The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1946) Directed by Henry Levin, George Sherman
Action / Adventure / History
Film Review
The Bandit of Sherwood Forest
gives The Adventures of Robin Hood
(1938) a good run for its money with its vibrant Technicolor palette
but pales in comparison in just about every other respect.
Despite his physical prowess and nifty swordplay Cornel Wilde is a poor
substitute for Errol Flynn, lacking charisma and failing not to sound
like a machine recorded message with every line he utters. The
phoney English accents seem to afflict just about every member of the
cast and the only bright spot on the acting front is a wonderfully
villainous turn from Henry Daniell, clearly in his element as the
thoroughly wicked William of Pembroke. (If Daniell hadn't been
such a successful character actor he could easily have enjoyed a career
in pantomime.) Despite a hopelessly pedestrian plot, some glaring
historical inaccuracies (the writers obviously mistook Magna Carta for
something directly akin to the American Bill of Rights) and generally
lacklustre performances the film somehow manages to hold onto its
dignity, thanks mainly to some enthusiastically staged fight scenes and
a smattering of humour. It's not the most distinguished Sherwood
Forest romp, but it's mildly entertaining, worth watching for Henry
Daniell's seductive surfeit of camp villainy.
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Film Synopsis
It has been some years since Robin Hood and his merry men thwarted the
tyranny of King John and brought justice to the people of
England. Now the country is governed by William of Pembroke, the
regent to the boy king Henry III. When he learns that Pembroke
intends to revoke Magna Carta and depose the king, the ageing Robin
assembles his erstwhile comrades in arms and plans to fight back, with
the help of his son Robert. Assisted by Lady Catherine, companion
to the Queen Mother, Robert gains access to Pembroke's castle but is
captured as Robin's men mount a successful bid to rescue King
Henry. Pembroke challenges Robert to a duel, a contest which he
has absolutely no intention of losing...
Script: Wilfred H. Petitt (play),
Melvin Levy (play),
Paul A. Castleton (story),
Wilfred H. Petitt (story),
Paul A. Castleton (novel),
Oscar Saul (dialogue), George Sklar (dialogue)
Cinematographer: Tony Gaudio, George Meehan, William E. Snyder
Music: Hugo Friedhofer
Cast: Anita Louise (Lady Catherine Maitland),
Jill Esmond (The Queen Mother),
Edgar Buchanan (Friar Tuck),
Cornel Wilde (Robert of Nottingham),
Henry Daniell (The Regent. William of Pembroke),
George Macready (Fitz-Herbert),
Russell Hicks (Robin Hood, Earl of Huntington),
John Abbott (Will Scarlet),
Lloyd Corrigan (Sheriff of Nottingham),
Eva Moore (Mother Meg),
Ray Teal (Little John),
Leslie Denison (Allan-A-Dale),
Ian Wolfe (Lord Mortimer),
Maurice Tauzin (The King),
Miles Mander (Lord Warrick),
Mark Roberts (Robin Hood's Man),
Paul Bradley (Nobleman),
Lane Chandler (Robin Hood's Man),
Tex Cooper (Peasant),
Ben Corbett (Man-at-Arms)
Country: USA
Language: English
Support: Color (Technicolor)
Runtime: 86 min
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