbourne. Once the actor is cast in a role, costume tests are done to determine which garments are most becoming to the actor and which fabrics photograph best; head tests to decide which helmet of the period is best suited to the actor.

"Thrilling, tense, exciting and colorful, ROBIN HOOD is a glorious cinematic adventure, a treat for audiences of every class. Critical applause will be plentiful, word-of-mouth favorable and profuse. It is assured a thunderous reception at the boxoffice." Independent Exhibitor's Film Bulletin, May 14, 1938

"The director, Michael Curtiz, has proved that new life and enthusiasm can be brought to the oldest of stories. The Adventures of Robin Hood is packed full of intensely dramatic situations. ... It glorifies ideals instead of worldly schemes, courage instead of doubt. ... It brings back that love of adventure which has been responsible for all the really worthwhile things man has achieved here on earth." Bernarr Macfadden, "Back to Adventure," Photoplay, July 1938

"It is a big and boisterous circus of a picture, full of spectacle and the clash of swords and acrobatic escapes in the manner of Fairbanks père." George Campbell, The Bystander, October 19, 1938

 

THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD

COLORFUL ROMANCE THAT SHOULD PLEASE EVERYONE

After all there is nothing like high romance and exciting adventure, now is there, and the newest version of the robin Hood legends abounds in plenty of both. Done in Technicolor, and lavishly produced, it is one of the most beautiful and thrilling pictures you'll ever see. If there's a spark of romance in you you'll simply glow with joy. Errol Flynn is excellent as the swashbuckling Robin of some seven hundred years ago—and so dashing.

Told in picturesque episodes, with much fanfare and pageantry, the story concerns the attempts of villainous Prince John to seize the throne of his brother, Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, while Richard is away on a Crusade against the Saracens. The Saxons, taxed beyond endurance and tortured mercilessly by evil prince John and his Norman lords, turn to Robin Hood to save them from their oppressors, which he proceeds to do in a most daring and delightful manner.

There's comedy, and there's intrigue, and there's a flawless cast of characters. Lovely Olivia de Havilland plays Maid Marian and no princess ever looked mroe beautiful and romantic on her balcony than Olivia. Basil Rathbone's performance as the deadly and dastardly Sir Guy is perfection itself, as always, and his duel with Robin is quite the most thrilling duel every screened.

Stand-outs are Claude Rains as the scheming Prince John, Melville Cooper as the cowardly Bishop of Nottingham, Ian Hunter as the stalwart Richard, Alan Hale as tough Little John, Eugene Pallette as martial Friar Tuck, Patric Knowles as loyal Will Scarlett, and Una O'Connor quite priceless as Maid Marian's maid in the throes of a romance with Will Scarlett. You'll long remember the new Robin Hood as the most colorful and dashing of pictures.

Silver Screen, July 1938

 

"Rathbone was perfectly cast in his role. Constantly being frustrated by Robin Hood, the vicious knight would often let his anger obliterate his reason. Gisbourne may have been the man-of-action, but the foppish Prince John was the more cunning villain of the story." Michael B. Druxman, Basil Rathbone: His Life and His Films (1975)

"Wasn’t Basil Rathbone something? When the duel scene was shot, he was 45 years of age (17 years older than Flynn) and a heavy smoker, yet easily up to the rigors of shooting that scene." Robert Matzen, "When Swords Flew," The Robert Matzen Blog, April 17, 2016

"A richly produced, bravely bedecked, romantic and colorful show, [the film] leaps boldly to the forefront of this year's best and can be calculated to rejoice the eights, rejuvenate the eighties, and delight those in between." —Frank S. Nugent, The New York Times, May 13, 1938

"Here is high class entertainment, lavishly produced in Technicolor and destined to score heavily at the box-office. The action provides new thrills—while the photography is breath-taking. William Keighley and Michael Curtiz have supplied excellent direction, planting the action, romance and comedy effectively." —The Film Daily, April 29, 1938

 

"The Adventures of Robin Hood"

A dashing, spectacular romance of high adventure in the England of long ago, sweepingly imaginative and combining beautiful color effects with production values of the highest order, "The Adventures of Robin Hood" offers a rare showmanship opportunity.

Perhaps the most impressive factor of the picture is its "bigness." It is, strictly speaking, a physical "bigness." The story is essentially simple, familiar to every school child in the world, that of the beloved brigand, who defends the poor against oppression, makes himself an outlaw to bring right from wrong, robs from the brutal rich to succor the starving and beaten poor. In that sense, the story itself has all the elements which go to inspire the sympathy of audiences.

Much credit must go to Norman Reilly Raine and Seton I. Miller for the manner in which they have woven a richly adventurous yarn about the memorable legends of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest, and to Michael Curtiz and William Keighley for direction which has served to combine the elements of which the story is made and the technical facilities at their command, with full advantage taken of the color technique, to present a powerful piece of box-office merchandise.

The cast is strong in name value, and each one performs admirably, wholly in keeping with the characters as they long have been known. Errol Flynn has captured ably the dashing recklessness of Robin Hood, who gave up a noble's place to fight for his absent King Richard the Lion Hearted, with a warm feeling for those he is protecting. Basil Rathbone is more than properly sinister as the leading henchman of the treacherous Prince John, played by Claude Rains, who would usurp the throne of his brother, while Olivia De Havilland is excellent as Marion, with whom Robin Hood is in love. Alan Hale as Little John, Eugene Pallette as Friar Tuck, Ian Hunter as King Richard, Una O'Connor as Marion's maid, and Herbert Mundin as the willing aide of Robin Hood all offer fine characterizations.

The outdoor sets in many cases will stir audiences to murmurs of admiration, and the picture is highlighted by such examples as the archery contest, the scenes in the great castle halls, the ambushes in the forest, the rescue of Robin from the gallows, and the restoration of King Richard.

Running time, 100 minutes. "G."

Motion Picture Daily, April 27, 1938

 

"Rathbone was one of the very few actors who had mastered stage fencing. ... Basil Rathbone's arrogant Sir Guy of Gisbourne, with eloquent, biting diction, is a masterpiece of screen villainy." Tony Thomas, The Great Adventure Films, 1976

"Adept at any kind of role, including romantic drama and comedy, Rathbone was at his best in villainy (including modern wife-killers and Nazis) and was absolutely unmatched at playing swaggering scoundrels of other days, where his rich delivery of full-blooded dialogue, while attired in doublets or court finery, made him truly a sight to behold—and to listen to." —William K. Everson, The Bad Guys: A Pictorial History of the Movie Villain, 1971


Robin's final duel with Sir Guy

The death of Sir Guy of Gisbourne

"Basil Rathbone is magnificently villainous as Sir Guy of Gisbourne." —Photoplay, June 1938

"Most of the great swashbuckling villains derived from the English stage, for a theatrical apprenticeship equipped them with stage presence, precise delivery and a high sense of style, indispensable qualities for villainy. All these qualities were possessed in abundance by Basil Rathbone, greatest of all swashbuckling villains." —Jeffrey Richards, Swordsmen of the Screen, 1977

 

"The Adventures of Robin Hood" with Errol Flynn, Olivia DeHavilland, Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains

Excellent entertainment! Not only does it show great care in production, that is, in lavish settings, fine technicolor photography, expert direction and acting, but also in the manner in which the story has been developed, for action has not been sacrificed in an attempt to stress the beauties of technicolor photography. Adventure, romance, comedy, and human appeal have been skilfully blended to give satisfaction on all counts. Needless to say, it holds one in tense suspense throughout, because of the constant danger to the hero, who dares to defy the tyrannical nobles in an effort to bring about justice for the common people. In spite of the fact that his many escapes are nothing short of miracles, the way he accomplishes them are so thrilling, that audiences will overlook the fact that they are far-fetched. The duel in the closing scenes between the hero and his arch enemy is the most exciting ever screened. And for color and excitement, audiences will long remember the archery tournament in which many men complete.

Harrison's Reports, May 7, 1938

 

"Basil Rathbone, as a Norman villain, shows some fine fencing talent." John Mosher, The New Yorker, May 21, 1938

"Marvelous actor and dignified though he is, I can kid around with Basil Rathbone. Why, when we were making 'Robin Hood,' he actually hooked my skirt for me. The cast roared and a prankish cameraman snapped him doing it. The print is preserved in my album." Olivia de Havilland, "It's Been Too Easy," Modern Screen, March 1938

CANDID PHOTOS:


Basil Rathbone and Olivia DeHavilland


a candid shot of the cast 

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Basil making home movies
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Basil Rathbone, Una O'Connor and Olivia de Havilland

Olivia and Basil

Rathbone, Patric Knowles, and Olivia deHaviland

Tony Gaudio (photographer wearing a pith helmet) watches as Basil Rathbone takes a photo of Patric Knowles and Errol Flynn.

Rathbone and Melville Cooper taking a break for tea.

Wounded by a spear during a mob scene, Basil Rathbone gets his foot bandaged by the studio surgeon (Ardon Faught).

group in circle discussing script

Rathbone in costume

Melville Cooper, Claude Rains, Basil Rathbone

Rathbone in costume

Rathbone and Olivia

Patric Knowles, unknown crew member, Rathbone, and Melville Cooper

Basil with Errol Flynn, who is wearing a costume for a jousting scene that was later cut from the film.
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In the make-up chair


Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone looking over costume designs, 1938.
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Basil and archery expert Howard Hill

 


Boar hunting with Howard Hill

Basil Rathbone and archery instructor Howard Hill


The cast of The Adventures of Robin Hood gather round as Olivia de Havilland reads aloud. The men (left to right) are Basil Rathbone, Melville Cooper, Patric Knowles, Alan Hale, and Errol Flynn.

 

See Page Three for promo photos, posters and lobby cards.

Back to review of The Adventures of Robin Hood

 

 

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All original content is © Marcia Jessen, 2022