The Adventures of Robin Hood {1938}

Last night I watch the wonderful, swashbuckling film, The Adventures of Robin Hood {1938} with Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, and Basil Rathbone.  

The only other Robin Hood I've seen was the live-action Disney film, The Story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men {1952} with Richard Todd. Which is good, but the Errol Flynn version is so much better! ;-)

Sir Robin of Locksley, defender of the Saxons, runs into trouble with the Norman authority and is forced to turn outlaw. With his band of Merry Men, he robs from the rich, gives to the poor and still has time to woo the lovely Maid Marian, and foil the cruel Sir Guy of Gisbourne, and keep Prince John off the throne. It makes all for one exciting film, filled with adventure, sword fights (hurray!), and romance.

Some of my favorite quotes:

Robin Hood: I'll organize revolt, exact a death for a death, and I'll never rest until every Saxon in this shire can stand up free men and strike a blow for Richard and England. 
Prince John: Are you finished? 
Robin Hood: I'm only just beginning. From this night forward I'll use every means in my power to fight you! 


Will Scarlett: I'm tired. Robin Hood: What? After a nice refreshing sleep in the green wood? Will Scarlett: I pulled seven acorns out of my ribs. Robin Hood: Lovely, fresh air... Will Scarlett: My teeth ache with chattering. Robin Hood: Nightingales singing... Will Scarlett: An owl hooting in my ear. Robin Hood: Hooting? He was singing you to sleep! 

Lady Marian Fitzswalter: Tell me: when you are in love, is it hard to think of anybody but one person? Bess: Yes, indeed, m'lady, and sometimes it's a bit of trouble sleeping. Lady Marian Fitzswalter: I know! But it's a nice kind of not sleeping! Bess: Yes. And it affects your appetite, too. Not that I've noticed it's done that to you, 'cept when he was in the dungeon waiting to be hanged. Lady Marian Fitzswalter: And does it make you want to be with him all the time? Bess: Yes. And when he's with you, your legs are as weak as water. Now, tell me, m'lady: when he looks at you, do you feel a kind of pricky feeling, like goosey pimples running all up and down your spine? Lady Marian Fitzswalter: [blushes] Bess: Then there's not a doubt of it! Lady Marian Fitzswalter: A doubt of what? Robin Hood: [eavesdropping from the window] That you're in love!





~Ashley

Desperate Journey {1942}

The very first Errol Flynn movie I watched was Desperate Journey {1942}. Starring: Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan, Ronald Sinclair, Raymond Massey, Alan Hale, and Arthur Kennedy. I must say, I loved this movie! It began my love of Errol Flynn's movies.

I found it interesting that Errol Flynn played an Australian and Ronald Reagan an American in the story. As Flynn was from Australia, and of course Reagan was from America.

The chemistry between the actors was right on. It felt real. The jokes between Flynn and Reagan were marvelous. They gave me plenty of laughs.

When Flight Lt. Forbes (Flynn) and his crew are shot down after bombing their target, they are captured by the Nazis and discover valuable information about a hidden German aircraft factory, that they must make it back to England. They escape cleverly from the Nazis and are on a race to get across Germany without getting recaptured and causing as much damage as possible. They eventually become the "Three Man invasion" as one man after the other gives up his life. Then when the Nazis are about to recapture them they find a brilliant way to escape.  

One of our favorite lines to quote in our house is:


Flying Officer Johnny Hammond (Reagan): The iron fist has a glass jaw!









~Ashley