5 Most Impressive Projects About Robin Hood for Those Who Miss the Spirit of Adventure
The most outstanding screen portrayals of Robin of Locksley.
Ballads about the glorious Robin Hood are as old as England itself, and the image of the noble forest robber has been a staple of cinema for over a century. Romantic adventures, forests, and bows and arrows look great on screen.
1. Robin Hood, 2010
Ridley Scott, the master of epic blockbusters, was always dissatisfied with films about Robin Hood. He recognized Mel Brooks' version as the best because it was a comedy.
Following Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven, Scott finally erected the Sherwood Forest set. In the film, Robin Hood is Robin Longstride, a simple archer in the army of Richard the Lionheart.
Robin publicly criticized the commander, and as a result, he and his entire squad were put in the stocks for criminals. After deserting and heading home, the soldier promised the dying knight Sir Locksley that he would bring his sword home.
2. The Adventures of Robin Hood, 1938
After the introduction of the Hays Code in the mid-1930s, Warner Bros. Studios changed course from violent gangster thrillers to colorful action adventures.
The role of the new decade's Robin Hood was best suited to the studio's new star, Errol Flynn. Following the success of Captain Blood, Flynn's on-screen chemistry with actress Olivia de Havilland guaranteed audience interest.
Michael Curtiz, who would direct the famous Casablanca five years later, took on the director's job.
3. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, 1991
Robin of Locksley escapes Saracen captivity with Azeem the Moor. Upon returning to England, Robin learns that his estate has been destroyed and he has been declared a criminal.
Robin then goes into the forest, where he becomes the leader of a band of outlaws who rebel against the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham. To make matters worse, the Sheriff wants to forcefully marry Marian, whom the fugitive warrior has loved since childhood.
After a lengthy swordfight, a staple of Robin Hood films, justice prevails: the sheriff is stabbed by Robin's dagger, and King Richard, who has returned from the Crusades, blesses the lovers.
4. Robin Hood, 1973
Following Walt Disney's passing, one of his closest assistants, Wolfgang Reitherman, took the helm of the studio. In 1973, Reitherman decided to bring to life an idea that Disney had put on the back burner: an animation about Robin Hood.
In memory of the studio's founder, Reitherman transferred the characters from the medieval legend to the animal kingdom. Consequently, Prince John became a cowardly lion, and his closest assistants became Sir Hiss and the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Robin Hood and Maid Marian are foxes, and Little John is the British version of Kipling's Baloo the bear.
5. Robin Hood: Men in Tights, 1993
Having achieved worldwide recognition, Mel Brooks returned to his old idea of parodying medieval Robin Hood legends. Back in the 1970s, while working in television, Brooks attempted to create a bold series based on this material, but it was short-lived.
In 1993, however, Robin Hood: Men in Tights was released, filled with jokes about the history of world cinema.
Brooks based his parody on the recent blockbuster Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and added references to legendary scenes from previous film adaptations of the story.