The story of Robin Hood has played over and over again in film and TV, offering the joy of seeing a beloved tale retold.

Robin Hood

in Film and Television

By: Deborah Ground Buckner

The story of Robin Hood has played over and over again in film and television, offering both the joy of seeing a beloved, familiar tale retold and discovering some new twist and insight. Here are some favorites:

1922 Robin Hood - This silent version is well worth watching to see legendary Douglas Fairbanks performing some amazing stunts as Robin Hood. Alan Hale appears as Little John (a role he will recreate in two additional films).

1938 The Adventures of Robin Hood Starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, this is the film by which all other Robin Hoods are measured (and most come up short in comparison). Errol Flynn was born to play the role of Robin (a role Warner Brothers originally wanted to give to James Cagney), offering a breathtaking combination of rebelliousness, charm and athleticism. Miss de Havilland's Maid Marian is much more than a pretty face, displaying courage and intelligence. The supporting actors provide one of the best examples of casting in film history. Alan Hale reprises his role as Little John (and he and Flynn engage in the famous cudgel fight on a long narrow bridge, truly bringing the ballad of "Robin Hood and Little John" to life). Claude Rains offers a ruthless Prince John, plotting to overtake King Richard (Ian Hunter) with the help of the bumbling Sheriff of Nottingham (Melville Cooper) and Basil Rathbone's handsome but chilling Sir Guy of Gisborne. The Merry Men are rounded out with Patric Knowles as Will Scarlet, Eugene Pallette as Friar Tuck, and Herbert Mundin as Much, the Miller's Son. Erich Wolfgang Korngold received the Academy Award for Best Original Score. The film also won Oscars for art direction and film editing and was nominated for Best Picture.

1946 The Bandit of Sherwood Forest - Handsome Cornel Wilde stars as the son of Robin Hood, carrying on his father's quest for justice and freedom. Anita Louise provides the love interest.

1950 Rogues of Sherwood Forest - This is another son-of-Robin Hood interpretation, starring John Derek in the role. It is here that Alan Hale appears as Little John for the third time.

1952 The Story of Robin Hood - Made by Disney and RKO, this fun romp stars Richard Todd and Joan Rice in a beautiful telling of the story. (This reviewer used to listen to the soundtrack album every night). This is another example of fine casting all around. Hubert Gregg gives a Prince John handsome and charming enough to be a most believable prince. Peter Finch's Sheriff of Nottingham is almost likable at times, a dedicated bureaucrat truly trying to perform his duties well. Rounding out Robin's band of men are James Robertson Justice as Little John, Anthony Forwood as Will Scarlet, James Hayter as Friar Tuck, and Elton Hayes as Alan-a-Dale (providing delightful ballads of Robin Hood).

1955-1958 The Adventures of Robin Hood - This television series, starring Richard Greene, produced 165 episodes, beginning with the catchy theme song: Robin Hood,

Robin Hood, riding through the glen

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with his band of men.

Feared by the bad, loved by the good,

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Robin Hood!

1958 Son of Robin Hood - Yet another film presenting Robin's legacy continued through his offspring, but in this film, the son of Robin Hood turns out to be a daughter, played by June Laverick. David Hedison provides the love interest.

1964 Mr. Magoo in Sherwood Forest - This animated tale features Mr. Magoo (voiced by Jim Backus) in the role of Friar Tuck and provides a lovely re-telling of the Robin Hood legend.

1973 Robin Hood - Another animated version, this film is the first offering from Disney studios after Walt Disney's death. Billed as the animal kingdom's version of Robin Hood, each character is presented as an animal. Even as a child, this reviewer found the concept silly, but the story is well told, and the music (featuring Roger Miller and Phil Harris) is wonderful. Robin Hood and Maid Marian are presented as foxes, the Sheriff of Nottingham (voiced by Patrick Buttram) a wolf, the Sheriff's deputies as vultures (voiced by George "Goober" Lindsay and Ken Curtis). More appropriate animal casting features King Richard and Prince John as lions, the former large and strong, the latter thin and scrawny (both voiced by the incredible Peter Ustinov), Alan-a-Dale as a rooster (voiced by the great Roger Miller), and Little John as a bear (voiced by Phil Harris, who also provided the voice of another Disney bear, Baloo in "The Jungle Book"). Phil Harris' rendition of "The Phony King of England" is a treat!

1975 When Things Were Rotten - Mel Brooks offered his comic interpretation of the Robin Hood legend in this short-lived (13 episodes) television series. Dick Gautier gave a handsome, bumbling Robin Hood. The show also featured Bernie Kopell as Alan-a-Dale and Dick Van Patten as Friar Tuck.

1976 Robin and Marian - This screenplay by William Goldman ("The Lion in Winter") explores the Robin Hood legend twenty years later. Robin (Sean Connery) returns from the Crusades and resumes his forest life, hoping to revive his romance with Marian (Audrey Hepburn) as well. This beautiful, touching film features excellent casting with Richard Harris as King Richard, Nicol Williamson as Little John, and Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham. The beautiful score is by John Barry. Keep a handkerchief handy for this one.

1984-1986 Robin of Sherwood - Created by Richard Carpenter, this British series starring Michael Praed and later Jason Connery combines the Robin Hood legend with mystic elements of Pagan folklore, featuring Robin Hood as a leader chosen by a mystical forest creature to defend the poor and oppressed. This is a darker, but certainly enchanting telling of the legend.

1991 Robin Hood - Starring Patrick Bergin and Uma Thurman. A darker, more earthy interpretation of the legend, well worth seeing for Uma Thurman's feisty Maid Marian.

1993 Robin Hood: Men in Tights - Mel Brooks tries again with a comic take on Robin Hood, this time featuring Cary Elwes in the role.

2006 Robin Hood - BBCAmerica's television series (Season 1, 13 episodes) offers an
exciting retelling of the story, with emphasis on character development and relationships of Robin (Jonas Armstrong), Marian (Lucy Griffiths), their followers and their enemies. The Sheriff of Nottingham (Keith Allen) and Sir Guy of Gisborne (Richard Armitage) bring sneering and seductive, respectively, approaches to their villainy.

To Read Deborah Ground Buckner's Review of the most recent release of Robin Hood from the BBC Click Here

Editor's Note: The future incarnation of Robin Hood on the big screen is scheduled for 2009. Teaming Gladiator duo once again, will be Director Ridley Scott at the helm and Actor Russell Crowe playing the Sheriff of Nottingham. No word as to yet, who will be Robin Hood.