Robin Hood

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  • Robin Hood

    Yeah, that one, the one with Errol Flynn.

    As my Sicilian dad would say, Minchia, what a film! Excellent on all counts. Errol Flynn was raffish and charming , before he became a self-parody. Claude Rains was oily and foppish as Prince John. The merry men were merry. Olivia DeHavilland was a total babe, even though she wore outfits less revealing than that of your average nun. Basil Rathbone was excellent too.

    Terrific sword fight between Flynn and Rathbone -- those guys were really swatting at each other, and swatting hard, with actual metal blades! (What would OSHA say today?) Looks like they had some real fencing knowledge, too -- not just movie fencing, but actual fencing.

    Most of all, I was impressed by the story. Didn't sag a bit.

    I'm trying to write a screenplay right now where the men buckle their swashes and swat each other with swords, and so far, this picture is the gold standard -- a very high target to shoot for.

  • #2
    Re: Robin Hood

    If I remember correctly, they were both actually skilled fencers. Basil Rathbone was the superior of the two, but since he usually played the villain, he always had to lose... ah, the good old days of real fighting and no stunt doubles (at least for the sword fights).

    Another memorable swordfight, if slightly less skilled on one side, was the one between Rathbone and Danny Kaye in the The Court Jester. That one buckles a lot of swash, as well, if in a comedic sort of way...

    -TD, wandering away muttering, "the flagon with the dragon is the pestle with the poison, the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true"

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    • #3
      Re: Robin Hood

      The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

      http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029843/

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      • #4
        Re: Robin Hood

        It's a rip-roaring adventure and a fine film for a Saturday afternoon.

        Olivia's shiny spray-painted dress was positively erotic. Face of an angel, body of... Uh, you know where I'm going.

        Rathbone was an Olympic standard fencer who gave lessons to other actors. It's said he detested Flynn, something he never denied. Flynn was by his own admission "too undisciplined" to become an expert fencer, but there's little doubt he did his damnedest in this film.

        Possibly Flynn's finest role, certainly one of his most charming.

        -Derek
        Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, insanity.
        "What's the strategy, sir?"
        "Get out of the bloody place before it blows up."
        ~Casino Royale

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        • #5
          Re: Robin Hood

          One of the classic must sees. I wrote my own Robin Hood satire as a love letter to its color and spirit. Seen it at least 50 times.

          Who was less skilled in The Court Jester? To me Rathbone looks like he's having a hard time keeping up to Danny in that fight.
          ...er at least when Danny transforms from inept to adept just like THAT

          Rathbone was involved in some of the greatest sword fights on film. But his best was with Tyrone Power in Zorro IMHO. That fight is intense
          Last edited by Pen Dragon; 09-16-2005, 12:29 PM.

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          • #6
            Re: Robin Hood

            I don't suppose there's any chance that Robin Hood and The Court Jester are on DVD? Since my tv went kaput, obvioiusly, I can't watch anything on videotape. Thank goodness my little iMac can run DVDs, or I'd have gone stark, staring mad....

            You're right about Kaye in that fight - I'd forgotten about the adept/inept switcheroos. I wonder what Rathbone thought of Kaye? Rathbone was getting on a bit in that film, though, wasn't he?

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            • #7
              Re: Robin Hood

              Warner put out a very nice Adventures of Robin Hood DVD last year. The picture is flawless. Nice extras too.

              There are no extras on Paramount's Court Jester DVD, but it's another nice print. It's been out a few years now. Both DVD's are crown jewels in my collection.

              Should be able to get them both on Amazon

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              • #8
                Re: Robin Hood

                Cool! Now I have something to look forward to...

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