I think "The Adventures of Robin Hood" is a great film, but despite the fact it was made in Flyn's prime and with a far bigger budget this film eclipses it for me. The sword fighting is far superior, here we have rapiers that don't have the jerky speeded up movements of the plastic like broad swords we see in Robin Hood, not to mention the terrible sound they make. As for the score even though Robin hood won the oscar, I think this has a far more memorable score and should be remembered as one of Max Steiner's greatest. A shame that this movie is so underrated
Robin Hood is the superior overall film,but you are certainly right about the fencing in this film--Flynn was great here in terms of form, and the fights are exciting! Everyone is now so carried away with the Pirates of the Caribbean films,but to me those films lack the great fencing of any of Errol's films,particularly this underrated treat! Flynn was the swashbuckler supreme!That fight in the bar is great and the climax is just great!
Both are great films, I just personally like Don Juan best even though Robin Hood is obviously the bigger classic. I can't possibly agree with you anymore about the comparison of Errol's films to the modern swashbucklers we have today, they have nowhere near as much charm.
I would go so far as to say it's equal to Robin Hood, which is impressive considering that Robin Hood had the far greater budget, and the benefit of a younger Errol Flynn. The sets and costuming are beautiful, the acting and dialogue are generally good and the action is well done. It has something of a claustrophobic feel which detracts from the grandness of the movie, but overall the filmmakers did a great job with what they had. The music is in my opinion alot better than Robin Hood's.
As I am a huge Errol Flynn fan the issue of whether Robin Hood or Don Juan is better has come up in my mind often. To start with, they are very different style wise, but not story, but style is the big thing, as the story is just there for convention, since Errol Flynn is the movie. Robin Hood is a thirties movie and has the actors at their prime-Errol Flynn, Olivia DeHaviland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Alan Hale, etc. The score is one my favorites by the amazing Erich Wolfgang Korngold-its not necessarily better than Max Steiner's scor, but just different. The Robin Hood score is more classic, regal, uniquely Korngold material, while the Max Steiner score is more sensuous, grandiose, with some Picaresque flavor in it. I like both films for Errol Flynn's awesome style, and his fighting is great in both. Both have lush, beautiful color and are about Errol Flynn and Alan Hale against the numerous bad guys. Flynn is more of a proper rogue hero in Robin Hood, while in Don Juan he is more of a womaninzing, free-style rogue hero. Both I like-but the overall feel of Robin Hood, is in my opinion better and has a nicer feeling to it. Both, I give 10 out o10, with Robin Hood really deserving an extra star perhaps. Robin Hood-11 out of 10.
Funny I was just thinking this today. Robin Hood is a classic, but I still enjoyed Don Juan a lot more. Definitely the fencing is excellent, and I'm a sucker for Max Steiner's scores anyway..
Here's how I feel about them: "Adventures of Robin Hood" is a film I'm told I would like.
"Adventures of Don Juan" is a less formal film and somehow more fun. It's a light-hearted spoof of an Errol Flynn film with great action, great humour, a great score, and very moving love scenes between Don Juan and the Queen. This is the film I prefer.
Many of today's action films would benefit from more comic relief. Even Shakespeare understood the need for this and put comic scenes in his most tragic plays. Modern action films take themselves much too seriously and would be richer entertainment with a comic scene or actor here and there. Too much gravitas!
I was thinking about this as well, but Robin Hood is a bit better. Don Juan is a really fun ***-***1/2 in my opinion, whereas Robin Hood is an easy **** classic. It just has a better cast, and while I did like Douglas as the villain he's not quite Basil Rathbone.
Oddly enough I thought Don Juan somewhat reminded me of the Bond movie Goldeneye with its critiques of the characters' various lifestyles.
I'll still take Robin Hood by a nose, but the fact that there can be a conversation comparing the two is evidence of how underrated this film is. And an aside....I'll take Captain Blood over either of them.
I re-saw the film a few weeks ago and I was thinking how not only each film is of a different decade with different directors and composers etc. but how each fits Flynn at that particular time of his life. Others have mentioned the sword fighting. In Robin Hood, it's incredibly energetic with Basil Rathbone holding his own with Flynn until the end of course, but Flynn as Robin Hood is carrying the fight. In Don Juan, Flynn's character is an experienced swordsman but in his approach he's careful, even wary of the Duke de Lorca, who's been lauded as the superior swordsman. De Lorca, superby played by Robert Douglas, carries the fight, Flynn is pushed down the stairway, has to ward off De Lorca's blows on his back, scrambles, up, but his experience, his scappiness, pays off, and he shoves De Lorca down the stairway, leaps on top of him, and kills him with a dagger.
I was also impressed in Flynn. Both he and Douglas were doubled in the overhead shots, Douglas more noticeably by a slightly heavier, but Flynn is in their much of the time, looking very fit and very game.
No. Flynn was overweight, although he still looked good, and they had to use a stunt double for most of the action scenes in the Adventures of DJ. He couldn't do it. When you look at films like Robin Hood, he did his own fighting and of course there was Basil Rathbone, who was considered the best sword fighter in Hollywood for many years, except he usually was the bad guy and lost. Except for Romeo and Juliette where he was nominated for an Oscar and I think won. The cast in Robin Hood was definitely better. Claude Rains as John, and Oliva DeHavilland as Marian. You couldn't get much better than that.
I always watch this movie, the Adventures of DJ because of Viveca Linford who played the Queen Margaret. One beaufiul woman.
Trying to determine which Flynn swashbuckling movie is the best is likely to make one crazy. They all have their own charm. There are three interesting things about DJ that many aren't aware of:
1) Flynn's stunt double in DJ is none other than Jock Mahoney, considered one of, if not the best stunt actor of his era. I remember him from things like TV's The Range Rider and Yancy Derringer and his stint as Tarzan.
2) At the beginning of the movie when DJ is running from the husband of his latest almost conquest, they used footage from The Adventures of Robin Hood. Count the number of riders and you will see that one horse is carrying two and the following troops are from the same scene.
3) Throughout the movie, one of DeLorca's men is a young Raymond Burr, long before Godzilla and Perry Mason. He too loses his sword fight with DJ.
Can't agree with the sentiment that 'Don Juan' is even remotely close to 'Robin Hood'. 'Robin Hood' is a genuine classic in every respect and all the elements are impressive in themselves, but when combined add up to something quite magical and unique. The film has exemplary technical accomplishments and the pacing is better than any other movie. Also 'Robin Hood' is an incredible experience in terms of audience reaction.
'Don Juan' feels flat in comparison. I realise why the commenters here enjoy and appreciate the film, but the only elements that are in any level of contention with Robin Hood are the music, the climatic duel and some of the sets and cinematography. I think this is the time when swashbucklers started to deflate and loose their narrative and stylistic drive. I don't think the script really sparks into life, although it's conscientious in trying to make a worthwhile film.
I'm not that comfortable with the more pronounced tongue in cheek elements because they tend to be too 'knowing' and the film never establishes a vital enough style to balance this with a compelling story.
My problem is that Robin Hood was made by a brilliant collection of cast and crew, almost all at their peak or about to reach it. The casting couldn't be bettered and the sheer crafting of the film is astonishing. Don Juan is made by good, earnest professionals with talent. But I've never felt strongly about the movie and while it's worth seeing and reseeing, it's lacking the consistent genuine magic that swashbucklers really need.
Maybe Robin Hood set the bar so high that I'm not giving Don Juan enough credit, but I don't think so. It's a solid movie that deserved to do better than it did at the box office, but I don't find it ultimately that engaging. While I'd definitly hum the theme after the film ends, it doesn't really leave the afterglow that Robin Hood did, nor is it the exhilarating experience Robin Hood was.
I'd have to put Captain Blood and The Sea Hawk as joint second Flynn adventure film. Captain Blood for it's narratvie drive and impact and The Sea Hawk for being a quality film in every respect, even if it's pitched as a more sober, subdued and sombre film due to being a WWII allegory.
I guess what I'm trying to say (but can't find the exact right words) is that Don Juan feels a bit like Flynn looks in the film. He looks prematurely aged and while he's still a genuine star, he's on the decline and looks frankly a little bored.
Although I can think of no one better suited (or more experienced in real life) to have played Don Juan than Errol Flynn, when he finally does get to play him, at almost age 40, he was probaly past the prime age to realistically depict the great lover.
My list of favorite Errol Swashbucklers:
1. Adventures of Robin Hood 2. Captain Blood 3. Sea Hawk
Robin Hood is a superior film for several reasons, three of which are Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, and Olivia de Haviland. These are unique and prodigious talents.
However, DJ is highly entertaining, with great wit, charm and beauty. Flynn himself, was never better.
Looking back at Flynn's swashbuckling period...there were the pre-WW II films with Michael Curtiz directing and this Don Juan film post WW II was conceived to be return of Flynn to the big screen..It still a wonderful film and other than not having all of the top rated Warner contract players from the older films the film holds up with the others...There is only a period of 10 years from the Robin Hood days and Flynn does his best...But the film is unfairly remembered for being a somewhat failed comeback for Flynn...