Richard Greene dons the green tights for the last time as Robin Hood in "The Sword of Sherwood Forest". He had played the character on TV from 1955-60. He was the only member of the "merry men" to make the transition to the big screen.
This film having been made by the horror factory Hammer Studios and directed by horror director Terence Fisher, I expected more especially since the great Peter Cushing was cast as the Sheriff of Nottingham. And we have a winsome young blonde as Maid Marian (Sara Branch) to boot.
The story is hard to follow. The Lord of Bartrey has been slain at the Crusades and the Sheriff has designs on his estate. In the meantime Robin has set his sights on Maid Marian even after he believed that she had led him into a trap with the Sheriff. One of Robin's men is murdered by the Sheriff and Maid Marian takes up his cause on behalf of the man's family.
During the court proceedings involving the disposition of Lord Bartey's estate, the Archbishop of Canterbury/ Chancellor Hugh Walter (Jack Gwillin) intercedes and blocks the Sheriff's attempt to gain the property for himself. Edward, Earl of Newark (Richard Pasco) recruits Robin at Friar Tuck's (Niall MacGinnis) home to join him in a plot to kill Walter. Edward's brutal henchman Lord Melton (Oliver Reed) takes an immediate dislike to Robin.
When the Archbishop's group is attacked, all are killed except for the Archbishop and Maid Marian. They flee to a Nun's priory where the Reverend Mother, the Prioress (Vanda Godsell) just happens to be Edward's sister. Soon Edward, the Sheriff and their followers descend on the Priory and Robin, the Archbishop and Little John (Nigel Green) engage in battle with the villain and....................................................................
For some reason, Oliver Reed's voice was clearly dubbed. We are told that King Richard is away at the crusades so the story takes place during his absence. It is curious that Prince John is never mentioned even though he was a key character both on Greene's TV series and in other Robin Hood films. No Will Scarlett either and Allan -a -Dale (Dennis Lotis) only appears briefly.
With a little more budget, this film could have been much better.
This film having been made by the horror factory Hammer Studios and directed by horror director Terence Fisher, I expected more especially since the great Peter Cushing was cast as the Sheriff of Nottingham. And we have a winsome young blonde as Maid Marian (Sara Branch) to boot.
The story is hard to follow. The Lord of Bartrey has been slain at the Crusades and the Sheriff has designs on his estate. In the meantime Robin has set his sights on Maid Marian even after he believed that she had led him into a trap with the Sheriff. One of Robin's men is murdered by the Sheriff and Maid Marian takes up his cause on behalf of the man's family.
During the court proceedings involving the disposition of Lord Bartey's estate, the Archbishop of Canterbury/ Chancellor Hugh Walter (Jack Gwillin) intercedes and blocks the Sheriff's attempt to gain the property for himself. Edward, Earl of Newark (Richard Pasco) recruits Robin at Friar Tuck's (Niall MacGinnis) home to join him in a plot to kill Walter. Edward's brutal henchman Lord Melton (Oliver Reed) takes an immediate dislike to Robin.
When the Archbishop's group is attacked, all are killed except for the Archbishop and Maid Marian. They flee to a Nun's priory where the Reverend Mother, the Prioress (Vanda Godsell) just happens to be Edward's sister. Soon Edward, the Sheriff and their followers descend on the Priory and Robin, the Archbishop and Little John (Nigel Green) engage in battle with the villain and....................................................................
For some reason, Oliver Reed's voice was clearly dubbed. We are told that King Richard is away at the crusades so the story takes place during his absence. It is curious that Prince John is never mentioned even though he was a key character both on Greene's TV series and in other Robin Hood films. No Will Scarlett either and Allan -a -Dale (Dennis Lotis) only appears briefly.
With a little more budget, this film could have been much better.