Sword of Sherwood Forest

The second of three Hammer versions of Robin Hood, which provides posterity with a record of Richard Greene in colour and out in the open air surrounded by real trees amid the very green woodland of County Wicklow (this having been shot at Ardmore Studios in Dublin rather than Bray; which is one reason why it doesn't resemble a typical Hammer production).

Only Greene repeats his role from the tv series, with fifties crooner Denis Lotis making a guest appearance singing a couple of ballads as Alan-a-Dale; while Lady Marian is a platinum blonde in a purple top who in this telling he meets for the first time skinny dipping (what else?). Hammer's most obvious contribution to the casting is Peter Cushing as the Sheriff of Nottingham and Oliver Reed as a saturnine, backstabbing (literally) heavy (Derren Nesbitt being cast against type as one of the merrie men; and Vanda Godsell even more against type as the prioress of a nunnery).

Also characteristic of Hammer is their enterprising commissioning of composer Alun Hoddinott, whose sole score for a feature film this is.