IMDb > The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 4)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) -- Robin Hood's son continues the work against English injustice after his father's death, until a strange twist is revealed.
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Norman Reilly Raine (original screenplay) and
Seton I. Miller (original screenplay)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Adventures of Robin Hood on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 May 1938 (USA) more
Tagline:
The Best Loved Bandit Of All Time! more
Plot:
When Prince John and the Norman Lords begin oppressing the Saxon masses in King Richard's absence, a Saxon lord fights back as the outlaw leader of a rebel guerrilla army. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
20 Most Anticipated Period Films (Part 2)
 (From The Movie Fanatic. 24 October 2009, 12:46 AM, PDT)

20 Most Anticipated Period Films (Part 2)
 (From The Movie Fanatic. 24 October 2009, 12:46 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Hardly high art but it is tremendous fun even after the better part of a century more (170 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Robin Hood (Australia) (TV title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG for adventure violence.
Runtime:
102 min
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Colour (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Australia:PG (DVD rating) | USA:Approved (original rating) (PCA #3790) | Portugal:M/6 | Canada:G (video rating) | West Germany:6 (nf) | Germany:6 (video rating) | South Korea:12 (DVD rating) (2003) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | New Zealand:G (single DVD) | New Zealand:PG (2 dvd set) | Sweden:Btl (uncut) (1969) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-16 (1938) | Ireland:G | Norway:7 | Peru:PT | Sweden:Btl (cut) (1938) | UK:U | USA:PG (re-rating) (2003)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Maid Marion is never referred to by that name in this film. She is referred to as "Lady Marion Fitzwalter" twice, once in the banquet scene and the second time by Sir Guy just before she hands the Golden Arrow to Robin Hood. more
Goofs:
Continuity: During the first fight scene in the castle, there is an arrow in the door to the right which we did not see Robin shoot. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Town Crier announcing capture of Richard: News has come from Vienna: "Leopold of Austria has seized King Richard on his return from the Crusades. Our king is being held prisoner. Nothing further is known. His Highness Prince John will make further public pronouncement tomorrow."
more
Movie Connections:

FAQ

Is this movie based on a book?
When Robin wins the archery tournament, Sir Guy asks why he didn't use a black arrow. What is a black arrow?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
more
16 out of 26 people found the following comment useful.
Hardly high art but it is tremendous fun even after the better part of a century, 6 June 2004
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

When King Richard is captured while abroad, his treacherous brother Price John uses the situation as his opportunity to seize the title for himself. With his wicked ways he oppresses the people, boosts taxes, hangs those who refuses to pay them and generally rules with an iron fist. Out of this situation a hero arises, Sir Robin of Locksley, who forms a band of outlaws to disrupt the actions of Prince John's men and steal the money back that they have stolen from the citizens of the land. However with Guy of Gisbourne and the Sheriff of Nottingham, Prince John makes plans to capture Robin and make an example out of him – but they've got to find him first!

This film often sits high on many critics' lists along side many films that would be considered worthy because they would be called 'art' or generally be classic films in the traditional sense; indeed this film also sits high on the top 250 list on this site – and long may it continue to do so! Although this film is hardly the sort of stuff that the high-brow critic would pick in his top 100 list, the fact that it usually appears there says a lot for just how good it is – not as a classic and deep piece of art but as a really enjoyable adventure film. We all know the basic story and the film sticks to it well – although to be honest I can never remember if I know it from this film or from the legend itself! The plot is engaging but it is the manner of delivery that makes this film so much fun to watch.

The action is hardly groundbreaking (how could it be after 60+ years?) but given that it isn't based on effects, it has stood up really well and is enjoyable to watch – it's an overused term but the action here is what I would define as 'swashbuckling' fun! For my money the even better aspect of the film is that it manages to take this vein of good clean fun and run it through the entire film. Most enjoyably for me was the dialogue that was often laugh out loud funny – some lines were hardly of the period but were funny none the less! Outside of the comedy in the dialogue, the film manages to retain the sense of fun in all but the odd darker scene. This sense of fun is passed through (and sustained by) the performances, which are led by a typically cocksure (pardon the pun) Errol Flynn. He plays Robin larger than life, and rightly so. He is tremendous fun in the lead and he is major part of making sure it all comes off. Rains has a minor role but he is not a straight bad guy and has a strange humour about it – he may not have the ham that Alan Rickman would later bring to the role but he does it very well nonetheless. Playing a more traditional bad guy was Basil Rathbone – a good actor and made all the more enjoyable performance for me because I rarely see him in anything but the Holmes movies. De Havilland is pretty but doesn't make much of an impression as Marion but luckily Robin's merry men are roundly good with fun performances from Pallette, Hale, Knowles and others.

Overall this is a great film – not because the story is really deep or the special effects are astounding but simply because it is a really fun (and funny) swashbuckling adventure. With a real sense of fun running though the script, the cinematography (and wondrous Technicolor), the dialogue and the performances this film has stood up effortlessly over the past 60+ years and it will continue to do for long after my generation are dead and buried and other ones come to discover it.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (170 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Olivia de Havilland was incredibly beautiful in this biggeorge0069
COSTUMES! picooke
HD-DVD drew30319
Why does no one ever scream etc? brainiacsever
Why wasn't the archery contest a tie? rogbat7
The first film in color? Stellaaaa
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Robin Hood Robin and Marian The Flame and the Arrow Princess of Thieves
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb top 250 movies IMDb Action section
IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.