A Challenge for Robin Hood

A Challenge for Robin Hood
A Challenge for Robin Hood
	UK quad poster by Tom Chantrell
Directed by	C. M. Pennington-Richards
Written by	Peter Bryan
Produced by	Clifford Parkes; Michael Carreras
Starring	Barrie Ingham; Peter Blythe; John Arnatt
Cinematography	Arthur Grant
Edited by	Chris Barnes
Music by	Gary Hughes
Production; companies	Hammer Film Productions; Seven Arts Productions
Distributed by	Warner-Pathé Distributors (UK); 20th Century Fox (US)
Release date	July 1967
Running time	92 min
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

A Challenge for Robin Hood is a 1967 British adventure film directed by C. M. Pennington-Richards and starring Barrie Ingham, Peter Blythe and John Arnatt.^[1]

Plot[]

When the father of the De Courtenay family dies, after hearing of King Richard's capture, the brothers argue about the inheritance. Although rightfully most should go to Robin, his cousin Roger takes control after killing his brother and blaming Robin, and Robin has to go into hiding in the forest, taking Friar Tuck with him. The two come under attack from the Sheriff of Nottingham's soldiers but are saved by a mystery archer. This is Alan-a-Dale who takes them to his forest hide-out.

The gang test his archery skills with a hood over his head, and agree he is a natural leader, they decide to call him Robin Hood.

Back in the De Courtenay castle Roger sits with the Sheriff and Maid Marion and they watch a wrestling match. It is won by Little John. They plan a hanging at the village fair, Will Scarlet, Robin's friend, who was captured at the time of Robin's escape.

Robin stops Sir Jamyl de Penitone in the forest and challenges him to a sword duel. He learns of Will Scarlet's pending hanging at the fair. Robin robs him of the tax money he has collected.

Robin and his men next stop a drayman and a pie seller who travels with him. They commandeer the cart-load of pies and Tuck disguises himself as the pie-seller and Robin disguises himself as a monk. They go to the De Courteney fair. They buy a lot of green cloth to better hide in the woods. A soldier recognises Robin but is sympathetic to his cause. Robin puts on a mask and volunteers for the prize wrestling match with Little John. John recognises him and they stage the fight so Robin wins. When he goes to collect his prize he grabs Marion and puts her on a horse for the loyal soldier to carry her off. He is arrested and is going to be hung with Will Scarlet but a pie fight begins and the soldiers are driven back. Little John goes back to the forest with them.

In the forest the men take revenge on the tax collector and start returning the tax money to the peasants.

The Sheriff's men trick Robin and his men into thinking the forest is on fire and while they investigate they kidnap Marion and her little brother, and kill Much, who was guarding them. Robin tries to rescue them but is captured too. Three of Robin's men (led by Little John) put fake ducks on their head and swim over the castle moat, but a guard fancies duck for dinner, and fires a crossbow at them. The three enter via an iron yett at basement level. They take a dumb waiter from the kitchen to the great hall, announcing that a "special dish" is coming up. They release Robin who was roasting in front of the fire and let other men in. A fight begins with the soldiers.

Roger and Robin end in a sword duel watched by Marion. Alan-a-Dale ends it with an arrow in Roger's back.

Back in the forest Friar Tuck marries Robin and Marion.

Cast[]

Barrie Ingham as Robin de Courtenay, alias Robin Hood
Peter Blythe as Sir Roger de Courtenay
John Arnatt as the Sheriff of Nottingham
Gay Hamilton as Lady Marian Fitzwarren
John Gugolka as Stephen Fitzwarren, the boy
James Hayter as Friar Tuck
Eric Flynn as Alan-a-Dale
Reg Lye as Much
Leon Greene as Little John
Douglas Mitchell as Will Scarlett
Eric Woofe as Henry de Courtenay
John Harvey as Wallace, Sir Roger's chief henchman
Arthur Hewlett as Edwin, the castle steward
John Graham as Justin, a loyal guard
Jenny Till as The Imposter Lady Marian
William Squire as Sir John de Courtenay
Norman Mitchell as Dray Driver
Alfie Bass as The Pie Seller
Donald Pickering as Sir Jamyl de Penitone

Critical reception[]

The New York Times wrote, "Challenge for Robin Hood is excellent...it should make ideal viewing for lads, from little sprouts up to about 14...The screenplay by Peter Bryan fiddles a bit with the old Robin Hood legend, but it is a snug story and the dialogue has bite and humor...C. M. Pennington-Richards, has piloted the action with crackle, the musical score is fine and the color ranges from good to beautiful...the fairly modest budget seldom shows."^[2]

Box Office[]

According to Fox records, the film required $950,000 in rentals to break even and by 11 December 1970 had made $675,000.^[3]

References[]

^ "A Challenge for Robin Hood". BFI. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009.
^ "Movie Review - A Challenge For Robin Hood - Screen: A Matinee Idol:' Robin Hood' Returns in Snug British Tale - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. 20 July 2021.
^ Silverman, Stephen M (1988). The Fox that got away : the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox. L. Stuart. p. 327. ISBN 9780818404856.

External links[]

A Challenge for Robin Hood at IMDb

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[1] "A Challenge for Robin Hood". BFI. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009.

[2] "Movie Review - A Challenge For Robin Hood - Screen: A Matinee Idol:' Robin Hood' Returns in Snug British Tale - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. 20 July 2021.

[3] Silverman, Stephen M (1988). The Fox that got away : the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox. L. Stuart. p. 327. ISBN 9780818404856.

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