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The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

tomatometer

100

Average Rating: 8.9/10
Reviews Counted: 44
Fresh: 44 | Rotten: 0

Errol Flynn thrills as the legendary title character, and the film embodies the type of imaginative family adventure tailor-made for the silver screen.

100

Average Rating: 8.6/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 0

Errol Flynn thrills as the legendary title character, and the film embodies the type of imaginative family adventure tailor-made for the silver screen.

audience

83

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 30,844

My Rating

Movie Info

In order to avoid the material copyrighted by Douglas Fairbanks Sr. for his 1922 Robin Hood, the scripters of this Flynn version relied on several legendary episodes that had never before been filmed, notably the battle between Robin and Little John (Alan Hale Sr., who played this part three times in his long career) and the "piggy-back" episode between Robin and Friar Tuck (Eugene Pallette). The film ties together the various ancient anecdotes with a storyline bounded by the capture in Austria

Sep 30, 2003

Warner Bros.

Cast

All Critics (44) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (0) | DVD (14)

If prankish Fairbanks was a man's Robin Hood, handsome, romantic Flynn performs for everybody else.

April 24, 2009 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | Comment
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It is cinematic pageantry at its best, a highly imaginative telling of folklore in all the hues of Technicolor.

June 10, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Movies like this are beyond criticism.

October 16, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

In these cynical days when swashbucklers cannot be presented without an ironic subtext, this great 1938 film exists in an eternal summer of bravery and romance.

October 1, 2003 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Sumptuous and highly energetic, The Adventures of Robin Hood is grand with a capital 'G' on every level.

August 21, 2003 Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | Comment
Dallas Morning News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Movie pageantry at its best, done in the grand manner of silent spectacles, brimming over with the sort of primitive energy that drew people to the movies in the first place.

August 19, 2003 Full Review Source: Village Voice | Comment
Village Voice
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Nearly every aspect of the Robin Hood myth we know today is embodied in this exciting, socially aware adventure.

August 16, 2011 Full Review Source: Oscar Guy | Comment
Oscar Guy

Errol Flynn stars in swashbuckling family delight.

September 2, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

One of the best swashbucklers ever.

July 27, 2010 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A rousing and fun popcorn movie of the highest order.

May 17, 2010 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | Comment
Antagony & Ecstasy

A rousing, high-spirited family entertainment rightly regarded as one for the ages. [Blu-ray]

September 5, 2008 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | Comment

A swashbuckling adventure is more than ever a swashbuckling treasure. (Blu-ray Edition)

August 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

...the quintessential movie swashbuckler.

August 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

Michael Curtiz's adventure, one of the most enjoyable swashbuckling epics made, flaunting star Errol Flynn at his very best, deservedly won several Oscar Awards, including editing for Dawson and music score for Korngold.

July 26, 2008 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

Errol Flynn buckles his swashes in this classic historical adventure.

October 16, 2007 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Empire Magazine

Peerless action-adventure romp from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

October 16, 2007 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

Warner's two-disc Special Edition finally brings the movie home in 65th-anniversary style with an all-new restoration, a first-rate transfer, and restored audio elements. Simply put, the film is gorgeous.

April 5, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDJournal.com | Comment
DVDJournal.com

[Flynn] catapults across the screen with the greatest of ease, exuding so much charm and confidence that he seems to klieg-light the film all by himself.

April 5, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDJournal.com | Comment
DVDJournal.com

One of the few great adventure movies that you can pretend you are treating the kids to when you are really treating yourself.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

A flawless swashbuckler!

September 28, 2005 Comment
Movie Metropolis

Superb Flynn adventure in every way.

January 3, 2005 Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Adventures of Robin Hood

The acting may be camp but the legend is forever. Full review later.

April 10, 2011
TomBowler
Thomas Bowler

Super Reviewer

interesting and very creative its kind of funny knowing how the actress who played maid maryann in this movie in real life hated Errol Flynn because he was really cocky in real life

December 13, 2010
michael e.
Michael Edwards

Super Reviewer

    1. Will Scarlett: Robin, I've just got word of- [sees Friar Tuck and breaks off]
    2. Robin Hood: It's all right, he's one of us.
    3. Will Scarlett: One of us? He looks like three of us!
    – Submitted by Francis L (11 days ago)

Latest News for The Adventures of Robin Hood

October 13, 2005:
Errol Flynn's Grandson to Star ... as His Grandfather
Luke Flynn, grandson of legendary matinee idol Errol Flynn, will portray his grandfather in an...

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Foreign Titles

  • The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) (DE)
  • The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) (CA)
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