Rogues of Sherwood Forest
Rogues of Sherwood Forest | |
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Directed by | Gordon Douglas |
Written by | George Bruce Ralph Gilbert Bettison |
Produced by | Fred M. Packard |
Starring | John Derek Diana Lynn George Macready Alan Hale, Sr. |
Cinematography | Charles Lawton Jr. |
Edited by | Gene Havlick |
Music by | Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco Heinz Roemheld Arthur Morton |
Production company | Columbia Pictures |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 79 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Rogues of Sherwood Forest is a 1950 Technicolor adventure film directed by Gordon Douglas and featuring John Derek as Robin the Earl of Huntingdon, the son of Robin Hood, Diana Lynn as Lady Marianne, and Alan Hale, Sr. in his third movie as Little John over a 28-year span; he'd played the part opposite Douglas Fairbanks in 1922 and Errol Flynn in 1938, one of the longest periods over which any film actor played the same major role. It was also Hale's final film. The film was written by George Bruce and Ralph Gilbert Bettison.
Plot
In its view on history, evil King John resumes his old ways after the death of Richard the Lionheart with the plan to keep his power by importing Continental mercenaries and paying them through oppressive taxation. King John first attempts to kill the son of his old nemesis Robin. His henchmen fix a faulty protective cap to the lance of a Flemish Knight who challenges Robin in a joust. When Robin survives the lance attack he challenges his opponent to a joust without protective devices, impaling the Flemish Knight.
Having returned from the Crusades, Robin and Little John re-recruit the aging Merrie Men who wage a guerrilla-type war throughout the realm with intelligence provided by Lady Marianne's carrier pigeons.
The film concludes with Robin and the Archbishop of Canterbury compelling the defeated King John to seal the Magna Carta.[1]
Cast
- John Derek as Robin Hood
- Diana Lynn as Lady Marianne de Beaudray
- George Macready as King John
- Alan Hale, Sr. as Little John
- Paul Cavanagh as Sir Giles
- Lowell Gilmore as Count of Flanders
- Billy House as Friar Tuck
- Lester Matthews as Alan-a-Dale
- Billy Bevan as Will Scarlet (billed as William Bevan)
- Wilton Graff as Baron Fitzwalter
- Donald Randolph as Archbishop Stephen Langton
- Olaf Hytten as Charcoal Burner (uncredited)
Production
The film was known as Swords of Sherwood Forrest.[2]
Gig Young was the first choice for the role of Prince John but was suspended by Columbia when he refused to play it.[3] The film was shot in technicolor, with location shooting at the Corriganville Movie Ranch.[4]
Critical reception
Leonard Maltin wrote, "Despite good production and fair cast, pretty limp";[5] whereas DVD Talk found it "a good programmer that makes a decent family film for a rainy Sunday afternoon, or anytime for classic film fans. Highly Recommended."[6]
Notes
- ^ p.56 Fraser, George MacDonald The Hollywood History of the World Penguin Book group, 1988
- ^ THOMAS F BRADY (Jul 15, 1949). "PARAMOUNT SEEKS 'DETECTIVE STORY'". New York Times. ProQuest 105617346.
- ^ "Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950) – Notes – TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
- ^ p.356 Schneider, Jerry L. Corriganville Movie Ranch Lulu.com 2007
- ^ "Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950) – Overview – TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
- ^ "Rogues of Sherwood Forest". DVD Talk.
External links
- 1950 films
- 1950s adventure drama films
- American films
- English-language films
- Robin Hood films
- Films directed by Gordon Douglas
- Columbia Pictures films
- American adventure drama films
- Films scored by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
- Films scored by Heinz Roemheld
- 1950s historical adventure films
- American historical adventure films
- Films set in England
- 1950 drama films