Director: Terence Fisher (Sword of Sherwood Forest); Pennington Richards (A Challenge for Robin Hood)
Screenplay: Alan Hackney (Sword); Peter Bryan (Challenge);
Cast: Richard Greene, Peter Cushing, Niall McGinnis, Nigel Green, Desmond Keyam (Sword); Barrie Ingham, James Hayter, Leon Green, Peter Blythe, Gay Hamilton, Eric Flynn (Challenge)
Year: 1960 (Sword); 1967 (Challenge);
Running Time: 80 mins (Sword); 96.5 mins (Challenge)
Certificate: PG
Hammer Studios not only made gothic horror films they also made an array of other genres of movie including action/adventure which included four Robin Hood themed films. The awesome Indicator label has recently put out a couple of these on a double bill, named rather aptly Robin Hood at Hammer, supported by a plethora of tasty special features.
Sword of Sherwood Forest
Sticking to the usual Robin Hood tropes Sword of Sherwood Forest sees some Nottingham nobles and their Sheriff plot to confiscate estates of fallen crusaders while King Richard is away fighting at the Crusades. Fortunately Robin Hood and Maid Marian are around to foil their dastardly plans.
Beginning with quite an exciting chase which sees a wounded noble (Desmond Llewelyn, aka Q from the Bond films) being chased by soldiers on horseback, (who are after an incriminating piece of evidence that he’s carrying), the Sword of Sherwood Forest quickly loses momentum and only really picks it up again in the third act.
Richard Greene reprises his best remembered role from the long-running TV series, but makes for a very bland Robin Hood, raising the question as to why he was cast, apart from his considerable previous experience in the role. It’s not every day that you see Robin Hood physically struggle to pull a bow, for example! However, the bad guys are much better represented by the likes of the late, great Peter Cushing, as the Sherriff of Nottingham, and Oliver Reed as Lord Melton, one of his fellow spoilt nobles. Nigel Green also acquits himself well as Little John and Niall McGinnis is okay as Friar Tuck.
Frustratingly, the usually very reliable Terence Fisher’s direction is rather disappointing here, with much of the film being shot in a very stagey/ over-lit TV sort of way, although there are some nicely framed forest set shots and a few nicely realised tracking shots.
Quite a bit of money was obviously spent on the production since the production design is of high standard with some great castle sets. If only they’d spent a bit more time and money choreographing the fights, which are sadly all too often clumsy and not much better than what you’d see being taught as basic stage school sword fighting, and on the pick-up shots, which are often out-of -focus!
However, despite its many flaws Sword of Sherwood Forest is still a fun romp, one which holds the attention and brings a smile to the face, especially whenever the always awesome Peter Cushing is on screen. I also spotted a young June Whitfield as one of the nuns; at least I think it was her.
Film: 
A Challenge for Robin Hood
Made several years after Sword of Sherwood Forest, A Challenge for Robin Hood, for this reviewer at least is a much better film. Essentially a Robin Hood ‘origin story’ this sees Robin (played by Barrie Ingham), a young Norman nobleman, being falsely accused by his cousin, Roger De Courtenay (Peter Blythe), of murdering another cousin. His accuser is actually in league with the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham (John Arnatt) to seize control of the family’s lands, which Robin would otherwise inherit. Forced to flee into nearby Sherwood Forest, Robin begins to gather a band of rebels to fight against his scheming cousin and the evil sheriff.
Challenge treads very familiar ground to many other Robin Hood movies, but tells the story with gusto and guts and carries the viewer along enthusiastically. It’s also a much darker film than Sword of Sherwood Forest; for example, just minutes in we’re already seeing a noble trying to murder a little boy! This is a more ‘grown-up’ version of the oft-told tale, revealing more of the political machinations occurring within the aristocracy at that time. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of fights and derring-do, it’s just framed in a more serious way than other versions.
Barrie Ingham acquits himself well as the titular character, coming across as a more dangerous Robin Hood than, say, Richard Greene’s version. Leon Green is also very good as Little John and Peter Blythe is obviously having fun as a very hissable villain. Unfortunately, James Hayter is a bit too ‘panto’ for his rendition of Friar Tuck and Douglas Mitchell is very plank-like as Will Scarlett. Although, I don’t think some very trite dialogue helped any of the actors.
Obviously one shouldn’t try and compare this film with more modern versions since this is less realistic than, say, the Patrick Bergin version, but it’s still well-made and an enjoyable watch. Plus, it contains some decent fight scenes including a cool and rather painful-looking jousting scene.
Film:
Special Features
As per usual with Powerhouse there are plenty of special features to accompany the films.
Sword of Sherwood Forest
Audio commentary with Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw – Kim and Barry are good value and enjoyable company as they discuss the history and merits of the film. Apparently Richard Greene was 42 when he reprised his most famous role from the TV Series, although the film is unrelated to the series.
Riding through the glen – Here author Jonathan Rigby talks about the history of the Hammer Robin Hood films. Apparently Sword of Sherwood Forest was shot in County Wicklow, Ireland and Richard Greene bought a farm estate there not long after filming.
Audio interview with Terence Fisher – An interesting, far-ranging interview with the late, great director who talks about having a fan club in France and about the difference in opinion between the uptight critics and the fans with regards to his horror films. Sadly, the interview is marred by aircraft noises in the background and the interviewer being a bit of a film snob; well, in my opinion.
Audio BEHP Interview with Sidney Cole – The producer talks about his career history in film-making and how he was there to see the transition from silent films to talkies.
Play it again (23 mins) – An interview with Richard Greene taken from the Tony Bilbow’s Tyne Tees programme. Richard is quite candid as an interviewee and reveals that his heroes include Laurel and Hardy; that Humphrey Bogart liked needling people; and that he refused the Robin Hood role initially.
Dennis Lotis: Merry memories (4 mins) – Dennis was one of the merry men in the film and talks about his experiences miming playing the lute and riding horses.
Pauline Wise: All in a quiver (6.15 mins) – Pauline talks about her career as continuity supervisor at Hammer. Apparently she started out as a secretary there and then drifted into continuity starting out on ‘Never Take Sweets from a Stranger’.
A hero’s fanfare: Huckvale on Hoddinott (22.10 mins) – Music expert, Huckvale, talks about the film’s Welsh composer’s career, who apparently composed 6 operas, tens of concertos and many welsh dances. His only other film score was for The Horse Masters.
Isolated music and effects track
Theatrical trailer (1.53 mins) – Sadly a little washed-out looking; emphasising the action
Image Galleries – 65 promotional stills (about half B & W) and five posters
A Challenge for Robin Hood
Audio commentary with Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby – A laid back, but informative commentary where we learn that the film was filmed at Bodwin Castle, which was also used for the Richard Greene Robin Hood TV series. The commentators think the film plays out like a socialist fable.
BEHP interview with director CM Pinnington-Richards– Alan Lawson and Colin Muffet interviewed the director in 1990 when he talked about how he first got into film-making after initially being a book-keeper at Covent Garden market, and also working in radio.
The John Player Lecture: The Hammer Forum (1971) – This tribute to Hammer films was recorded at the NFT and hosted by John Russell Taylor who quickly blows it by demonstrating his rather negative personal thoughts on most of Hammer’s output. A shame as he’s joined by Hammer ‘royalty’ including: Anthony Nelson Keys, Jimmy Sangster, Michael Carreras, Terence Fisher and Peter Cushing. On hearing his host’s negativity towards Hammer horror Carreras bites his tongue and declares that he’s a fan of the very positive event notes and is regardless flattered to be invited.
John Gugolkan – An excuse for action (11.13 mins) –John played the young boy in the film and was picked for the role while he was at the School for Dramatic Arts. He enjoyed riding the horses on set and being able to watch the action scenes play out.
Kim Newman: Sherwood on Screen (24:44) – Kim talks about the Robin Hood franchise, which started off 800 years ago! Apparently Hood was initially portrayed as more of a trickster type of rogue before his appearance in the book Ivan Hoe which re-wrote the character.
Image Gallery – 127 stills including plenty of lobby cards
Theatrical trailer (1.57 mins) – A fun, full-on trailer, replete with intense ‘voice-over man’
Robin Hood Jnr (1 hour) – A children’s movie from 1975, made by the now sadly defunct Children’s Film Foundation and featuring a very young Keith Chegwin as Robin Hood Jnr. This is available with an audio Commentary by Vic Pratt who makes for pleasant company, despite his dodgy name!
Disc/Package:
