A Challenge for Robin Hood

This is by far, my favorite telling of the Robin Hood story! For anyone interested in acquiring a copy of it, I suggest looking to UK sites that may have it. It is/was available in the PAL format, so US viewers will have to either play it on their PC/laptop, or have a region free DVD player. I bought a copy of the movie a while back, from a UK dealer, and it plays well on my computer. I absolutely love how this movie was cast, the acting of those who portray each character, and even like the fact that very little blood is shown (which makes it "kid friendly", even by today's standards. It's sad to know that many of the cast of this movie have since passed away, as their acting abilities should have been recognized long before now. Yes, I first saw this movie on HBO in it's early days, when it struggled to get content. But I loved it from the first time I saw it, and it holds a special place in my heart. I was a teenager at the time I first saw it, but to this very day, I highly recommend seeing it.

Its simple story with a few old cliches. I liked the old character actors hayter and bass Its a film my grandparents would've enjoyed on a wet afternoon

So bad it's funny. Watched it recently on Talking pictures. Ham anyone.

I agree with other reviewers who found this romp surprisingly good. There's a background realism to the fun - for instance, the lincoln green cloth has to be acquired and paid for, and without any comment being made on it, it's apparent that there isn't quite enough to go round. The forest settings are better than usual in such a low-budget film - they've used a conifer woodland with wide walks, rather than the sort of recent-growth scrub than one sometimes sees. As others have said, Barrie Ingham seems an odd choice for the hero - he's far from being the most handsome man in the picture - but he has a wonderful rich voice. And like all of the serious parts, he delivers the lines with great sincerity. The dialogue has a good period feel as well.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Christ this is beyond awful!! I do not mind old,low budget, cheesy adventure yarns but this is chronic! Hammer Productions outdid themselves with this one! I mean any movie that has Alfie Bass has special guest star has not got a lot going for it. The actors really do look like 20th century bankers dressed up in cod-medieval dress!! As for their performances - well they can say the lines quite convincingly but they just do not look right. The "star" of this debacle is a Barry Ingham (yes I hear you say, "Who?") . I suppose it was work of a sort for the poor sod. James Hayter manages to be James Hayter as always. The "writer" has managed to re-imagine the story and origins of the Robin Hood legend, which is neither here nor there, it just seems a bit desperate. I kind of enjoyed it because it was so bad it was good.

Production manager: Bryan Coates. Producer: Clifford Parkes. Executive producer: Michael Carreras. A Hammer Film, released by Warner-Pathe in the U.K., by 20th Century Fox in Australia and the U.S.A. Australian and U.S. prints in color by DeLuxe. 8,641 feet. 96 minutes. Registered: July 1967. "U" certificate. (An excellent Optimum DVD). Copyright 31 December 1967 by Hammer Film Productions — Seven Arts Productions. No New York opening. U.S. release: June 1968. U.K. release: 24 December 1967. Australian release: 2 May 1968. Cut to 85 minutes in the U.S.A. NOTES: A rare cinema role for prolific TV actor, Barrie Ingham, plus a school holiday hit in many capital cities, "A Challenge for Robin Hood" drew surprisingly enthusiastic crowds. VIEWERS' GUIDE: Although the censors all regard this movie as immensely suitable for general exhibition, I think otherwise. I would rate this attraction as borderline. COMMENT: One would think it impossible to offer any new embellishments of the Robin Hood legend, but screenwriter Peter Bryan has done just that. More time is spent establishing the characters than in previous versions, there is another brother (well played by Eric Woolfe) and the familiar characters are all introduced in an unusual way. I particularly like Maid Marian's entrance and the deft way the director and his astute film editor penetrate her disguise. The conclusion, too, with its note of further peril to come is in marked contrast to all other versions and is probably unique for this sort of period adventure. Mind you, it was probably inspired by the demands of television, but nonetheless The acting is uniformly pleasing, with John Arnatt as the Sheriff of Nottingham taking over the mantle of the late Basil Rathbone and wearing it with ease. He has some sharp dialogue and he handles it impeccably. As might be expected in a Hammer production, the film is loaded with violent action, most of it well done. The climax is superbly staged. We like the way the director keeps the aged steward crouching in the background, watching on, and the sheriff picking his way carefully through the outskirts of the action. The fighting itself is handled with considerable relish and is most convincingly and excitingly staged. The vibrant Color by Technicolor photography is a decided asset and the music score rates as excitingly melodious.