Sword of Sherwood Forest

Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960)

** (out of 4)

Hammer made their name by reworking Frankenstein, Dracula and The Mummy but here they try their hand at Robin Hood. Richard Greene plays Robin Hood while Peter Cushing tackles the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham but the end results are rather dull. Like their horror films, this film has the sexuality and violence picked up but director Terence Fisher doesn't bring anything else to the table. The 2.35:1 aspect ratio makes for some good looking scenes but none of the scenes contain any energy to keep the viewer going. Greene is pretty forgettable as Robin and Sarah Branch as Maid Marian comes off even worse. Cushing is good in his role and keeps the film from being worse than it is. Oliver Reed also has a small role.

For Britains' Hammer Studios, Gothic horror was their specialty, but they also tried their hand at various other genres. Here, they take a stab (pardon the expression) at the legend of famed outlaw Robin Hood and his band of Merrie Men. Richard Greene, who'd had plenty of experience playing Robin on TV, essays the role once again for this tale of political intrigue, and nefarious, double-crossing villains. The Sheriff of Nottingham (the great Peter Cushing), in particular, is one of those kinds of guys whose word is NEVER to be trusted.

"Sword of Sherwood Forest" may lack true distinction (for many people, the definitive Robin Hood film will likely remain the version with Errol Flynn), but it's not bad at all, either. It's capably directed by prolific Hammer filmmaker Terence Fisher, is gorgeously shot in widescreen (by Ken Hodges), and features reasonably rousing swordplay and action sequences. It also has a truly lovely Maid Marian in actress Sarah Branch.

The handsome & dashing Greene is well supported by Cushing (always a delight, in a solid villainous performance), Nigel Green as Little John, Niall MacGinnis as Friar Tuck, singer Dennis Lotis as Alan A'Dale, Jack Gwillim as the Archbishop, and a fun Richard Pasco as the Earl of Newark, who wishes to exploit Robins' ability with a bow & arrow. Oliver Reed & Desmond Llewelyn have small, unbilled roles.

Although not terribly memorable in the end, I would still tend to prefer this over the 1991 Hollywood version (performances by Alan Rickman and Morgan Freeman notwithstanding, course).

Seven out of 10.

This is not as bad as all that. Terence Fisher as ever does a competent job, there are reasonable production values and some rather fetching photography. I always thought Richard Greene a little too schoolmasterly for an outlaw, and he is here rather portly, but he can certainly handle a bow. Nigel Greene and Niall McGinnis are well cast as Little John and Tuck, Peter Cushing is an excellent Sheriff, and Richard Pasco does well as the ambiguous Lord Newark. Oliver Reed's camp henchman is perhaps less successful.

The conspiracy plot unfolds at a relaxed pace and resolves satisfyingly. The weakest element is the tacked on romance with Sarah Branch's rather bland Maid Marion.

All in all a rather charming period piece, that gets closer to the spirit of the original ballads than most versions.

One thing I did learn about Sword Of Sherwood Forest is that it's no compilation film made from the British TV series Robin Hood. Other than Richard Greene in the title role none of the regulars appear from TV appear in the film.

The plot has Robin Hood getting involved in a dispute with a certain lord who feels cheated and none other than the Archbishop Of Canterbury and King's Chancellor Hubert Walter.

The British show was syndicated here and Richard Greene's American public was used to seeing him in the part. Greene was very popular as Robin Hood on this side of the pond. In my generation he was the real Robin Hood.

Fans of the TV series here and in the United Kingdom won't be disappointed.

I'm a great fan of Robin Hood and maybe being too critical of this film given its time of making. But it was hard work, it reminded me of a school play, it was enjoyable purely from a look back at how they used to do films sort of way. Peter Cushing and Oliver Reed will certainly have looked back at this film and have a quiet chuckle on how bad it was and ameteur. I'm trying not to be too critical and let it get away with being an innocent and OK film but the more i think about it the more i find myself wandering why i bothered to watch it. I suppose the reason being that after watching an hour i thought i might as well see it through. The language sorted of drifted from modern day to olde English, if its raining and there's nothing else to watch then give it a go but don't get too comfy or you will drift off.