Rogues of Sherwood Forest
| Rogues of Sherwood Forest | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Gordon Douglas |
| Starring |
John Derek Diana Lynn George Macready Alan Hale, Sr. |
| Music by |
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco Heinz Roemheld Arthur Morton |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Rogues of Sherwood Forest is a 1950 Technicolor Columbia Pictures film directed by Gordon Douglas and featuring John Derek as Robin the Earl of Huntingdon, the son of Robin Hood, Diana Lynn as Lady Marianne, and Alan Hale, Sr. in his third movie as Little John over a 28-year span; he'd played the part opposite Douglas Fairbanks in 1922 and Errol Flynn in 1938, one of the longest period over which any film actor played the same major role (Sylvester Stallone played Rocky Balboa over an even longer span, between 1976 and 2006.) It was also Hale's final film. The film was written by Ralph Gilbert Bettison and George Bruce.
Plot
In its view on history, evil King John resumes his old ways after the death of Richard the Lionheart with the plan to keep his power by importing Continental mercenaries and paying them through oppressive taxation. King John first attempts to kill the son of his old nemesis Robin. His henchmen fix a faulty protective cap to the lance of a Flemish Knight who challenges Robin in a joust. When Robin survives the lance attack he challenges his opponent to a joust without protective devices, impaling the Flemish Knight.
Having returned from the Crusades, Robin and Little John re-recruit the aging Merrie Men who wage a guerilla type war throughout the realm with intelligence provided by Lady Marianne's carrier pigeons.
The film concludes with Robin and the Archbishop of Canterbury compelling the defeated King John to seal the Magna Carta.[1]
Production
Gig Young was the first choice for the role but was suspended by Columbia when he refused to play Robin Hood.[2] The film was shot at the Corriganville Movie Ranch.[3]
Cast
- John Derek as Robin Hood
- Diana Lynn as Lady Marianne de Beaudray
- George Macready as King John
- Alan Hale, Sr. as Little John
- Paul Cavanagh as Sir Giles
- Lowell Gilmore as Count of Flanders
- Billy House as Friar Tuck
- Lester Matthews as Alan-a-Dale
- Billy Bevan as Will Scarlet (billed as William Bevan)
- Wilton Graff as Baron Fitzwalter
- Donald Randolph as Archbishop Stephen Langton
- Matthew Boulton as Abbot
Notes
- ↑ p.56 Fraser, George MacDonald The Hollywood History of the World Penguin Book group, 1988
- ↑ http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/20023/Rogues-of-Sherwood-Forest/notes.html
- ↑ p.356 Schneider, Jerry L. Corriganville Movie Ranch Lulu.com 2007