The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Directed by Michael Curtiz & William Keighley. Starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Claude Rains, Basil Rathbone, Melville Cooper, Eugene Pallette, Alan Hale, Herbert Mundin, Patric Knowles, Una O’Connor, Ian Hunter, Montagu Love. [PG]

This ultimate big-screen translation of the myriad folk tales and legends surrounding the outlaw hero Robin Hood is a grand, robust adventure in the classic tradition, a glorious Technicolor dream with the size, sweep and scope to measure up to its promise of mythic gallantry and the fight for justice against the cruel chains of tyranny. Flynn may as well have been born wearing a suit of Lincoln green for how well he inhabits the title role as a saucy, impudent, athletic, good-humored champion of the peasant class, romancing lovely Maid Marian (de Havilland), defying the power-grab of treacherous Prince John (Rains), battling nefarious snake Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Rathbone). Irresistible entertainment every step of the way, with dazzling sets and costumes filling the corners of even its widest shots, the pageantry splendidly complemented by the magnificence of Erich Wolfgang Kornold’s music. Achieves an innocence and clarity that too few contemporary historical adventures strive for, with its emotions and ideals expressed boldly but simply (Robin’s motivations are given no context, he simply is a hero; the romance has no underpinnings of logic or psychology, they simply are in love, etc.). But for all its gaiety and nobility and costuming, it’s also a thrilling action picture that can excite even the most jaded of viewers, and the final swordfight still ranks among the screen’s finest. Oscar-winning art direction, editing, and score.

95/100