IMDb > A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967) > IMDb user comments
Filter: Hide Spoilers:
Index 6 comments in total 

7 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Medieval acting 101, 19 February 2004
4/10
Author: ubercommando from London

A ropey version of the Robin Hood legend replete with stock medieval cliches. It's period acting 101 with fake hearty laughing, thigh slapping, people taking one bite out of a chicken leg before throwing it away, roughly handling serving boys, dodgy wrestling, cringeworthy ballads being sung by the Merry Men and improbable feats of archery (in one scene Robin, with a hood over his head...get it?...manages to fire an arrow into a red ribbon attatched to a pidgeon), and it has to be the only Robin Hood movie with a custard pie fight. But there's great bad dialogue to savour as well: "I'll savour those morsels intended for Sir Roger's table!", "Then we'll build a wall around this forest with thicket and thorn" and "You'll hear a lot more before you swing from a gibbet". This is one to watch with your friends, half drunk, and trying to spot the cliches.

Was the above comment useful to you?

3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
A Hammer Studios Adventure!, 14 October 1999
8/10
Author: JHC3 from Seattle, Washington

Hammer Studios, best known for a long string of excellent (and later, not-so-excellent) horror films, also produced adventure films. "A Challenge for Robin Hood" is one such example.

Robin de Courtenay (Ingham) is a Norman nobleman falsely accused by his cousin Roger (Blythe) of murdering his other cousin Henry. Forced to turn outlaw, Robin flees the castle, joins a band of Saxon outcasts, and is dubbed Robin Hood. The fight for justice begins.

This version of the Robin Hood legend features a number of twists, not the least of which is that Robin is a Norman and his close friends, Little John and Will Scarlet, are Norman retainers. Maid Marian (Hamilton) has a rather limited role when compared to most other adaptations. Most, but not all, of the characters generally associated with Robin Hood are present in this version.

This well-made film is well worth a look, particularly for those who enjoy the Robin Hood genre or classic adventures. The cast is solid though Barrie Ingham simply lacks the charisma of others who have played the role (notably Errol Flynn, Richard Todd, and Richard Greene). James Hayter is excellent as Friar Tuck, a role he had previously played in the wonderful "The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men" (1952).

Was the above comment useful to you?

1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
My Favorite Robin Hood Movie, 26 July 2005
10/10
Author: morachi from US

I like many others remember seeing this on HBO in the early 80s many times. I was able to procure a copy at a later date (You can get this title from Amazon.com for those looking for a copy) and found it just as enjoyable as I did when I was younger.

Like most Robin Hood movies you have to take it with a grain of salt. In some places the acting is a little over the top, some of the combat feats are unbelievable and everything is very black and white but this is what Robin Hood is all about. I honestly enjoy this version much more than any others that come to mind. I thought that all the actors were very well cast and I like that they are all Englishmen so no bad accents to be found. The settings are perfect and one of the best things about the film as is the costuming. What I think I love most about this film is the scale. This story's take on the myth is Robin as the adopted son of a minor Norman lord who is in conflict w/ his cousin who wrongly inherits his father's title and lands and is in league w/ the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. Prince John is nowhere to be found though he is mentioned. In all truth I think that a minor lord w/ the help of the Sheriff is more than enough for any group of outlaws to face.

If you are a fan of the Robin Hood mythos I think you could do far worse than checking out this excellent take on this popular tale.

Was the above comment useful to you?

Excellent and Underrated, 6 January 2009
9/10
Author: areginald7 from United Kingdom

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This is an excellent and underrated Robin Hood adventure. I really enjoyed it as a child, and it is interesting how well it stands up when viewing it as an adult.

It has a lot of good scenes, even involving minor characters (such as Robin's cousin Henry, who is killed off early on but has several good scenes before he goes). The cinematography and costumes are also first rate. The story has several impressive twists on the familiar tale, which help it avoid being stale. And I do think Barrie Ingham does well in the lead role, although some disagree.

Altogether, a highly enjoyable romp.

Was the above comment useful to you?

1 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Good Version, 5 October 2003
Author: Corey (gapboi1976s@aol.com) from Orlando, Florida

This is probably one of the first incarnations of Robin Hood I remember seeing aside from the Disney animated version. Its most likely nostalgia that I remember it fondly for I saw it many times in the early 80's on HBO when i was a kid. I loved this version.

I thought it was a great retelling of the tale, and loved how it showed everyone getting together. I think this is a must see for all Robin Hood lovers. As i remember there isn't much action in it by todays standards, its more of a feel good movie.

I have also been searching for a copy of this movie for years as well. If any knows where i might be able to obtain one please let me know.

Was the above comment useful to you?

0 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
In the fog of a child's memory... every movie was a hit., 1 June 2004
Author: (cjpace@optonline.net) from Yorktown, New York

The previous reviewer's summation of this movie seems to ring true, especially the part about seeing it over and over on HBO as a child. I have been looking for a copy of this movie for almost ten years ( video stores, garage sales, flea markets, etc.) and no such luck.

Does anyone have any ideas? Someone make me a copy for christ sake. I will send the BBC their royalties if it comes down to that.

Feel free to write me with any suggestions or comments on the movie.

I wouldn't hazard a guess at the plot or acting as I haven't seen the flick in about 21 years.

Chris

Was the above comment useful to you?

Add another comment

Related Links

Plot summary Amazon.com summary Ratings
External reviews Plot keywords Main details
Your user comments Your vote history