Robin Hood - on the Screen

A Pictorial History of Robin Hood in the Movies from Douglas Fairbanks in 1922 to Russell Crowe in 2010.

Douglas Fairbanks as the Earl of Huntingdon in Robin Hood (1922) directed by Allan Dwan and also starring Wallace Beery as King Richard the Lion-Heart, Enid Bennett as Maid Marian, Sam de Grasse as Prince John and Alan Hale as Little John. 127mins.

At a cost of $1.4m Robin Hood was one of the most expensive films of the silent era. The castle set was one of the largest ever built.

IMDB rating 7.5

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains and Alan Hale.

One of the greatest swashbucklers in Hollywood history and the film that made Flynn a major star. The most expensive WB movie at that time and one of the biggest hits of the late 30's. Music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

IMDB rating 8.0

The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1946) directed by Henry Levin and George Sherman and starring Cornel Wilde, Anita Louise, Henry Daniell, Jill Esmond, George Macready and Russell Hicks as Robin Hood.

Robin Hood is getting too old and his son Robert, played by Cornel Wilde, takes over the family business of robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. Henry Daniell plays the villainous William of Pembroke. IMDB raing 5.8

Rabbit Hood (1949) directed by Chuck Jones and starring Bugs Bunny, voiced by Mel Blanc.

Bugs is poaching carrots from the royal gardens and confronts the Sheriff of Nottingham. Watch out for a guest appearance from Errol Flynn.

IMDB rating 7.6

John Derek's turn to wear the tights in Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950) directed by Gordon Douglas and also starring Diane Lynn, George Macready and Alan Hale.

This was Alan Hale's third and last time playing Little John, he died a few months before the film premiered.

IMDB rating 5.2

Ivanhoe (1952) directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Fontaine and George Sanders. Based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott.

Sir Wilfrid of Ivanhoe (Taylor) is helped by Sir Robin of Locksley (Harold Warrender) and his men to rescue the beautiful Rowena (Taylor) from the clutches of De Bois-Guilbert (Sanders). Music by Miklos Rozsa.

IMDB rating 6.8

Richard Todd as Robin Hood in Disney's The Story of Robin Hood (1952) directed by Ken Annakin and also starring Joan Rice, James Robertson Justice and Peter Finch as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Maid Marian's dress has a zipper visible at the back in one scene, zips were invented about 100 years ago.

IMDB rating 6.8

Made by the Hammer Studios and their first film in colour. The Men of Sherwood Forest (1954) directed by Val Guest and starring Don Taylor as Robin Hood, with Reginald Beckwith, Eileen Moore, Douglas Wilmer and Patrick Holt.

Don Taylor later turned director on films like Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), Island of Dr, Moreau (1977) and Damien Omen II (1978).

IMDB rating 5.7

Robin Hood Daffy (1958) directed by Chuck Jones and starring Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, voices by Mel Blanc.

Daffy tries to prove he is Robin Hood to a disbelieving Porky Pig (as Friar Tuck) and after several failed attempts to impress Porky he gives up, shaves his head and changes his name to Friar Duck.

IMDB raitng 8.0

Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) directed by Terence Fisher and starring Richard Greene as Robin Hood, Sarah Branch as Maid Marian, Peter Cushing as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Nigel Green as Little John, Niall MacGinnis as Friar Tuck and Oliver Reed as Lord Melton. Produced by the Hammer Studios.

Richard Greene was popular as Robin Hood in the British TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-1960). IMDB rating 5.6

The Italians had a go at the Robin Hood legend with Robin Hood and the Pirates (1960) directed by Giorgio Simonelli and starring ex-Tarzan Lex Barker as Robin, with Jocelyn Lane and Walter Barnes.

One review states that the screenplay is a series of cliches and resembles an 11-year old's essay.

IMDB rating 3.4

Walt Disney's animated version of Robin Hood (1973) directed by Wolfgang Reitherman and starring the voices of Brian Bedford (Robin Hood), Monica Evans (Maid Marian), Phil Harris (Little John), Andy Devine (Friar Tuck), Terry-Thomas (Sir Hiss) and Peter Ustinov (Prince John / King Richard). The song "Love" was Oscar nominated.

IMDB rating 7.5

Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn as Robin and Marian (1976) directed by Richard Lester and also starring Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Richard Harris as Richard the Lionheart, Nicol Williamson as Little John and Ian Holm as King John.

The script was titled "The Death of Robin Hood" at one point which was a bit of a spoiler. The film deals with Robin and Marian in their last years together. Music by John Barry.

IMDB rating 6.6

John Cleese as Robin Hood in the comedy fantasy Time Bandits (1981) directed by Terry Gilliam and also starring Sean Connery as King Agamemnon, Ian Holm as Napoleon, David Warner as Evil Genius and Ralph Richardson as Supreme Being.

A little boy gets involved in the time travelling adventures of a group of dwarves.

Robin Hood: (to one of the dwarves) And you're a robber too. How long have you been a robber?
Strutter: Four foot one.
Robin Hood: Good lord! Four foot one? Well that is a long time, isn't it?

IMDB rating 6.9

Kevin Costner as Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves (1991) directed by Kevin Reynolds and also starring Morgan Freeman as Azeem, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Maid Marian, Christian Slater as Will Scarlett, Nick Brimble as Little John, Michael McShane as Friar Tuck, Brian Blessed as Lord Locksley, Michael Wincott as Guy of Gisbourne and Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Music by Michael Kamen.

A hugely successful and entertaining re-telling of the old legend. Alan Rickman enjoyably over-the-top as the mad, bad Sheriff of Nottingham. That damn song "Everything I do, I do it for you" by Bryan Adams, was number one in the charts for months and months and was nominated for an Oscar.... IMDB rating 6.8

Robin Hood (1991) directed by John Irvin and starring Patrick Bergin as Robin, Uma Thurman as Maid Marian, Jurgen Prochnow as Sir Miles Folcanet and Edward Fox as Prince John.

Premiered on TV in America and shown in theaters in Europe.

IMDB rating 5.8

Robin Hood - Men in Tights (1993) directed by Mel Brooks and starring Cary Elwes as Robin Hood, Amy Yasbeck as Marian, Richard Lewis as Prince John, Roger Rees as the Sheriff of Rottingham, Dave Chapelle as Ahchoo, Isaac Hayes as Asneeze and Patrick Stewart as King Richard.

Little John: Let me introduce you to my best friend: Will Scarlett.
Scarlett: Scarlett's my middle name. My full name is Will Scarlett O'Hara.

IMDB rating 6.4

Russell Crowe as Robin Hood (2010) directed by Ridley Scott, also starring Cate Blanchett as Marion Loxley, Max Von Sydow as Sir Walter Loxley, William Hurt as William Marshal, Mark Strong as Godfrey, Oscar Isaac as Prince John and Danny Huston as King Richard the Lionheart.

At one point Russell Crowe was to play both Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham, and probably Maid Marian too for all I know. But luckily sanity prevailed. In an interview Ridley Scott said the only previous Robin Hood film that was any good was Robin Hood - Men in Tights.

Russell Crowe stormed out of one interview when he was asked why Robin Hood had an Irish accent in the film. Crowe was striving for a Nottingham accent. "You've got dead ears, mate. You've seriously got dead ears if you think that's an Irish accent." He angrily replied.

The film reportedly cost an astonishing $200m to make, probably more than all the Robin Hood films mentioned on this page combined! It grossed $321m worldwide.

IMDB rating 6.8