The earliest surviving ballads telling his story are dated to the 15th
century or early 16th century. And, of course, Robin Hood has long been a
cinematic favorite, dating back to 1909's silent "Robin Hood and His
Merry Men." With Russell Crowe playing the hero in Ridley Scott's new
version of the adventure, "Robin Hood," opening Friday, we take a look
at a few of the actors who would be Robin.
The winner and still champion
Errol Flynn
James Cagney was originally cast to play Robin for Warner Bros., but
after he left the studio due to a contract dispute in 1935, the
production was halted for three years. By 1938, Errol Flynn was the
studio's go-to swashbuckling hero thanks to his roles in "Captain Blood"
and "Charge of the Light Brigade." And he achieved superstar status
with "The Adventures of Robin Hood," one of Warner Bros.' first films in
Technicolor.
Dripping with sexuality, good humor, panache and
swagger, Flynn's Robin of Locksley captures not only the derring-do of
the character, but also the more dramatic side of his fight for
injustice, uttering such delectable lines as "Men, if you are willing to
fight for our people, I want you!" and "It's injustice I hate, not the
Normans."
"The Adventures of Robin Hood" has the distinction of being the only movie about the legend nominated for the best film Oscar.
Silence is golden
Douglas Fairbanks
The athletic silent film superstar was in his element in the lavish
1922 epic "Robin Hood," directed by Allan Dwan, that was one of the most
expensive films of the 1920s. Though Fairbanks wasn't the greatest
actor of his time, he had charisma, an amazing smile and was able to
leap, well, flowing rivers with a single bound.
In this version,
he plays the dashing earl of Huntington, who goes with Richard the
Lionhearted to fight in the Crusades only to return to Nottingham, where
he learns that the vile John has usurped the throne and that Maid
Marian is — gasp! — dead.
The underrated Robin
Richard Todd
When one thinks of Disney's Robin flicks, the 1973 animated musical
"Robin Hood," in which the hero is a sly fox, immediately comes to mind.
But in the early 1950s, Disney made several films in England including
1952's solid Technicolor adventure, "The Story of Robin Hood and His
Merrie Men." And in this outing, Robin is played by the very capable
Irish-born actor Richard Todd. Todd's Robin had heart, soul and knew his
way around a bow and arrow.
What were they thinking?
Kevin Costner
The Oscar-winning actor-director was at the peak of his popularity when
he starred in 1991's "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." But what a big,
big mistake to cast an all-American, boy-next-door Jimmy Stewart/Gary
Cooper-type as the veddy British Robin of Locksley (one review said
Costner was more Sherman Oaks than Sherwood Forest). But movie audiences
19 years ago didn't seem to care and the film was one of the year's
biggest blockbusters.
The lion in winter
Sean Connery
Though he was a few months younger than 46-year-old Russell Crowe when
he played the venerable Robin in 1976's romantic drama "Robin and
Marian," Connery imbued his Robin with a world-weariness and maturity
far beyond those years. His bittersweet Robin returns to England after a
20-year absence to reunite with Marian ( Audrey Hepburn), now a nun,
and battle the vile sheriff of Nottingham (Richard Harris). Hepburn, who
came out of retirement for this film, and Connery are beautifully
matched as a couple.
The ring-a-ding Robin
Frank Sinatra
The Chairman of the Board has a swingin' time in the 1964 musical
comedy "Robin and the 7 Hoods," which transplants the hero out of the
hood of Nottingham into 1930s Chicago. Ol' Blue Eyes plays a gangster
named Robbo who gets involved in a gangland war after his friend and
boss of the underworld ( Edward G. Robinson) is knocked off by a rival
gang. And his merry men are Rat Pack cronies, Dino and Sammy. Sinatra
also is in fine voice singing the Oscar-nominated hit "My Kind of Town."
Lest not we forget…
Richard Greene in the 1955-60 TV series "The Adventures of Robin Hood"; the 1960 film "The Sword of Sherwood Forest"
Cary Elwes in Mel Brooks' 1993 comedy "Robin Hood: Men in Tights"
Mark Davis in 1996's "Robin Hood: Thief of Wives"
Mr. Magoo in the 1964 animated "Mr. Magoo in Sherwood Forest"
Daffy Duck in 1956's "Robin Hood Daffy"
Bugs Bunny in 1949's "Rabbit Hood"
susan.king@latimes.com
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