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Stars:
Errol Flynn, Olivia deHavilland, Basil Rathbone. Claude Rains, Alan Hale, and
Eugene Pallette
Writers:
Norman Reilly Raine and Seton L. Miller
Based
On Ancient Robin Hood Legends
Directors:
Michael Curtiz and William Keighley
Feature
length: 102 minutes
Extras:
Documentaries, Audio Commentary, Outtakes, Music Only Audio Track, Leonard
Maltin Hosts Night At the Movies 1938, With Trailer, Newsreel, Musical Short,
And Cartoon, Robin Hood Through The Ages Featurette, Home Movies, More Vintage
Cartoons, Short Subjects, Studio Blooper Reel, Galleries, Trailers, Audio Only
Radio Show, and Korngold Scoring Session
Languages:
English, French, and Spanish Language Monaural Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Two-Disc Digipack
Chapter
Stops: 29
Sound:
Monaural Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1938/DVD Release: 2003
Theatrical
Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video
MPAA
Rating: PG
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
After
reviewing Twentieth Century Fox’s “The Mark Of
Zorro: Studio Classics” yesterday, I had to follow up with what I think is
the granddaddy of all swashbuckling tales of heroism, the 1938 Warner Brothers
adaptation of “The Adventures Of Robin Hood.” When I was a boy it seemed
like they used to show this film every other Sunday on TV and I have never grown
tired of watching it. In every sense of the word I consider this a classic. Yes
it might seem quaint by contemporary standards and yes the dark ages were never
so colorful as portrayed in “The Adventures Of Robin Hood,” but the film is
very much like a fairy tale and Errol Flynn’s charisma as “Robin Hood” is
nothing short of spectacular. One cannot help but love the character. There are
also the memorable performances by Claude Rains as “Prince John” and Basil
Rathbone as “Sir Guy.” Rathbone was a stoic actor in appearance and his
villainous turns in “The Adventures Of Robin Hood,” “Captain Blood,” and
“The Mark Of Zorro” is simply excellent. He is the villain you love to hate,
but at the same time enjoy his wickedness onscreen. Olivia deHavilland is a
heavenly “Maid Marian” and Alan Hale and Eugene Pallette are memorable as
“Little John” and “Friar Tuck” respectively.
While
King Richard is away on one of his crusades to the Holy Land, Prince John
(Rains) conspires to make himself King when he discovers his brother is being
held for ransom by Leopold of Austria and subsequently enforces harsh taxes and
totalitarian terrors upon the Saxons. These funds are not to free his brother,
but rather to buy his way to the throne. Saxon Noble Robin of Loxley (Flynn)
leads a rebellion against Prince John’s regime to restore King Richard to the
throne and bring equality to all English citizens.
To
commemorate the 65th anniversary of “The Adventures Of Robin
Hood,” Warner Home Video has implemented their “Ultra-Resolution” process,
which they had previously used on “Singin’ In The Rain,” to create a
transfer that reveals more shaper detail than in conventional Technicolor
release prints. The process involves scanning the original Technicolor 3-strip
black and white ‘records’ at extremely high (2k) resolution. The black and
white records are then combined electronically to create color images, which are
also electronically re-registered, steadied and cleaned before the final DVD is
produced. The results are a stunning high quality picture that looks
outstanding. There are a few scenes with some slight noticeable grain and a few
faint scratches and even a small fleck or two, but the overall presentation is
still simply jaw dropping. “The Adventures Of Robin Hood” is presented in an
aspect ratio of approximately (1.33:1) that preserves the way the film was
exhibited theatrically as close as possible for home video users. Solid and
clear English, French, and Spanish Language Monaural Soundtracks are also
provided along with English Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing
impaired and French and Spanish Language Subtitles as options. Film Historian
Rudy Behlmer provides a feature length audio commentary taken from his
observations on “The Adventures Of Robin Hood” from his book “Inside
Warner Bros (1935 – 1951)” and there as also a music only audio track
showcasing Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s score. While Behlmer reveals an
extraordinary amount of information related to the legend of Robin Hood as well
as background on the Actors, Director, and other collaborators, he neglects to
mention the little intentional and unintentional mistakes such as Claude Raines
reaction to his brother’s return exclaiming “King Lion!” or the fact that
Errol Flynn’s prop sword is bent when he forces the guard at sword point to
release Marian. I’m sure there are others to point out and discover like any
film, but those are the two that caught my ear and eye respectively.
Next
up is “Warner Night At The Movies” (23:17) introduced by Leonard Maltin,
which recreates what a theater patron might have seen onscreen in addition to a
feature film like “The Adventures Of Robin Hood.” In fact if you let this
play through in its entirety the feature starts right afterwards. Included in
the opening attractions are a trailer for “Dirty Faces,” a vintage newsreel,
a vintage Warner Brothers musical short subject film of “Freddie Rich And His
Orchestra,” and a vintage Warner Brothers cartoon entitled “Katnip Kollege.”
These features help to create a sociological context of what America was like in
that era. A trailer gallery (36:30) of Errol Flynn films concludes the extra
features on the first disc. The trailers include “Captain Blood,” “The
Prince And The Pauper,” “The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938 Original
Theatrical Trailer)” and the 1942 reissue trailer, “Dodge City,” “The
Private Lives Of Elizabeth And Essex,” “The Sea Hawk”, “The Dive
Bomber,” “They Died With Their Boots On,” “Objective Burma!,”
“Kim,” and “The Master Ballantrae.”
The
balance of the extra value features are on disc two, which includes the 1998
Turner Network documentary “Glorious Technicolor” (60:04), which is narrated
by Angela Lansbury and through the course of 11 chapter stops discusses the
evolution and impact of Technicolor on films. Next is the new 2003 documentary
that commemorates the film’s 65th anniversary, “Welcome To
Sherwood: The Story Of The Adventures Of Robin Hood” (55:42)), which is
divided into 18 chapter stops and chronicles the making of the film featuring
interviews with Writers and Historian Rudy Behlmer, Leonard Maltin, Robert
Osborne, and Bob Thomas as well as Composer/Korngold Expert John Mauceri and Art
Director Gene Allen.
Next
are two “Robin Hood” themed Warner Brothers “Loony Tunes” that include
Bugs Bunny in “Rabbit Hood” (7:58) and Daffy Duck in “Robin Hood Daffy”
(6:39). There are also two Warner Brothers short subject films included as well.
“The Cruise Of The Zaca” (1952) features Errol Flynn (19:56) and then there
is the 9 minutes and 24 second short film “Cavalcade Of Archery” (1945). A
featurette that focuses on the various filmed adaptations of “Robin Hood”
before “The Adventures Of Robin Hood” (6:52) follows along with some home
movie behind-the-scenes footage from the film’s production (13:18), a reel of
silent “Outtakes” (8:26), and a blooper reel (14:23).
Audio
extra value features include the May 11, 1938 National Public Radio Broadcast of
“Robin Hood” and 12 selections from Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s piano
sessions. Animated galleries that
one can also step through wrap up the extra features on disc two and they cover
“Historical Art” (2:48), “Costume Designs” (5:12), “Scene Concept
Drawings” (2:40), Cast & Crew Photos” (4:08), and “Publicity &
Poster Materials” (2:08).
The
menus are standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate. “The
Adventures Of Robin Hood: Two-Disc Special Edition” will debut on DVD-Video at
retailers on and offline on Tuesday, September 30, 2003 from Warner Home Video.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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