1960's "Sword of Sherwood Forest" served as Hammer's adaptation of the ROBIN HOOD teleseries just finished by star/producer Richard Greene, casting their greatest asset, Peter Cushing, as the treacherous Sheriff of Nottingham. The excellent first half finds the Sheriff as ruthless as ever with his bogus promises, but an unexpected turn finds him shunted aside for an even more villainous Earl of Newark (Richard Pasco), whose henchman, Lord Melton (Oliver Reed), shockingly dispatches the uncooperative Sheriff before the film's climactic sword fight. The lone holdover from the small screen cast, 41 year old Richard Greene isn't so much too old for Robin Hood, since his use of swords, bows, and arrows are nearly flawless, it's just that the episodic script makes precious little use of either him or his merry band for most of its 80 minute running time. We see the initial mistrust between Robin and Maid Marian (Sarah Branch), who thinks him an outlaw, setting up a surprise meeting with Cushing's Sheriff, who is desperate to cover up any trace of the plot to assassinate the Archbishop of Canterbury (Jack Gwillim). Robin's band of Merry Men feature Nigel Green as Little John, and Niall MacGinnis as Friar Tuck, in an ill fitting bald cap. Oliver Reed was still a bit player at this early stage of his career, but already a veteran of two Christopher Lee titles, "Beat Girl" and Hammer's "The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll." As Lord Melton, his lisping performance is difficult to judge, due to his being dubbed by an unknown actor whose effete mannerisms make Reed look foolish. Second billed Peter Cushing is the biggest name in the cast, and he does not disappoint, looking magnificent in period costume, as he also did in 1954's "The Black Knight," but his efforts are sadly misused by the casual way the film dispatches its most dynamic character, unexpectedly stabbed in the back for disobedience. Director Terence Fisher, also retained from the series, shows himself to have little affinity for the subject matter, particularly the few action scenes (filmed at Ireland's Ardmore Studios), sluggishly choreographed and performed. Never really boring, but such a wasted opportunity.
Review of Sword of Sherwood Forest
