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78 of 78 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The problem buying this package of DVD's is the internal conflict you face: Richard Greene's Robin Hood constitutes pure nostalgia, but how are you going to view it now you've reached more mature years and have experienced a half century of much more sophisticated broadcasting plus Hollywood hype and special effects? The answer, of course, is that you're going to enjoy every minute of it!
First, the black and white images have been beautifully translated to DVD. The picture quality is excellent, and if the theme tune sounds monotonous after a while, you can't complain about the technical quality of the product. In fact, it's quite exciting to see it so well presented when you're memories are of grainy pictures on a small screen. You get the first 39 episodes on five discs (there were 143 episodes made in all). Thirty-nine episodes … and no frills, no extras, just 39 episodes each 23-25 minutes long.
But what of the show? Nostalgia quickly gives way to sheer enjoyment. Oh, the acting is a bit cardboard in places … in fact, in a lot of places … and the fight scenes are a bit, well, amateur dramatics (but watch out for a bit of energy and passion in "The Highlander" episode). And did I mention that the acting is a bit "Thunderbirds" in places? But, that apart, and all that included, it's brilliant. A couple of quick introductory episodes set the scene and set up the Robin Hood legend, and suddenly Richard Greene fills the role and the tights.
It's very gentle, very middle class, very 50's, the accents very, well, BBC - despite its ITV provenance. It is dated and you accept that from the word go. The stories just sweep you up into the fantasy and you enjoy the drama, the excitement, the comedy, and the occasional slapstick. By episode three you're enraptured. Leo McKern appears as different characters. Leslie Phillips appears as different characters. Various members of the cast keep turning up in different roles. They even change Little John for a few episodes (as if you wouldn't notice that). But you suspend your disbelief and sit back and enjoy an entertaining series.
It's not great drama. It's not great acting. But it is great entertainment. There's an innocence to it. You appreciate why you enjoyed it as a child, but suddenly there's a charm and timeless enrapture which reaches down the years and grabs you as a grumpy old man. Men, of course, never grow up, so Robin Hood fills much of the fantasy image - he's rough, tough, can fight anyone, women love him, but he's just thoroughly decent and so nice and he's on the side of good. Strong in him is the force!
This is not a series for intellectual analysis. It's a series for a comfortable armchair … and kick off the slippers. Imagine the feel of the forest floor beneath your feet and let yourself run away with a highly entertaining fantasy. It can't compete with the glitz and special effects of the contemporary world, but it doesn't have to. It's a remarkably relaxing and enjoyable experience, a tonic after a stressful day, or an excuse to lock yourself away for a weekend and just feel all the tensions and anxieties drain from your system as you watch good triumph over evil. Magnificent!
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
To the editor my main reason in writing at this time is that there are 936 minutes.I will be buying it soon.
The quality of the production was outstanding in it's time,I am yet to understand how they made the props seem so outstanding though there was a thatched building which was a church one programme then a house then a church.Richard Greene must have seemed a rather middle class type for 1200AD but he carried it well.Many well known people quested and in view of the destuction of so much television work the saving of the Sapphire Films work which was made with film is an excellent cameo of so many people.Look for Alexander Gauge as a doule chinned Friar Tuck.Alan Wheatley as an evil Sheriff of Nottingham. The outside filming was carried out often near Walton On Thames where Hannah Weinstein the producer had a farm the woodland used was not Sherwood Forest but it was excellent.
The quality of the production was outstanding in it's time,I am yet to understand how they made the props seem so outstanding though there was a thatched building which was a church one programme then a house then a church.Richard Greene must have seemed a rather middle class type for 1200AD but he carried it well.Many well known people quested and in view of the destuction of so much television work the saving of the Sapphire Films work which was made with film is an excellent cameo of so many people.Look for Alexander Gauge as a doule chinned Friar Tuck.Alan Wheatley as an evil Sheriff of Nottingham. The outside filming was carried out often near Walton On Thames where Hannah Weinstein the producer had a farm the woodland used was not Sherwood Forest but it was excellent.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
There is a long list of very helpful comments already available against the English DVD version of this series and I won't repeat them except to say that this American-issued set also provides excellent nostalgic entertainment.
The principal difference appears to be that the English set contains five discs whereas this one has only three (not the 4 listed) - but still includes the full set of 39 episodes. The listing also describes it as being in colour, but of course it's in black and white. The listing may since have been corrected.
The episodes appear to have been collected from various sources and vary considerably in print quality. Some still include some (American) sponsors' messages, and are well-worn with noticable scratches and spots, while a few others have been reprocessed to a like-new standard.
One episode (so far) even has the alternative title: "The Adventures in Sherwood Forest" (rather than The Adventures of Robin Hood)!
And you can't rely on the closing credits for information - they appear to have been tacked on at random (perhaps to get round some of the sponsors' messages), so that the cast list often shows characters and actors who don't appear in that particular episode. I've only watched the first disc so far, but am still looking forward to seeing young versions of Patrick Troughton, Thora Hird and Paul Eddington as well as many other familiar personalities who have risen to prominence over the years.
I well remember this series from my 'formative' years - but I hadn't realised how utterly gorgeous Bernadette O'Farrell was!
Most enjoyable - and a great purchase!
The principal difference appears to be that the English set contains five discs whereas this one has only three (not the 4 listed) - but still includes the full set of 39 episodes. The listing also describes it as being in colour, but of course it's in black and white. The listing may since have been corrected.
The episodes appear to have been collected from various sources and vary considerably in print quality. Some still include some (American) sponsors' messages, and are well-worn with noticable scratches and spots, while a few others have been reprocessed to a like-new standard.
One episode (so far) even has the alternative title: "The Adventures in Sherwood Forest" (rather than The Adventures of Robin Hood)!
And you can't rely on the closing credits for information - they appear to have been tacked on at random (perhaps to get round some of the sponsors' messages), so that the cast list often shows characters and actors who don't appear in that particular episode. I've only watched the first disc so far, but am still looking forward to seeing young versions of Patrick Troughton, Thora Hird and Paul Eddington as well as many other familiar personalities who have risen to prominence over the years.
I well remember this series from my 'formative' years - but I hadn't realised how utterly gorgeous Bernadette O'Farrell was!
Most enjoyable - and a great purchase!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Robin Hood written and produced by World War II partisans
Surely THE classic, that doesn't have to rely on special effects because the storylines are the best you'll find. Read more
Published 14 months ago by George Fox
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I bought this for my husband who remembers watching Richard Greene in this version of Robin Hood as a boy. It brought back more than good memories... Read more
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Oh, nostalgia. Of course the plot lines were thin, sometimes the continuity went walkabout, the sound isn't uniformly wonderful and some acting was wooden. Read more
Published 20 months ago by D. A. Clark
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Hi
I remember watching Robin Hood when I was young many years ago at home. At that time we had a black and white TV set. Read more
I remember watching Robin Hood when I was young many years ago at home. At that time we had a black and white TV set. Read more
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for the age of this series, i must say the quality is spot on. as for the sound, i found the volume a little on the weak side and had to turn the volume up a little, but don't we... Read more
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Dissapointed
I purchased this product for entertainment, but two of the dvds are blank, so i am very dissapointed with this purchase
Published on 6 July 2009 by Mrs. R. Shepherd
Passes my test...
I have a very simple test to see if something has stood the test of time. I put it on when I know my teenage kids are around and see if it draws them in or not. Read more
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