I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

After Errol Flynn, Richard Greene was the actor I mostly associated with the legend of Robin Hood. I was born and bought up very close to Sherwood Forest and when I was a lad we visited the forest on numerous occasions, I still live close by and I travel by the Major Oak at least once a every month to visit my children. I was bought up in the late 50s/60s when TV was in it infancy and the Adventures of Robin Hood was a must see every week (We only had 2 TV channels in the UK) LOL My only complaint is in the Richard Greene series (WHY)did they use the same actors to play multiple parts "Sometimes in the same episode" (WHY) Wasn't there enough good British actors in the UK.I still watch and enjoy the repeats on the FILMON TV internet site

"The Adventures of Robin Hood" is one of those series that has a truly timeless quality. The fact that I know people of all ages who enjoy it thoroughly, more than 50 years after it was first shown on television speaks for itself. I have to say when I saw the first series on DVD cheap I was half expecting a badly dated, poorly acted show still available purely due to the effects of nostalgia. Now I am heartily glad I took the risk and have all 143 episodes.The casting is impeccable, with Richard Greene almost certainly the best incarnation of Robin Hood in my view, with his highly charismatic performance as the noble outlaw of yore. It helps that he is English, as the hero is quintessentially of this country. The other actors are close to definitive in their roles, which is impressive since back then there were few versions to base their performances on. Alan Wheatley makes for a witty, and thoroughly immoral Sheriff of Nottingham and by playing the character perfectly straight does so without chewing the scenery like many actors in the role have since. The part of Maid Marian is shared by Bernadette O'Farrell and Patrica Driscoll and though their styles differ they are both excellent. Archie Duncan definitely has the presence and manner for the role of Little John, while Alexander Gauge seems born to the role of Friar Tuck. Great support is provided by Victor Woolf as Derwent, a character rarely seen in other versions, and special mention must go to Paul Eddington who appears as a different character almost every episode for a couple of series until he landed the permanent role as Will Scarlett. There are a good many guest stars such as Donald Pleasance, Leslie Phillips, Sid James etc. who it is interesting to see at such an early stage of their career and probably among the earliest surviving footage of it.The writing is very good and manages to maintain its quality throughout, though it loses the structure of the earlier episodes somewhat - as the Merry Men come together for example. The emphasis is always on doing the right thing no matter the cost, and this achieved surprisingly without becoming too peachy, despite coming close to it. The plots are inventive, with obviously a good deal of research being done into the history to find the basis for story lines. This can be educational as well as fun even if it is not all strictly accurate.The theme song is legendary and sums up the spirit of the show perfectly. It is probably more well known than the series itself, though that it partly thanks to a cereal advert it featured in! It is very well made considering the budget is clearly minimal, with the same building doubling for the church, the Blue Boar Inn and many other locations. However there is a good deal of location work (done on a farm I believe) and the actors get the best out of the limited sets.It is a shame "The Adventures of Robin Hood" is not more watched these days, perhaps it is perceived as having less appeal to the younger generation due to the fact that it is in black and white, or that subsequent versions must have superseded it. Definitely worth revisiting.

Can anybody help me remember the name of a movie portraying the writers of the adventures of Robin Hood TV series ? They were blacklisted in the USA for supposed communist ties in the fifties,and made a living under various pen names,being behind some of the classic TV serials of that era.Have seen this movie,but cannot for the life of me remember what it was called,and it's driving me nuts. Have a feeling it may be from sometime in the 1980's, it was in colour but have no recollection of who starred in it or directed it. If I could just remember its title I could check if its available on DVD,as would really like to see it again.

"The Adventures of Robin Hood" was not a children's program, not even a young people's program.  Consider its credits, if you doubt my assessment. Its directors included Daniel Birt, Robert Day, Don Chaffey, Terry Bishop, Terence Fisher, Arthur Crabtree, Peter Maxwell, Ralph Smart and Bernard Knowles, many known for TV and feature film work. The writing corps included some blacklisted Hollywood film writers as well as highly-competent British scenarists including in their numbers Milton Schlesinger, Ring Lardner Jr., Ralph Smart, John Dyson, John Cousins, Arthur Behr, Raymond Bowers, Eric Heath, Anne Rodney, Leslie Poynter. Paul Symonds, Sidney Wells, Ian Lartain, Ian McLellan Hunter and C.D. Phillips. The story sets up an historically false but dramatically useful opposition--the Saxons of England championing the cause of the imprisoned honest King Richard Coeur de Lion, set against his usurping, nefarious brother Prince John, who is in league with their Norman overlords and crooked sheriffs (out only to steal land and wealth and ready to enslave the populace for a brass farthing).  The very fine continuing cast included handsome and able leading man Richard Greene, lovely Bernadette O'Farrell and later very good actress Patricia Driscoll as Maid Marian Fitzwalter; the splendid Shakespearean actor Alexander Gauge playing the definitive Friar Tuck, with Archie Duncan as Little John, Paul Eddington as Will Scarlet, Alan Wheatley as a marvelously subtle and villainous Sheriff of Nottingham, Victor Woolf as Derwent and Simone Lovell as the brave and helpful Maid Joan. Several fine actors played Prince John, including Donald Pleasance, Ian Hunter Robin's friend Sir Richard and Jill Esmond Queen Eleanor. Regular guests included Paul Eddington (doing double duty), Willoughby Gray, John Dearth, Arthur Skinner, Charles Stapley plus guest stars of the caliber of Edward Mulhare, and Leo McKern. Hannah Weinstein was executive producer, with the participation of Sidney Cole as line producer, Thelma Connell a associate and Richard Greene. Edwin Astley, Albert Elms and Sidney Keith Russell provided the music; Carl Sigman wrote the popular title song. The cinematography for the show, which ranged from hood to very good, was done by Gerald Gibbs, Ken Hodges and Michael Reed at various times. The production designer was Peter Proud, and the art directors Proud, John Blezard and Peter Mullins. Gabriel Toyne was in charge of duels and battles with Brenda Gardner in charge of wardrobe. So many people have happy memories of watching this show as young people, I believe they would be surprised how entertaining the and engrossing the show remain. The comedy was frequently very successful, the dialogue above average and the motivations of the characters extraordinarily clear. And, frequently, memorable. Because the show was about important matters to realists, the scenes deal with essentials; and this makes them more consistently interesting and rich than is usual in a television show. This is a much-loved television series, for many reasons; I was privileged to wait each week for its episodes when I was growing up. I have seen many since that time, and they are still enjoyable, as fiction and as good-spirited fun for discriminating viewers.