A CHALLENGE FOR ROBIN HOOD

UK, 1967, 85 minutes, Colour.
Barrie Ingham, James Hayter, Leon Greene, Peter Blythe, Gay Hamilton, Alfie Bass, John Arnnat, Eric Flynn, John Gugolka.
Directed by Pennington Richards.

Robin Hood stories are always popular. Silent films, Cornell Wilde as The The bandit of Sherwood Forest, television series, a Disney animation, Sean Connery as an older hero in Robin and Marian, Patrick Bergen and, at the same time in the early 90s, Kevin Costner as Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. And, for the 20th century, Russell Crowe with Cate Blanchett in Ridley Scott’s, Robin Hood.

This is a more modest contribution, from the mid 1960s, a surprising film from Hammer Studios who had emerged in the 1950s as a classic studio for horror films, especially variations on Dracula and Frankenstein themes and, especially, with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

This film offers some background as to Robin Hood’s identity, Norman living with a Norman family, yet friendly to the Saxons, saving the life of a young boy, falling foul of his adoptive brother after his father had bequeathed money to him – with the brother teaming up with the Sheriff of Nottingham to eliminate all rivals.

Robin goes to the forest with Friar Tuck, saving Will Scarlet from the gallows, persuading Little John to join him – and the leader of the outlaws in the forest being Alan a Dale. There is a momentary hesitation about Maid Marian who seems to be aloof – but then we realise that the real Maid Marian is posing as the Maid.

Barrie Ingham is Robin Hood, quite a dashing hero. Alfie Bass has a cameo as a pie maker – and pies being important for one of the climaxes to rescue people from the Sheriff of Nottingham.

A modest but pleasing addition to Robin Hood stories.

1. The perennial popularity of Robin Hood? Version of the 1960s? From Hammer Studios and their otherwise reputation for horror films?

2. Re-creation of the period, the forests, the castle, the joust, the fair, costumes, decor? The rousing score?

3. The introduction, the hunt, the picture, his death, Stephen defying Roger, the role of Wallace? Letting the boy go? The intervention of Robin? Alan and the antipathy towards the Normans, suspicion of Robin?

4. The origins of the Robin Hood story, the Merry Men? The death of Richard the Lionheart? The castle, the father, his loyalty to the men in the forest, his hearing the news of Richard, dying, his will – and Roger tearing it up? Banishing Robin? The fight with Henry and killing him? Using Robin’s weapon? Friar Tuck witnessing this, warning Robin, their diving into the moat, going into the forest? Will Scarlet being blamed, arrest, the plan for his execution? The place of Little John in the castle, the wrestling?

5. Tuck and Robin in the forest, the Sheriff of Nottingham, his men, their escape? Meeting Alan, the fight between the two with the poles? The acceptance of Robin, his clothes and the change? The plan, the outlaws in the forest, surviving? The decision to take money from the rich and give to the poor? Including themselves?

6. Life in the forest, relationships, friendships?

7. At the castle, Maid Marian and how haughty attitude towards the maid? The irony in the disguise and Marian in the castle? Stephen and his wanting to see his sister?

8. Robbing of the wealth man, the fight, the denunciations?

9. The man with the pies, the comedy, the dray, Tuck getting the pie? The payment to the pieman? Going to the fair, in disguise, Robin as Friar, deciding to enter the competition, Masked Monk, fighting with Little John, the plan, the defeat, the defying of Roger, Roger sentencing Robin to death? The Sheriff observing? Justin winning the joust, his collaboration in the scheme?

10. The action, Alan and the company, the dray, rescuing Stephen and Marian, throwing the knife, Robin and Will cut free, the pie fight and the defeat of the troops?

11. In the forest, the money collector, merciless, burning the poor house, taking the young man to prison, trapped by the outlaws, the gold taken, his clothes taken, his being sent through the forest?

12. In the castle, Roger and his plans, using Marian as bait, the sheriff?

13. Robin as prisoner, his message to the steward, opening up the secret passage, allowing the company to enter the castle? The fight, the death of Roger?

14. The happy ending – and the establishing of the Robin Hood myth?