Casey Chong with the essential Robin Hood movie portrayals…
The Robin Hood legend has been interpreted in various forms, from ballads to plays, books, TV series, and, of course, movie adaptations. The latter has been played by different actors, stretching way back to 1912 when Robert Frazer played the titular role in a 30-minute silent film. To coincide with Michael Sarnoski’s The Death of Robin Hood starring Hugh Jackman [read our review here], we look back at seven of the best Robin Hood movie portrayals…
Errol Flynn in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Here’s the quintessential Robin Hood that the dashing Errol Flynn immortalized in 1938, showcasing his undeniable devil-may-care charm with playful wit and amazing agility. Not to mention his iconic appearance of donning the pointy hat and the vibrant green-and-brown tights without coming across as a silly-looking cosplayer. He also proved to be a romantic leading man, as seen with his memorable on-screen dynamic with the great Olivia de Havilland’s Marian.
The Adventures of Robin Hood equally benefits from its glorious Technicolor and aurally visceral synchronized sound, while co-directors Michael Curtiz and William Keighley confidently paced their 102-minute movie with enough vigor. The movie may have been released nearly 90 years ago, but the action is ahead of its time, eschewing the static-looking or theatrical-style set pieces in favor of dynamic camerawork and lively editing. This is especially true with the energetic sword fights, notably the climactic third-act showdown where Flynn’s Robin Hood clashes blades with Basil Rathbone’s Sir Guy of Gisbourne, often ranked as one of the greatest action set pieces of its kind, even viewed by today’s standards.
Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood (1922)
The silent-movie era of Robin Hood means that any actor who plays the role can’t crack wise or give a witty remark through spoken dialogue. But even dealing with limitations, this doesn’t deter Douglas Fairbanks from delivering one of the best Robin Hood roles in film history. Directed by Allan Dwan, the 1922 silent film Robin Hood was one of the most expensive movies of its time, with star and producer Fairbanks making good use of the huge budget, including the construction of a medieval castle set and the whole 12th-century village of Nottingham at the Pickford-Fairbanks Studio.
Fairbanks himself is the main reason that makes Robin Hood such a defining classic, first embodying the role of a highly disciplined knight as the Earl of Huntingdon in the deliberate first half before transforming into a rebellious yet playful savior fighting against the oppressed in the second half. The latter even showcases his impressive agility and athleticism, from scaling the castle walls to sliding two stories down the castle’s large 40-foot tapestry. He also turns Robin Hood into an expert archer and swordsman, bringing the cinematic adrenaline of a swashbuckling adventure that would pave the way for future Robin Hood iterations.
Brian Bedford in Robin Hood (1973)
Disney’s animated feature Robin Hood trades the human protagonist for an anthropomorphic character, in this case, a talking orange fox. Voiced by Brian Bedford, he brings the right twinkle-in-the-eye charm and playful energy as Robin Hood. He may lack the athletic grace that typically defines the character, compensating instead with his smooth-talking cadence and classically posh British accent.
As sly as a fox, he isn’t particularly showy like Errol Flynn’s version but rather stealthy by comparison, relying heavily on his wit and disguise to overcome the ordeals, like how he chooses to mask his appearance as a stork to join Prince John’s (Peter Ustinov) archery tournament. Or how he remains calm under pressure, even when he’s in danger. Despite garnering mixed reviews at the time of its release, Robin Hood went on to become a box-office smash and has since developed a cult following.
Sean Connery in Robin and Marian (1976)
Decades before The Death of Robin Hood, then-fortysomething Sean Connery plays an aging Robin Hood way past his prime in pre-Superman II Richard Lester’s Robin and Marian. The movie deconstructs the myth of the witty and playful Robin Hood by delving into the inevitable theme of mortality, showing Connery’s Robin Hood no longer the physically agile outlaw. He’s more of a battle-weary former captain who’s been fighting and serving for King Richard the Lionheart (Richard Harris) for decades in the Crusades, finally returning home to Sherwood Forest to reunite with old friends.
True to its title, Robin and Marian primarily highlights the rekindled relationship between the two titular characters, where Connery’s rugged charisma contrasts well with Audrey Hepburn’s pragmatic Maid Marian-turned-abbess. The mortality theme particularly hits hard once Connery’s Robin is looking to settle his old score against the Sheriff of Nottingham (Robert Shaw). Unlike others, even Marian, who have moved on, Robin remains stubbornly stuck in the past and refuses to grow up, thinking that he is still living in an idealistic world. This leads to the climactic one-on-one duel between Robin and the Sheriff of Nottingham in the open field – a sword fight that’s understandably gruelling and exhausting, mirroring the harsh middle-aged reality of these two characters. What makes Robin and Marian even heartbreaking is the aftermath of the battle, culminating in a subversive yet tragic finale.
Cary Elwes in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
Far from Mel Brooks’s best when it comes to parodies, where his earlier work like Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein fare better. But Robin Hood: Men in Tights has its moments, from the meta humor to satirical musical numbers, and even a spoof of The Godfather, complete with Dom DeLuise channelling Marlon Brando’s iconic low mumble.
Then, there’s Cary Elwes, at his playful best as the titular Errol Flynn-style character. His deadpan comedic sensibility is on point, even effortlessly dashing and confident. Not to mention his commitment to a physically demanding performance, despite playing it for laughs. His athletic prowess and elaborate swordplay are technically impressive, which shouldn’t come as a surprise, given his experience in 1987’s The Princess Bride. And who could forget his iconic “Unlike other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent” line to poke fun at Kevin Costner’s much-maligned accent in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves?
Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
The most financially successful Robin Hood movie, which remains unsurpassed even today, the high-profile blockbuster Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves struck a chord with the early 1990s audiences. Kevin Costner may have been infamously criticized for his half-baked accent, but beyond that, his role brings a modern sensibility to his 12th-century character.
Eschewing the mythic swashbuckler archetypes populated by Douglas Fairbanks and Errol Flynn, Costner’s Robin Hood is more of a traumatized and world-weary former prisoner of war who just wants to return home. But home is no longer what it used to be, where oppression takes over, leaving him with no choice but to fight back.
Costner doesn’t just ground his character but also retains the everyman charm that made him a star in the first place, bringing the right balance between grit and playfulness. It helps that he is surrounded by a solid supporting cast from Morgan Freeman bringing gravitas to his Azeem character, to Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio’s fiercely independent Lady Marian and Alan Rickman’s gleefully unhinged Sheriff of Nottingham.
Taron Egerton in Robin Hood (2018)
Otto Bathurst’s big-budget attempt to revive Robin Hood by giving it a gritty superhero-like origin story, complete with the added 21st-century political allegories transplanted into the medieval era and stylized action sequences. On paper, it was no doubt a refreshing change of pace in updating the oft-told mythical legend, but the execution is rather a mixed bag. The gamble didn’t pay off, and the plan to build a multi-film franchise was scrapped after it flopped spectacularly.
A box-office fiasco aside, it’s not all doom and gloom in Bathurst’s take on Robin Hood. Casting then-29-year-old Taron Egerton is an inspired choice, exuding the roguish charisma and sheer agility. His on-screen dynamic with the mentor-like Arabian warrior John, played by the no-nonsense Jamie Foxx, is one of the lifesavers of this otherwise ill-fated movie.
What is your favourite Robin Hood portrayal? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Casey Chong
