Highly Overrated But Still Good

Beautiful, moving film.

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

THE MEN OF SHERWOOD FOREST is another version of the Robin Hood story, shot by Exclusive/Hammer Films in 1954. It deserves note as the first Hammer film made in colour, but although it looks sufficiently nice, the plot is hackneyed and predictable. The film is yet another version of the old story which was filmed so often, both on TV and in film, throughout the 1950s and 1960s. American actor Don Taylor, best known for his directorial career in later years, is miscast as the arrogant hero and the Merry Men are particularly undistinguishable, aside from an entertaining Reginald Beckwith as Friar Tuck. Decent cast members, such as Ballard Berkeley and Douglas Wilmer, are few and far between here. There's the occasional action scene dotted amid the rough plotting, but the choreography is rather disappointing and one gets the impression that director Val Guest's heart simply wasn't in it.

Now, I haven't seen that many Robin Hood movies at all (actually, I've only seen two: the superior animated Disney version and Kevin Costner's rather boring "Prince of Thieves") but that isn't even necessary to notice this is a pretty good and unjustly obscure version about the legendary English folklore hero. This is the first of at least three Robin Hood movies produced by the awesome Hammer Studios – coincidentally also their very first film in color – and I'm ready to check them all out if they're as entertaining as "The Men of Sherwood Forest". The story is fast-paced, full of ecstatic characters and vivid adventure and steadily directed by the ever reliable Val Guest. He can pretty much be considered as Hammer's second best director, right behind Terence Fisher who incidentally also directed one of the other Hammer Robin Hood flicks, namely "Swords of Sherwood Forest" starring Peter Cushing and Oliver Reed. This earlier and obviously low-budgeted gem doesn't tell the conventional Robin Hood fable, but an entirely new one that hardly involves any looting, corrupt Sheriffs of Nottingham or Maid Marians. Robin and his loyal gang, including Little John and Friar Tuck, learn that the one true king of England – Richard Lionheart – will soon return home after being in prisoner in Germany. Eminent accomplices of his malignant brother Prince John intend to assassinate King Richard on his way home and put the blame on Robin Hood and his gang, but naturally the jolly hero in green is always several steps ahead of them. Don Taylor is really excellent in the role of Robin Hood. He's the ideally handsome, charismatic and heroic performer you'd expect. Taylor retired from acting in the mid 60's already, but became a respectable director and made some really cool genre films like "The Island of Dr. Moreau", "Damien: The Omen II" and "Escape from the Planet of the Apes". The one person to steal the show completely is Reginald Beckwith as Friar Tuck. He escapes from every perilous situation by luring his opponents into various sorts of gambling schemes. Undemanding, light-headed 50's entertainment for the whole family.

Hammer produced Robin Hood film is probably one of the best films with the character. While by no means the Errol Flynn film this is one of the best of the smaller scale films that have appeared over the years. To be certain its no epic, but while some may consider that a draw back I really don't since it allows for the characters and performances to come out. Don Taylor is really good as Robin. He's extremely likable and the sort of man you'd want on your side. The rest of his band is equally as good and its easy to understand why they were considered Merry.I have never really understood why this film isn't better known. I originally discovered this film as the lesser part of a double feature video tape I don't know how many years ago. I was completely surprised by it when I saw it because I expected it to be a waste of time. I was wrong and I've seen the film numerous times over the years. I have always been mystified that almost no one know that this film exists. I've shown it to several of my friends who have been equally confused that this film has been left to gather dust on the film library shelves some where.I can't recommend this film enough. While I freely admit its not perfect I do think its a really good adventure and a fine variation on an oft told tale.

Although this film is on a modest, low-budget scale, it is an amiable and worthy successor to Erroll Flynn's more spectacular heroics. Handsome and agile Don Taylor inhabits the character of Robin as naturally as if he were born for it. Even though he's an American actor among an otherwise totally British cast, the doughty Taylor never strikes a wrong note and is perfectly at ease carrying on his exploits at a brisk pace in a strikingly comfortable medieval ambiance.