The Adventures Of Robin Hood [DVD] [1938]

Dashing Errol Flynn is the definitive Robin Hood in the most gloriously swashbuckling version of the legendary story. Warner Brothers reunited Michael Curtiz, their top-action director, with the winning team of Flynn and Olivia de Havilland (Maid Marian) and perennial villain Basil Rathbone as the aristocratic Sir Guy of Gisbourne, and pulled out all stops for the production. It became their costliest film to date, a grandly handsome, glowing Technicolor adventure set to a stirring, Oscar-winning score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The decadent Prince John (a smoothly conniving Claude Rains) takes advantage of King Richard's absence to tax the country into poverty but meets his match in the medieval guerrilla rebel Robin Hood and his Merry Men of Sherwood Forest, who rise up and, to quote a cliché coined by the film, "steal from the rich and give to the poor." Stocky Alan Hale Sr. plays Robin's loyal friend Little John (a part he played in Douglas Fairbanks's silent version), Eugene Palette plays the portly Friar Tuck and Melville Cooper is the bumbling Sheriff of Nottingham. Flynn's confidence and cocky charm makes for a perfect Robin Hood and his easygoing manner is a marvellous counterpoint to Rathbone's regal bearing and courtly diction. The film climaxes in their rousing battle-to-the-finish sword fight, a magnificently choreographed scene highlighted by Curtiz's inventive use of shadows cast upon the castle walls. --Sean Axmaker

Dashing Errol Flynn is the definitive Robin in 1938's The Adventures of Robin Hood, the most gloriously swashbuckling version of the legendary story. Warner Brothers reunited Michael Curtiz, their top-action director, with the winning team of Flynn and Olivia de Havilland (Maid Marian) and perennial villain Basil Rathbone as the aristocratic Sir Guy of Gisbourne, and pulled out all stops for the production. It became their costliest film to date, a grandly handsome, glowing technicolour adventure set to a stirring, Oscar-winning score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold--music that became a template for countless later movies, notably John Williams' Star Wars and Indiana Jones scores.

The decadent Prince John (a smoothly conniving Claude Rains) takes advantage of King Richard's absence to tax the country into poverty but meets his match in the medieval guerrilla rebel Robin Hood and his Merry Men of Sherwood Forest, who rise up and, to quote a cliché coined by the film, "steal from the rich and give to the poor". Stocky Alan Hale Sr plays Robin's loyal friend Little John (a part he played in Douglas Fairbanks' silent version), Eugene Palette plays the portly Friar Tuck and Melville Cooper is the bumbling Sheriff of Nottingham. Flynn's confidence and cocky charm makes for a perfect Robin and his easygoing manner is a marvellous counterpoint to Rathbone's regal bearing and courtly diction. The film climaxes in their rousing battle-to-the-finish sword fight, a magnificently choreographed scene highlighted by Curtiz's inventive use of shadows cast upon the castle walls. --Sean Axmaker

The ultimate swashbuckler film starring Errol Flynn in his most famous role. This lavish, fast-paced version of the Robin Hood legend won three Academy Awards (Best Film Editing, Interior Decoration and Original Score). Doing many stunts himself, Flynn is at his athletic, romantic best in a role intended for James Cagney. Olivia de Havilland (Maid Marian) as well as consummate screen villains Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains round out the all-star cast.

Disc One:

• Feature length commentary by author and film historian Rudy Behlmer
  
• Music-only audio track showcasing the Oscar-winning score
  
• Warner Bros. Night at the Movies 1938 introduced by Leonard Maltin, includes:
  Angels With Dirty Faces theatrical trailer
  Vintage newsreel
  Vintage Warner Bros. musical short subject, Freddie Rich and his Orchestra
  Vintage Warner Bros. cartoon, Katnip Kollege

Disc Two:

• Glorious Technicolour - Angela Lansbury narrates this hour-long celebration of this legendary colour filmmaking process
  
• All-new 65th anniversary documentary, Welcome to Sherwood: The Story of The Adventures of Robin Hood
  
• Looney Tunes classic cartoons: Rabbit Hood and Robin Hood Daffy
  
• Vintage Warner short subjects:
  Cavalcade of Archery (1945)
  The Cruise of the Zaca (1952) with Errol Flynn
  
• Robin Hood Through The Ages - a look at Robin Hood’s earlier screen adaptations
  
• A Journey To Sherwood Forest - home movies and behind-the-scenes footage
  
• From The Cutting Room:
  Outtakes
  Breakdowns of 1938 - Warner Bros. studio blooper reel
  
• Splitting the Arrow Galleries - historical art, costume designs, scene concept drawings, cast and crew photos, publicity and poster materials

DVD Technical Information:

• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  
• Running Time: 98 minutes
  
• Audio: Mono
  
• Subtitles: English