Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

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

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

ALYTHOUGH OUR LATER viewing would establish Errol Flynn as the one, true Robin Hood in our mind, it was Richard Greene who held that title for so many years in the mid to late 1950's. This is probably true in the case of most of us Post War (WWII) Baby Boomer generational members.THERE SHOULD BE small wonder about the whys of this statement; as it was quite familiar on this "side of the pond." As we recall, it was a staple on the weekly lineup of the Columbia Broadcasting System's television network. For short, "the Tiffany Network" was simply called CBS. And they did 144 episodes of the show, and the Ryans on Damen Avenue in Chicago tried their damnedest to make sure we never missed a one.AS WE RECALL, the series opened with Robin (Mr. Greene) perched up in a huge switch (branch) in one of the biggest trees in Sherwood and firing an arrow taken swiftly from his quiver set against a swiftly rendered seven bars of the series theme.* This was followed with a repeat of the same, only with the show's Yank sponsor. (We think it was either Vitalis or Brylcream-both hair tonic/creams and relics from the era of "that greasy kid's stuff." BEING THAST THIS was a series, there was very little continuity from one weekly episode to the next. Each story was basically independent and complete within itself; with the characters of Robin, Marian (hot!), Friar Tuck, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Prince John and Little John providing the connection to both the previous and subsequent installments.WHAT WE THINK as being a neat, little touch (and even thought then as a 9 year old) was the manner in which the ;production team used music. It was accomplished with the character of minstrel, Will Scarlet's giving a little preview of what was to come, always using the same, original, authentic medieval, monotonous madrigal. (or whatever you call it!) IT WAS THIS same period that a great deal of half hour series based on the Middle Ages and heir legendary heroes. In addition to THE ADVENTIRES OF ROBIN HOOD, we had SIR LANCELOT, IVNHOE. WILLIOAM TELL and THE BUCANEERS (with Robert Shaw as Dan Tempest).NOTE: * These 7 bars of music are about as well know as the opening of DRAGNET (by Walter Schumann) and that of THE UNTOUCHABLES (by Nelson Riddle). The ADVENTIRES OF ROBIN HOOD opening bars were reprised to comic effect in the Peter Sellers' satirical & comic romp, THE MOUSE THAT ROARED.

"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.

I loved this as a kid as well. Although it was black and white it didn't matter, only added to the whole. Especially when as an adult,looking back. Richard Greene was the ultimate English dashing hero and Bernadette O'Farrell was gorgeous! I can't remember all of the cast and certainly not Paul Eddington, that was a surprise, but they were all great. The actor playing The Sheriff of Nottingham was marvellously villainous. I would love to see it re-run just to see whether kids of today would still find it as exhilarating as we did then with that marvellous opening shot (literally!) of the arrow being loosed by Robin with the sound turned all the way up! Ripping stuff! Scott Farrell Strichen

Certainly the best loved show of my childhood.The series was shown in its entirety on a UK cable station early 1990s.As well as the regular cast there was a repertory company of 6 character actors including Paul Eddington who appeared as different people in different shows. Eddington for example was the regular Will Scarlett but would also turn up as goody or baddie. Victor Wolfe (derwent, one of Robins band) regularly turned up as usually an old man in various episodes. I don't think children in the year 2004 would be so easily convinced. Confusingly there were two Maid Marions and two Little Johns during the course of the series. The writers wrote under nom de plumes (they were blacklisted in Hollywood). Richard Greene retired to Ireland to breed champion horses. By a very strange coincidence his great-niece Hazel Greene became the first Irishwoman to represent Ireland in Olympic Archery (strange but true)