The Bandit of Sherwood Forest

Columbia Pictures reportedly spent about $1 million on this fairly robust entertainment, chronicling the adventures of Robert of Huntington (American star Cornel Wilde), the son of the legendary Robin Hood (Russell Hicks). It's 20 years since Hood Sr.'s adventures, and there's a new tyrant to deal with, the nefarious William of Pembroke (ever-reliable Henry Daniell). This piece of work wants to murder the current boy-king (Maurice Tauzin) and become king himself. But Robin still associates with his legendary Merrie-Men, and is soon joined by Robert, who's just as adept at handling swords and bows & arrows.

A first-rate cast (Jill Esmond as the queen, Anita Louise as Roberts' love interest Lady Catherine, Edgar Buchanan as Friar Tuck, George Macready as Fitz-Herbert, Ray Teal as Little John, etc.) helps to make this very pleasant if nothing altogether special. While there is enough violence on hand, very little of it is actually bloody, and the action is well-executed. The music is by Hugo Friedhofer, who'd worked on the very popular Errol Flynn Robin Hood movie, and it's appropriately rousing. The athletic and charismatic Wilde is a fine choice for the dashing lead, who has a sense of humour and a very confident attitude. Daniell is, as always, a perfect movie villain. You only have to know him briefly to know that he's pure evil. But what really makes the difference is the fact that Columbia shot this in Technicolor, which gives the adventure a degree of freshness. Some of the colours just pop off the screen.

Screenplay credited to Wilfrid H. Pettitt & Melvin Levy, based on a story by Paul A. Castleton & Pettitt and a novel by Castleton. Henry Levin and George Sherman share director credit, but maintain an effective unity of vision.

Six out of 10.

The Bandit of Sherwood Forest is directed by George Sherman and Henry Levin and collectively written by Wilfrid H. Pettitt, Melvin Levy and Paul A. Castleton. It stars Cornel Wilde, Anita Louise, Jill Esmond, Edgar Buchanan, Henry Daniel, George Macready and Russell Hicks. Music is by Hugo Fridehofer and cinematography is shared between Tony Gaudio, William Snyder and George B. Meehan.

A wonderful spin on the Robin Hood legend, this finds Robin Hood (Hicks) enlisting the help of his son Robert (Wilde) in stopping the nefarious members of the Regency who seek to basically abolish the Magna Carta. What follows in narrative trajectory terms is the usual array of fights and face-offs, with bow and arrows skills supplementing the swordplay. There is of course some simmering passions at work, whilst loyalty and camaraderie is never ever far away.

There's such a sense of fun about the picture, it's like everyone is enjoying playing in a costume adventure. The Technicolor is luscious and the set design and art direction is impressive, more so when put into context the modest budget allocated to the production by Columbia.

The draw card is Wilde, a one time Olympic standard fencer, he utterly convinces as a swashbuckler and has charm in abundance. It's very unlikely anyone will ever fill a Robin Hood based film role with the panache that Errol Flynn did back in 1938, but Wilde most assuredly nails down a marker for one of the genre's best.

Not all the costuming strikes as period reflective, neither does one or two character accents, but it matters not one jot. A sometimes rousing and often engaging swashbuckling adventure, The Bandit of Sherwood Forest is one of the better "Hood" movies out there. 8/10

The Bandit of Sherwood Froest came on Channel 4 one afternoon recently and I was pleased I taped it.

Robin Hood's son, Robert had now replaced him and in this movie, he gets up to all sorts of adventures. Towards the end, he and his lover get locked up in Nottingham Castle and he is condemned to death. But he escapes, along with his lover and the last scene shows you them snogging. A happy ending.

The Bandit of Sherwood Forest is beautifully shot in colour and is fast paced throughout.

Colenol Wilde plays Robert and Anita Loiuise plays his lover Lady Catherine. The rest of the cast includes Russell Hicks as Robin Hood and George Macready and Edgar Buchanan. Good parts from all.

Watching The Bandit of Sherwood Forest is a good way to spend nearly an hour and half one afternoon or evening. Great fun.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.

As the Robin Hood legend goes Robin Hood was the son of a noble forced into outlawry when he defended King Richard I against the usurpation of his brother John. The fictional Robin Hood was ennobled again by a grateful king and he lived for a while happily ever after.

But now it's the troubles of a new generation, old Robin Hood played by Russell Hicks opposes the Earl of Pembroke who is the regent for the minor King Henry III, son of King John who Robin Hood had so much problems with. Just the fact that Henry Daniell is playing Pembroke is enough to tell you who the villain is. He wants to do a Richard III number and make himself king.

Hicks is getting old, but he's got his son Cornel Wilde to do the real heavy action stuff and he and the Merry Men of both generations get to do their thing again. Wilde is once again The Bandit Of Sherwood Forest.

I feel bad for William Marshall the Earl of Pembroke who was the son of the first William Marshall who had the same title. Neither Marshall was a bad guy given the mores of the times. In fact he married the King's sister and had his own entry into the royal family.

Daniell, the man with the built in sneer in his voice is aided and abetted by George MacReady and there's a pair of villains to worry about especially in the same film.

Jill Esmond plays the Dowager Queen and Mother of the king played by Maurice Tozzin. Her lady in waiting is Anita Louise who is where Cornel wants to make some time with. But saving the king comes first.

Wilde is a natural swashbuckler, it didn't hurt his career that in real life he was a master fencer, a member in fact of the US Olympic team before he was an actor. The best parts always seemed to go to Errol Flynn or Tyrone Power.

History gets trashed in The Bandit Of Sherwood Forest but with the cast it has, the film is a royal treat.

This movie was released in the 1940's starring Cornell Wilde; Anita Louise; Jill Esmond; Edgar Buchanan; Henry Daniell and George Macready.

The story deals with the legend of Robin Hood. On this occasion it is the son of Robin Hood, namely Robert, played by Cornel Wilde, who is the hero.

Obviously, since Robin Hood lived in the days of Richard The Lion Heart and King John, one must assume that the young King is King John's son Henry III, who ascended the throne during his minority. The kingdom during this time was ruled by Regents culminating in Simon de Montfort, when the King achieved his majority.

But historical fact aside, the film is an enjoyable piece of escapist adventure, which is sadly lacking from our screens today.

If you get a chance try viewing The Rogues of Sherwood Forest released through the same stable - Columbia 1950 starring John Derek and Diana Lynn. Interesting to note that this too is the son of Robin Hood but in the time of King John played by George Macready who also appeared in the Bandit of Sherwood Forest