Le Défi de Robin des Bois

Its simple story with a few old cliches. I liked the old character actors hayter and bass

Its a film my grandparents would've enjoyed on a wet afternoon

Interesting Hammer Films production of the oft told Robin Hood story. Similar to what they did with their adaptations of Dracula, they added some additional grit to their version, which makes it stand apart from prior film adaptations. However, this is still a family film and not filled with the blood and heaving bosoms of the Hammer Horror pictures, which left the film not gritty enough and instead rather dull at times.

I like many others remember seeing this on HBO in the early 80s many times. I was able to procure a copy at a later date (You can get this title from Amazon.com for those looking for a copy) and found it just as enjoyable as I did when I was younger.

Like most Robin Hood movies you have to take it with a grain of salt. In some places the acting is a little over the top, some of the combat feats are unbelievable and everything is very black and white but this is what Robin Hood is all about. I honestly enjoy this version much more than any others that come to mind. I thought that all the actors were very well cast and I like that they are all Englishmen so no bad accents to be found. The settings are perfect and one of the best things about the film as is the costuming. What I think I love most about this film is the scale. This story's take on the myth is Robin as the adopted son of a minor Norman lord who is in conflict w/ his cousin who wrongly inherits his father's title and lands and is in league w/ the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. Prince John is nowhere to be found though he is mentioned. In all truth I think that a minor lord w/ the help of the Sheriff is more than enough for any group of outlaws to face.

If you are a fan of the Robin Hood mythos I think you could do far worse than checking out this excellent take on this popular tale.

I agree with other reviewers who found this romp surprisingly good. There's a background realism to the fun - for instance, the lincoln green cloth has to be acquired and paid for, and without any comment being made on it, it's apparent that there isn't quite enough to go round. The forest settings are better than usual in such a low-budget film - they've used a conifer woodland with wide walks, rather than the sort of recent-growth scrub than one sometimes sees. As others have said, Barrie Ingham seems an odd choice for the hero - he's far from being the most handsome man in the picture - but he has a wonderful rich voice. And like all of the serious parts, he delivers the lines with great sincerity. The dialogue has a good period feel as well.

Hammer Studios, best known for a long string of excellent (and later, not-so-excellent) horror films, also produced adventure films. "A Challenge for Robin Hood" is one such example.

Robin de Courtenay (Ingham) is a Norman nobleman falsely accused by his cousin Roger (Blythe) of murdering his other cousin Henry. Forced to turn outlaw, Robin flees the castle, joins a band of Saxon outcasts, and is dubbed Robin Hood. The fight for justice begins.

This version of the Robin Hood legend features a number of twists, not the least of which is that Robin is a Norman and his close friends, Little John and Will Scarlet, are Norman retainers. Maid Marian (Hamilton) has a rather limited role when compared to most other adaptations. Most, but not all, of the characters generally associated with Robin Hood are present in this version.

This well-made film is well worth a look, particularly for those who enjoy the Robin Hood genre or classic adventures. The cast is solid though Barrie Ingham simply lacks the charisma of others who have played the role (notably Errol Flynn, Richard Todd, and Richard Greene). James Hayter is excellent as Friar Tuck, a role he had previously played in the wonderful "The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men" (1952).