Saturday, August 8, 2009

The Adventures of Robin Hood(1938): In Like Flynn


In the classic age of Hollywood, no film was more colorful (both literally and figuratively) and fun than Warner Brother's The Adventures of Robin Hood, and though Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. could buckle the best swash during the silent era, Errol Flynn was the master of such films in the 30's and 40's. The legend, who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, has been portrayed by many actors for many decades but above them all, Flynn is the definitive Robin Hood. (Daffy Duck did give a great animated rendition in the 1958 cartoon short, Robin Hood Daffy).


Along with the charismatic leading man, Olivia de Havilland jumps to mind as his lady fair, Maid Marian, Hood's own personal "Norman conquest." In all, Flynn and de Havilland made eight films together with their romp in Sherwood Forest being their third and most famous. But even as these iconic images are ingrained into the national psyche for this film, alas, like so many other infamous roles in Hollywood, they were not the original choices. Hood was first slated for James Cagney as a sort of follow up to his whimsical role as Bottom in the studio's version of Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1935. When Cagney and Warners butted heads, the project was postponed until a later date. When Flynn proved himself a magnetic adventure lead in Captain Blood (1935) and The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936) the film was put back into production. Blond beauty Anita Louise, also a veteran of A Midsummer Night's Dream (as Titania), was first considered for the role of Lady Marian but with so much riding on the picture financially (it was Warner's biggest production to that date and the final cost was $2 million), the studio wanted to ensure a proven film team with Flynn and de Havilland. Other parts were recast for one reason or another. First choice for Friar Tuck, Guy Kibee was replaced by the gravel voiced and corpulent Eugene Pallette and Robin's sidekick, Will Scarlett, though originally slated for David Niven, eventually went to handsome contract player, Patric Knowles.

The Robin Hood legend has been oft-told, but never so colorfully full of pomp and pageantry. Flynn plays Robin, Earl of Locksley, a Saxon noble in 12th century England, who, along with his band of "merry men", protects the poor Saxons from the villainous and utterly corrupt Norman nobles, who have taken power in the nation during the absence of the king, Richard the Lionhearted (Ian Hunter). Worst of these are Richard's brother, the treacherous Prince John (Claude Rains) who, with the help of the equally despicable Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone) plans to take over England's throne permanently, while King Richard is away fighting in the Crusades. The film is a great romantic adventure and that aspect is provided by Lady Marian Fitzwater, aka Maid Marian (de Havilland), Norman noblewoman and orphaned ward of King Richard. At first disdainful to the pompous Robin, she falls in love with him when he reveals his true intentions of helping his suffering countrymen.

Warners brought in their top adventure director Michael Curtiz to replace initial director William Keighley, when more punch was required in the action scenes. The final product was superb, from the archery tournament to the final duel between Robin and Sir Guy, the one-two punch of excitement never lets up. As the evil duo of Prince John and Sir Guy, Rains and Rathbone cannot be beat. Rains, sly and cunning and Rathbone vicious and sadistic in his attack of the hero, both verbally and physically. An excellent swordsman off-screen, Rathbone is marvelous fencing against a very agile and able Flynn. Equally magnificent is the film's opulent musical score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The talented Korngold did not want to undertake the task, claiming he was "not a musical illustrator for a 90% action picture," but was persuaded by the studio brass to take on the challenge and his brilliant score won an Academy Award. Also winning Oscars for the film were Best Art Direction and Best Film Editing.

The movie, shot in the richest Technicolor, cemented Errol Flynn's status as an action superstar. What he began with Captain Blood, three years earlier, he capped with Hood. More successful than Fairbank's popular version, The Adventures of Robin Hood was Warner Brothers' biggest moneymaker of the year and would continue to be one of its most remembered classics.

15 comments:

  1. I saw this movie less than a year ago and loved it. Thanks for the information about the original casting. How bizarre would it have been w/Cagney?

    I had never thought to see an "Errol Flynn film" because my view of him was as just a swashbuckler. How wrong I was! He was a very good actor with a wonderful sense of humor.

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  2. Anytime Errol Flynn is in tights, I will be watching! I also liked the wig that Claude Rains wears. LOL!
    A month ago, I finished reading an Olivia DeHavilland biography and she said that Flynn played numerous pranks on her during the filming. He put snakes in her panties,boiling water in her water cooler, and would put salt and pepper in her ice cream.

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  3. You failed to mention Alan Hale Sr. as Little John. He was everywhere. He seems to be in every other movie that I see!

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  4. A great adventure film, indeed!
    I read Errol Flynn's autobiography a few years ago, I remember him talking about the pranks on Olivia too - he just wanted to be charming! Ha ha, like a 10 year old boy pulling the girl's pigtails.
    I don't know if you saw the film on the same DVD version as I have, but if you did you probably know that it's a good documentary of the filming.
    Did you know that the leaves in Sherwood Forest had started to turn yellow, the film being filmed in the Autumn, so they had to spray-paint the forest green for the filming? That's devotion.
    It's no secret, but I'll say it again - I adore Basil Rathbone's villains!

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  5. Excellent write up. I consider this film to be one of the 10 greatest movies ever made (at least on my list). The collectors DVD from a few years ago did a great job enhancing the original technicolor and it's like watching a new movie.

    Rathbone is one of my all time favs and it should be pointed out that he is on the losing end of 4 of the greatest sword fights in film history. Zorro, Captain Blood, Robinhood and years later, The Court Jester.

    To me this is one of only a handful of films that I think has "The Perfect Cast". There is no one, down to the smallest role, that is not perfect. With the original cast ideas you mention here, I think it's fair to say, if any of them had happened, this would probably not be the amazing film that it is.

    Thanks for another great entry.

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  6. I love that you've devoted an entry to Robin Hood, a movie that one and all can agree is an incomparable classic. Errol Flynn was so perfect as a lovable rake/rogue in his movies (true typecasting)and here he plays the original anti-hero. Robin Hood holds a special place in my heart because when it was remastered & released on DVD I bought it & watched it with my late mom. She enjoyed reliving the thrill of seeing this classic and I enjoyed reliving it with her. It's also interesting to watch this now knowing that Olivia DeHavilland had a crush on Flynn while he designs on her were not so innocent. This is still THE definitive version of Robin Hood.

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  7. Rupert! As you know this is one of my very favorite movies ever, and one of yours I know. Great Review!! Basil and Claude were wonderful in this along with Olivia and Errol. It is also one of my all time dvd's ever!! So many extras included on this dvd! You did a fantastic job again!
    Jo

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  8. Great review, Rupert. You've made me want to revisit this film, something I probably haven't done in at least 5 years. Flynn really was amazing in it.

    With Lolita mentioning Flynn's autobio, I must say here that My Wicked, Wicked Ways is probably one of the most enjoyable, entertaining books I've ever read, fiction or non. (And frankly, I don't care it was exaggerated or ghostwritten, as rumors have it.)

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  9. One of the great adventures and yes Flynn's book was a hell of a lot of fun too...

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  10. A wonderful review of one of my favorite movies! Thanks for all of the interesting history. It's very fascinating to imagine David Niven as Will Scarlett...

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  11. I really enjoyed this review and the pictures, which have left me wanting to see Robin Hood again! I'd have loved to see Flynn and Niven together again as they are so good in 'The Dawn Patrol', but the cast they ended up with was great anyway.

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  12. Rupert, if I had to pick one film as my all-time favorite, this would be it. Every role in the film is perfectly cast, right down to Una O'Connor as Olivia's maid-in-waiting. By the way, the documentary on the DVD is one of the better ones. Hey, have you noticed that Basil's sword moves after he drops it on the stairs during the swordfight? I missed that the first 20 or so times I watched it! Great review.

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  13. I curled up with my son last night and watched Robin Hood. It has been many, many moons since I saw this film, and it felt like I was watching it for the very first time. Colors filled the screen like paint on a canvas. Bold strokes of it were splashed everywhere from the azure hair atop the Hawks heads in the great hall, to the various silks that the actors were clothed in. In the scene where the Lion Heart was sitting in the Inn with his knights, I was hypnotized by their plush, vibrantly colored robes. Each actor wore a different shade!! I was so distracted; I missed what they were discussing and had to rewind the movie. These lovely distractions continued on throughout the film. One other that comes to mind is the scene where Maid Marion is watching the archery competition. With her blue gown, and her compassionate expression, she looked like a serene painting of the Madonna. To add drama, these colors vanished as various scenes were played out as shadows on the wall. My favorite of these was the swordfight in the great hall.
    On a side note, my son loved this film! During the scene, where Robin Hood’s men rained out of the sky to take over Sir Guy’s troops, my son starting screaming, “Go Speed Racer, go!,” which means he was quite thrilled. I am pleased to say that he loved the film just as much as I did.

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  14. Hey Rupert - excellent review, as always. You pick films from the fun and exciting, to the rare and mysterious, and this one was definitely fun and exciting.

    You mentioned almost all the main characters, including the often overlooked Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains in awesome supporting roles - but you forgot Alan Hale as Little John! I never knew how close of pals he was with Flynn until I noticed him in so many other films with him, almost always playing a sidekick or friend.

    Alas, I have to say this is not my favorite Flynn movie nor my favorite Robin Hood. The first time I saw Errol Flynn was on the big screen several years ago in "Captain Blood" (1935) and that film changed my entire perspective on action films and swashbuckling in general. That is by far my favorite Flynn flick.

    As for Robin Hood himself, I need to give that honor to Douglas Fairbanks in his 1922 silent classic. He was a lot more physical and daring, the the plot was much more in depth and seemed to allow for more emotional responses, despite the goofy swordplay and grotesque violence.

    Rupert, your reviews are excellent as always!!!

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  15. Hey Rupert - excellent review, as always. You pick films from the fun and exciting, to the rare and mysterious, and this one was definitely fun and exciting.

    You mentioned almost all the main characters, including the often overlooked Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains in awesome supporting roles - but you forgot Alan Hale as Little John! I never knew how close of pals he was with Flynn until I noticed him in so many other films with him, almost always playing a sidekick or friend.

    Alas, I have to say this is not my favorite Flynn movie nor my favorite Robin Hood. The first time I saw Errol Flynn was on the big screen several years ago in "Captain Blood" (1935) and that film changed my entire perspective on action films and swashbuckling in general. That is by far my favorite Flynn flick.

    As for Robin Hood himself, I need to give that honor to Douglas Fairbanks in his 1922 silent classic. He was a lot more physical and daring, the the plot was much more in depth and seemed to allow for more emotional responses, despite the goofy swordplay and grotesque violence.

    Rupert, your reviews are excellent as always!!!

    ReplyDelete

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