The Adventures of Robin Hood

Among the flood of swashbucklers that Hollywood cranked out in the '30s and '40s, only a few remain above the high water mark today, and one of the very best is Michael Curtiz's 1938 glorious Technicolor extravaganza The Adventures of Robin Hood. Errol Flynn (Sir Robin of Locksley) was in his prime as the legendary Saxon bandit of Sherwood Forest, who--along with his band of merry men (in tights; and if you're looking for the inspiration of Mel Brooks 1993 parody, this is it)--fought to save the local peasants from injustice and crippling taxation at the hands of usurper Prince John (Claude Rains) and his henchman Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone), while awaiting the return of King Richard (a.k.a. the Lionhearted, away fighting in the Crusades). With Olivia de Havilland as the fetching and saucy maiden Marian, and a host of superb dramatic and character actors in supporting roles, this delightful blend of folk legend and muddled history is still a rip-roaring mix of engrossing action and witty repartee (Marian [indignant]: "Why, you speak treason!" Robin [smiling]: "Fluently."). Nabbing Oscars for Erich Wolfgang Korngold's stirring musical score (accessible as a music-only option while watching the film), as well as editing and art direction, the film looks fantastic (though the Dolby Digital mono sound mix, while serviceable, is not nearly as impressive) on this new double-disc set. Warner continues to raise the bar for classic re-issues on DVD: among the many extras are a characteristically incisive commentary track by film historian Rudy Behlmer, an hour-long "making of," the Angela Lansbury-narrated documentary Glorious Technicolor, vintage shorts and cartoons, and Warner's annual blooper reel "Breakdowns of 1938" (among the classic faux pas is a very un-Robin Hood-like utterance from Errol Flynn in his first scene with Friar Tuck). Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)