4K Ultra HD Review – The Men of Sherwood Forest (1954)

      The Men of Sherwood Forest, 1954.

      Directed by Val Guest.

      Featuring Don Taylor, Reginald Beckwith, Eileen Moore, Ballard Berkeley, Patrick Holt, John Van Eyssen, Harold Lang, Bernard Bresslaw, and Leslie Linder.

      SYNOPSIS:

      The mythical outlaw Robin Hood is called upon to rescue King Richard from captivity but ends up being captured himself. In 1954, Hammer produced its first color feature film, The Men of Sherwood Forest, which interprets the classic English tale of the outlaw who robbed from the rich to support the poor. Following World War II, film studios became fascinated with the story, resulting in several Robin Hood films aimed at providing audiences with a sense of adventure and escapism from the comfort of their cinema seats. However, timing is essential in the entertainment industry, and while this initial venture into color was certainly exciting at the time, it might not have been the best choice for promoting the Robin Hood narrative.

      With the benefit of hindsight, we can see that the Robin Hood tales truly gained popularity through the 1955 television series The Adventures of Robin Hood, featuring Richard Greene in the lead role. Much of its success can be attributed to the novelty of television sets in homes, allowing viewers to enjoy fantasy and adventure without leaving their houses. Nonetheless, every few years attempts were made to revive the legend. Hammer revisited the story in 1960 with Sword of Sherwood Forest, also starring Richard Greene, which often overshadows this earlier installment.

      Although The Men of Sherwood Forest lacks the star power of the Richard Greene series and film, it possesses a certain vitality that makes it a solid, if unremarkable, addition to the Robin Hood legacy. Australian actor-turned-director Don Taylor, who later directed Damien: Omen II and Escape from the Planet of the Apes, takes on the role of Robin Hood. More specifically, he channels Errol Flynn's portrayal of Robin Hood, as the film features an abundance of swashbuckling action, reminiscent of a pirate film. This approach works in Taylor’s favor by adding a playful touch to an otherwise mundane narrative.

      While the storyline is somewhat dull, the essentials revolve around King Richard being captured in Germany and managing to send out plans for his return via a small wooden toy. Robin is tasked with rescuing the king; therefore, he and Friar Tuck (Reginald Beckwith) go undercover but are betrayed, ending up as prisoners themselves, necessitating two rescues.

      The plot isn’t worthy of deep scrutiny—questions like why a king would document where he plans to emerge after being abroad and conceal those details are best left aside. Instead, it’s simpler to accept that Robin and Tuck require rescuing to save King Richard. And who will come to their aid? The Merry Men, of course, although the film doesn’t focus much on them, with only Friar Tuck receiving more than a few minutes of screen time (and Reginald Beckwith makes the most of it with a cheerful performance). Hammer regular John Van Eyssen briefly portrays Will Scarlett, and Leslie Linder plays Little John for slightly longer, while Maid Marion is absent. Instead, there is the lovely Eileen Moore as Lady Alys, a noblewoman assisting in Robin’s escape—she is the closest we get to a female lead. Notably absent is Robin Hood’s longtime adversary, the Sheriff of Nottingham, who is essentially just a minor character and has even less screen presence than Will Scarlett—perhaps he would have featured more prominently in a sequel?

      However, despite the film performing reasonably well, a sequel was never realized. With television looming on the horizon and Hammer's subsequent films not being in color, the momentum appeared to wane, which is unfortunate because The Men of Sherwood Forest is an enjoyable adventure that, with the passing of 70 years, now feels akin to an extended TV episode.

      This package includes some delightful extras, with the standout being Wolfshead, the pilot episode of a 1970 TV series that never came to fruition. Running just under an hour and featuring David Warbeck as Robin Hood, Hammer had planned to screen the unaired pilot as a second feature in cinemas during the 1970s. This project diverges significantly from The Men of Sherwood Forest, with Warbeck’s portrayal being much drier and less frivolous than Taylor’s. While it's not essential viewing, it serves as an interesting extra, providing insights into Hammer's direction in changing decades.

      Additionally, there are featurettes discussing Hammer’s ventures into color films, the memorable score, and Swashbuckler, a light-hearted exploration of how Robin Hood was represented by Hammer and beyond, featuring contributions from critics and writers Allan Bryce and Barry Forshaw. As always, Hammer has meticulously packaged everything, complete with a booklet containing fresh articles and reproductions of classic posters, all presented in a