Customer Reviews

The Bandit of Sherwood Forest [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the laws of inevitability dictates that Robin Hood films come out every so often. To tie in with Russell Crowe's turn as the Sherwood outlaw, four movies - decades old and not exactly classics but all featuring Robin Hood - were simultaneously released on DVD: Columbia Pictures' PRINCE OF THIEVES, ROGUES OF SHERWOOD, and this one THE BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST, and also Hammer's SWORD OF SHERWOOD FOREST.

1946's THE BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST centers on Robin Hood's equally dashing son more so than on Robin Hood himself. It's been 20 years now since Robin Hood's heyday, but tyranny never sleeps for long, it apparently just takes catnaps. On the heels of the late wicked King John struts William of Pembroke, the ambitious Lord Regent of England. The Lord Regent (Henry Daniell, channeling his inner snake) decides that the Magna Carta isn't his cup of tea, that the people are not fit to rule themselves. He withdraws the Magna Carta and takes forceful custody of the boy King of England. When Robin Hood (Russell Hicks), greyer but just as feisty, dares to speak out against the Regent, he is promptly banished. But the Regent didn't account for Robin Hood's son Robert (Cornel Wilde), who journeys from the North Country to take up his father's battle.

Not that Robin Hood's exactly the shy retiring sort. Again an outlaw, grizzled but still gallant, Robin Hood has marshaled his old band of merry bandits and again has taken up residence in the Sherwood Forest. When Robert returns to the fold, a daring plan is hatched to rescue the young king. As the story unfolds, we get to see young Robert flirt with the lovely Lady Catherine and show off his adeptness with archery. The film climaxes in a trial by single combat, except that the Regent, in true backstabbing despot fashion, isn't about to make things fair and square. Still, the good guys turn the tables on him.

In essence this movie gives us two Robin Hoods: Russell Hicks's dignified, weathered, and savvy original and Cornel Wilde's more impetuous and energetic version. Russell Hicks, a class act and with that deep timbered voice, is a long established bit player, and so he must've been licking his chops at this plum role. Anita Louise is Wilde's vapid love interest. She plays Lady Catherine who, with the Queen, flees from the Regent and passes herself and the Queen off as scullery maids. They chance an old peasant woman's hospitality. The cranky old woman promptly orders the Queen to fetch a pail of water. I guess even Queens shouldn't fib.

I've loved Robin Hood ever since I was a kid, so it's really hard for me to rate this film - and most of the other old Robin Hood films - lower than four stars out of five. So, yeah, there's some bias here. The story isn't inspired or original or even that interesting, really. The action isn't so rousing. But there are elements here which make this movie work for me. First, it's a Robin Hood film. Then, the terrific video transfer really has the Technicolor process coming across vividly; the colors onscreen really pop out. Russell Hicks lends Robin Hood dignity and this sort of faded roguishness. The merry men - the recognizable ones, anyway - roughhouse in a good-natured way. A vigorous Cornel Wilde makes for a dashing hero, never mind my pet peeve of Robin Hoods with ill-fitting American accents. I guess I'll segue and mention that maybe my favorite line in ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS was when Cary Elwes said: "Because, unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent." Such a wise movie. THE BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST can only aspire to be so wise, but still it's very watchable stuff.

I have bought all four of the movies in this group. This is one that I like. I'd say that I like this second best out of the four. The plot is plausible. the acting is believable and enjoyable. I was caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this one!

Columbia's 1946 adventure, Bandit of Sherwood Forest, isn't the best, nor the worst, of the knockoffs of Errol Flynn's 1938 classic The Adventures of Robin Hood, but it is an entertaining 'Son of Robin Hood' saga, with a solid cast including two of the 1940s best screen villains, Henry Daniell (Errol Flynn's nemesis in The Sea Hawk), and George Macready (who would square off as evil King John against yet another son of Robin Hood, John Derek, in 1950's Rogues of Sherwood Forest). Another plus was the participation of two first-rate action directors, Henry Levin (Journey to the Center of the Earth), and George Sherman (Against All Flags). And, of course, the film offered 34-year old Cornel Wilde, fencing champion turned actor, who had become one of Fox Studios more popular war-time replacements for Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda. While a post-war Columbia 'B' film was a bit of a step down, Wilde's athleticism and charm served him well, paired with beautiful Anita Louise (whose career began as a child star in the 1920s). With these credentials, even an average film would have extra luster!

As with most 'Son of Hood' tales, the plot involves a dastardly plan to trash the Magna Carta, propel an evil usurper to the Throne (in this case Daniell, the Regent), and kill the rightful ruler (a boy, protected by his Queen Mother, and her Lady, played by Louise). When the Earl of Huntington, once known as Robin Hood (Russell Hicks), stands up for the people, he is banished...but never fear, his lusty son, Robert, (Wilde) arrives, joins Dad and his Merrie Men as an outlaw, falls for his Lady, saves the boy, vanquishes the forces of Evil, and...well, the fun is getting there, honestly!

Hicks makes an eloquent, very good Robin, Ray Teal (who, years later, would play Sheriff Roy Coffee on Bonanza), is Little John, and Edgar Buchanan (yep, 'Uncle Joe' on Petticoat Junction), is Friar Tuck. Not many British accents in this cast!

Is this a great film? Certainly not, but it is a fun diversion, well-made and likable...At this very affordable price, it's certainly worth owning!

This film has nothing new that is not better done in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" with Errol Flynn.

I enjoyed this film as a kid, but was disappointed as an adult. Several long speeches at the beginning. Any writer can tell a story with speeches; a good writer tells the story with action and dialogue.

Robin Hood grabs and kisses Maid-Marion within 30-seconds of meeting her for the first time; as though looks alone are the only qualifier. Bad, shallow, script.

Although 1950's lacklustre Rogues of Sherwood Forest saw John Derek take on his fictional father's mantle to dispiritingly little effect, Columbia had done the whole son of Robin Hood thing four years earlier and much better in 1946's The Bandit of Sherwood Forest, with a slightly sleazy and wildly over-confident Cornel Wilde as Robert Hood (well, Robert of Huntingdon). He's called into the fray when his father (Russell Hicks) and the Merry Men, who are beginning to feel their age, renew the fight against tyranny after King John's death when Henry Daniell's evil Regent overthrows the Magna Carta and plans to kill the child king and steal his throne.

There's not much that's unexpected and despite the truly glorious Technicolor (courtesy of Tony Gaudio, who shot Errol Flynn's Adventures of Robin Hood with Sol Polito a decade earlier) and two directors (Henry Levin and George Sherman) it's hardly an A-list production, but it does it enjoyably enough en route to its final duel between Wilde and Daniell, who, caddish to the last, tries to starve the outlaw for three days before their Trial by Combat to give himself an edge. Neither Wilde nor his very 40s leading lady Anita Louise exactly dominate the screen (dialogue like "What's a pretty girl like you doing all alone in Sherwood Forest?" "I'm the scullery maid" doesn't help) while George Macready is wasted in a bit part as Daniell's sidekick, but it's good looking undemanding Saturday matinee stuff that's rather better produced than the material probably deserves.

The only extra is a trailer for Hammer's Sword of Sherwood Forest.

Though this is an old movie, it is highly entertaining and very well done for its time. If one is in the mood to sit back and enjoy a romp in the forest with Robin, this is your movie.