Sword of Sherwood Forest is a 1960 British Technicolor adventure film in MegaScope directed by Terence Fisher for Hammer Film Productions. Richard Greene reprises the role of Robin Hood, which he played in The Adventures of Robin Hood on TV from 1955 to 1959.
Plot summary
The Sheriff of Nottingham (Peter Cushing) plans to confiscate the estate of the Lord of Bawtry, a nobleman who has died on Crusade. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Hubert Walter (Jack Gwillim), speaks against this plan and the sheriff plots to eliminate him. Robin Hood is asked to undertake the assassination of the Archbishop for the plotters, led by the Earl of Newark (Richard Pasco) and Lord Melton (Oliver Reed), but on realising who the intended target is, resolves to help the Archbishop instead.
Maid Marian (Sarah Branch) also wants to meet the Archbishop so she can grant freedom to the family of a man murdered by the Sheriff's men, and she is also keen to meet Robin again who she met when she thought he was a common outlaw, but now realises he is on the side of good.
Main cast
- Richard Greene as Robin Hood
- Peter Cushing as the Sheriff of Nottingham
- Niall MacGinnis as Friar Tuck
- Sarah Branch as Maid Marian
- Richard Pasco as Edward, Earl of Newark
- Jack Gwillim as Archbishop Hubert Walter
- Nigel Green as Little John
- Vanda Godsell as The Prioress
- Edwin Richfield as The Sheriff's Lieutenant
- Charles Lamb as Old Bowyer
- Dennis Lotis as Alan A'Dale
- Oliver Reed as the Lord Melton (uncredited)
- Patrick Crean as Lord Ollerton (uncredited)
- Derren Nesbitt as Martin of Eastwood (uncredited)
- Desmond Llewellyn as Wounded Fugitive (uncredited)
- John Hoey as Old Jack (uncredited)
- Anew McMaster as Judge (uncredited)
- James Neylin as Roger (uncredited)
- Brian Rawlinson as Falconer (uncredited)
- Reginald Hearne as Man-at-Arms (uncredited)
Cast Notes
- Apart from Greene, none of the original cast from The Adventures of Robin Hood appear in the film.
Reception
The film earned generally favourably reviews and became a sleeper hit.
Sword of Sherwood Forest currently holds a three star rating (6.4/10) on IMDb.
Score
Its music was composed by Alun Hoddinott.
Production
While most Hammer films of that period were filmed at the company's permanent home at Bray Studios, Sword of Sherwood Forest was made at Ardmore Studios in Bray, County Wicklow, in Ireland.
References
External links
- Sword of Sherwood Forest on IMDb
- Sword of Sherwood Forest at AllMovie
- Sword of Sherwood Forest at the TCM Movie Database
- Sword of Sherwood Forest at the American Film Institute Catalog
