MovieChat Forums > The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) Discussion > Great series!

Great series!

posted 16 years ago by tipafo
9 replies | jump to latest

I knew of this, mainly from promos when Costner's butchery was being paraded, as that movie took a lot of cues from this series, and I was thrilled to find it at Wal-Mart of $5.

I wasn't expecting it to be so good, though! I've picked up some other old series, because I'm a fan of the era, and most are passable as curiosities of bygone days, but this is as engaging as anything I'm watching on TV today.

The stories are solid, a tad cheesy (but what isn't?), and consistently well executed. Love the theme, and the intros.

Alan Wheatley is dastardly smooth as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Alexander Gauge tucks into his role with gusto, and Bernadette O'Farrell makes a lovely Maid Marian.

Great!

(This is posted for entertainment. Don't get upset.)

[–] Sid-Blitzen 15 years ago

I loved this show when i was young! Richard Greene will always be THE screen Robin Hood for me.

[–] lima-2 15 years ago

I echo that Sid! Richard Greene was my only concept of Robin Hood for the longest time. I must have been twelve years old (around 1963) when I first saw the 1938 Errol Flynn film. My first impression was "who is this gooney guy with the long hair?" My attitude toward Flynn had modified over the years, but ... Richard Green IS Robin Hood to me!

[–] DeathSlayer 15 years ago

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[–] TheSunAlwaysShinesOnTV 14 years ago

I'm a huge classic TV fan, and I love this series. It's aged very well, a lot better than some shows made decades later!

Who's the man that we admire? Johnny Carson is a real live wire!

[–] knovins 14 years ago

I like 30-minute dramas, both on old-time radio and television. In fact, the reason I watched the first episode of "Adventures" on Internet Archive was strictly due to the length! Amazingly good! The acting is well above average--Richard Greene's Robin Hood is cool by today's standards, and that's saying a lot for a b&w guy in tights. :)

Many years have passed since 30-minute dramas were produced for the U.S. market, so the plots and character development may seem simplistic to today's audience, but I like the fast pace. Episodes in this series actually seem less rushed than others that I like, such as "The Rifleman" and "Have Gun Will Travel."

And given all of the bad news of recent years, it's sure nice to see my religion presented in a positive light through Friar Tuck.

I was so impressed after a handful of episodes that I ordered the complete series on DVD. What a wonderful program!

[–] louiseculmer 9 years ago

Glad you liked it. it was one of my favourite programmes as a child, and i think it has stood the test of time pretty well.

[–] lima-2 9 years ago

THANK YOU! For several things. This board is on my "favorites" list. I check it nearly every week, to see if there any new posts.

Thank you for making the board active again, and for knocking my tired, old post from eight months ago off the top of the list.

I know the series is coming up on sixty years old, but as you say, it stands the test of time very well. The scripts are well-written with a sly, subtle undertone of humor, except perhaps for the more serious episodes. For a 30 minute series, from the 1950's, the acting is superb as well.

I do have a question though. Do you (or anyone else, for that matter :-) know why Alan Wheatley left the series as sheriff before it ended? He was the classic counterpoint to Richard Greene's Robin.

[–] louiseculmer 9 years ago

i had a passion for the series when I was a child, I had a bow and arrows from which I was inseperable, took them everywhere just in case i should encounter the Sheriff. i agree with you' the scripts are great. i didn't know until recently that a number of blacklisted Hollywood writers wrote for the series, it must have been quite a change for them from working in hollywood.

I don't know why Alan Wheatley left the series so abruptly, perhaps he fell out with someone? He was great as the Sheriff.

[–] TheShireReeve (3) 2 years ago

Agree this is a great series. Outstanding writing, acting and music. Alexander Gauge, Alan Wheatley, Archie Duncan and Patricia Driscoll are all excellent; while Richard Greene and Bernadette O'Farrell shine as Robin and Lady Marian.