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Every few years, a new Robin Hood movie comes out (this year's Robin Hood stars Taron Egerton, Jamie Foxx, and Ben Mendelsohn. However, no one will ever surpass the standard set by Errol Flynn as Robin Hood in 1938. It's hard to imagine what a spectacle it was. There had never been anything like it at the time. Errol Flynn brought to life the legendary archer with the supernatural proficiency with the bow and arrow. Not only that, the movie was made with the new Technicolor process, and surpassed existing color movies.
There could not be a better Robin Hood than Errol Flynn. Incredibly handsome and athletic, he was totally believable as the swashbuckling, glib Robin Hood. It may be that Flynn's witty repartee inspired Stan Lee's pantheon of Marvel Super Heroes. For example, Robin and Sir Guy of Gisborn exchange insults and wry comments while engaging in battle. Sir Guy sneers, "Do you know any prayers, my friend?" Robin replies smartly,"I'll say one for you!"
In 1938, Superman had just been born in an obscure publication called Action Comics, and Batman would not appear until the next year. Perhaps the major competition of Robin Hood might have been the books of Edgar Rice Burroughs (that is, Tarzan and John Carter of Mars) and serial films about space heroes like Flash Gordon and Buck Rodgers. However, none of these heroes approached the magnitude of the splendorous Robin Hood. Robin Hood was a blockbuster at the box office. It cost about $2 million to produce, with 1938 revenues of $4 million and additional revenue from re-releases and television over the years.
Other Robin Hoods include Kevin Costner had his chance to play Robin in Prince of Thieves in 1991. Sean Connery played a more mature Robin alongside Katherine Hepburn in Robin and Marion in 1976. Carey Elwes wad fun in the Mel Brooks parody film, Robin Hood: Men in Tights. There were innumerable other Robin Hoods who have appeared in different productions, with most of them flopping.
Errol Flynn remains the most compelling Robin Hood and the standard by which all others will be forever judged.
In 1938, Superman had just been born in an obscure publication called Action Comics, and Batman would not appear until the next year. Perhaps the major competition of Robin Hood might have been the books of Edgar Rice Burroughs (that is, Tarzan and John Carter of Mars) and serial films about space heroes like Flash Gordon and Buck Rodgers. However, none of these heroes approached the magnitude of the splendorous Robin Hood. Robin Hood was a blockbuster at the box office. It cost about $2 million to produce, with 1938 revenues of $4 million and additional revenue from re-releases and television over the years.
Other Robin Hoods include Kevin Costner had his chance to play Robin in Prince of Thieves in 1991. Sean Connery played a more mature Robin alongside Katherine Hepburn in Robin and Marion in 1976. Carey Elwes wad fun in the Mel Brooks parody film, Robin Hood: Men in Tights. There were innumerable other Robin Hoods who have appeared in different productions, with most of them flopping.
Errol Flynn remains the most compelling Robin Hood and the standard by which all others will be forever judged.
In real life, Flynn was a notorious womanizer, lush and brawler. His movie career continued until his death in 1959, usually playing heroic action figures. If you were to have access to a time machine and have a chance to go out to dinner with Kevin Costner or Errol Flynn, you should definitely choose Costner. But as Robin Hood, Flynn wins hands down. Future Robin Hoods should beware, for the bar is set very high.
