Hammer Film Productions
Seven Arts Productions
Robin Hood (Hammer) Collection
A Challenge for Robin Hood
After being falsely accused of murder, Sir Robin of Loxley takes refuge in the untamed wilderness of Sherwood Forest where he stumbles across a group of outlaws. Although initially suspicious of the aristocrat's motives, the men are soon won over by his integrity and prowess and Robin transforms them into a formidable fighting force, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. As word of his fame and valour spreads, a legend is born.
- Original title
- A Challenge for Robin Hood
- Language
- EN
- Country
- GB
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
John Chard
May 5, 2014 · via TMDB
Alas poor Fitzwarren, I knew him well. A Challenge for Robin Hood is directed by C.M. Pennington-Richards and written by Peter Bryan. It stars Barrie Ingham, Peter Blythe, James Hayter, John Arnatt, Gay Hamilton, John Gugolka, Eric Flynn, Leon Greene and Douglas Mitchell. Music is by Gary Hughes and cinematography by Arthur Grant. A Seven Arts-Hammer production in De Luxe Color, this is another variant on the Robin Hood legend. Very much operating from the Norman and the Saxon feud, pic has all the requisite swashbuckling shenanigans to entertain the family. It's very colourful, both in camera lensing and costuming, robust with the action scenes, and thrives on the good olde goodies versus baddies nature of the origin story. The Masked Monk! It's all very fanciful of course, with derring-do and machismo the order of the day, which unfortunately renders the Maid Marian (Hamilton) character as being an outsider looking in. Yet the camaraderie of the merry men, the earning of trusts and surrogate kinship's, ensures there's nary a dull moment in the tale. The pies have it. Whilst the choreography is not high end, the standard of the buckling of the swashes is better than average, while there is some fun sequences that can't fail to raise a smile. Pennington-Richards and his team have managed to not let the modest budget bog the picture down; modern day car glimpsed in the background of one shot not withstanding! Mr. Kipling makes exceedingly good cakes. The cast is made up of mostly unknowns, but that is absolutely fine as the likes of Ingham and Blythe are attacking their roles with such relish, with a glint in their eyes, it's hard not to just buy into the frothy fun of it all. The standout is Hayter as Friar Tuck, the voice of a major cake advertising campaign in Britain, he steals every scene he is in here and he actually on his own makes this well worth watching. There are far better Robin Hood movies out there, for sure this one feels at times like it's clinging on to the swashbuckling coat tails that had long since gone as the 70s approached. Yet sometimes all you need from this type of film to entertain is guts and frivolity, and this has it in spades. 7/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Barrie Ingham
Robin de Courtenay, alias Robin Hood
Peter Blythe
Sir Roger de Courtenay
Gay Hamilton
Lady Marian Fitzwarren
John Arnatt
Sheriff of Nottingham
James Hayter
Friar Tuck
Eric Flynn
Alan-a-Dale
Reg Lye
Much
Leon Greene
Little John
Arthur Hewlett
Edwin, the castle steward
Jenny Till
The Imposter Lady Marian
John Harvey
Wallace
Alfie Bass
Pie Merchant
Norman Mitchell
Dray Driver
William Squire
Sir John
Donald Pickering
Sir Jamyl de Penitone
Michael Carreras
Executive Producer
Lady in the Iron Mask
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Shrek
The Princess Bride
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Prisoner of Zenda
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Robin Hood
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Captain from Castile
The Sea Hawk
Captain Blood
The Mark of Zorro
The Man in the Iron Mask
The Crimson Pirate
The Princess and the Pirate
The Moonraker
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Ivanhoe
Adventures of Don Juan
The Three Musketeers
On Guard
The Man in the Iron Mask
Time Bandits
Long Live Robin Hood
The Mask of Zorro
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
The Pirate
The Black Swan
Ivanhoe
The Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood
Robin and Marian
Legend
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
The Legend of Zorro
Nate and Hayes
Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter
Princess of Thieves
Krull
Giant of the Evil Island
Knights of the Round Table
Against All Flags
The Adventures of Scaramouche
Cutthroat Island
Tales of Robin Hood
The Devil-Ship Pirates
The Three Musketeers
Lionheart
The Black Arrow
Beyond Sherwood Forest
The Sword of Monte Cristo
The Ribald Tales of Robin Hood
The Swordsman of Siena
Robin and the Hoods
The Three Musketeers: Saving the Crown
Ravenhood
Swapped
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess Bride
Descendants: Wicked Wonderland
The Bad Guys
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Slumberland
Christopher Robin
The Fox and the Hound
Watership Down
Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Ivanhoe
Time Bandits
Puss in Boots
Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse
Robin Hood
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
The Magic Faraway Tree
The Way West
Nate and Hayes
The Water Man
Princess of Thieves
Sword of Sherwood Forest
Jack the Giant Slayer
Robin Hood
Pets United
Aug 1, 1968
