The Prince of Thieves

Jon Hall is Robin Hood, Patricia Morison is Lady Marian, and Alan Mowbray is Friar Tuck in this B-movie version of the story you've encountered a zillion times.

It's directed by Howard Bretherton, a competent but not particularly notable B director of the era, and there's little here of remark, except that in the battle scene in which Robin and his Merrie Men overwhelm the forces of Prince John, the swordplay is pretty good. Not that it makes sense when the vastly outnumbered good guys are not attacked by the bad guys at every opportunity. The good part is that when the crowds are fighting, they don't wave their swords up in the air, as if they are being attacked by bats.

The Cinecolor photography has that brown, dusty look that the process was prone to in its good prints. Otherwise, there's nothing going on here, move along.

Jon Hall gets a break from the exotic Arabian Nights films he was doing during most of the Forties and gets his chance to play the legendary Robin Hood in Prince Of Thieves. He's definitely a bit more of a rogue in this Robin Hood tale than you find in most.

He rescues Maid Marian and her brother Michael Duane a pair of Saxon nobles who were waylaid in Sherwood Forest. It's the brother that's heading for his wedding to Lady Adele Jergens. However the powers that be who rule England in Richard I's absence have other ideas for some politically convenient marriages of alliance. Of course that's Prince John who is not seen in this film.

As it's only 71 minutes, barely longer than an hour we don't get too much time for character development. The Prince Of Thieves plays like an episode of the old Richard Greene Robin Hood series.

For those expecting Errol Flynn you will be disappointed.

Totally unconvincing action scenes that border on being silly. Full of moments such as the bad guys falling over because a wall hanging almost dropped on top of them and strangely they can't get up. Nothing about this movie works. The plot is paper thin and it's hard to believe they paid money for the script. My favourite worst line being "ride you devils!" Robin to his band of not very merry men. I can't remember what happened after they rode. Not very much I think. The accents aren't English and the acting poor. No care was taken. A low bar was set and not met. Not sure why I rated this as highly as a 2.

This is not the caliber of Errol Flynn's Robin Hood but it's still a good take on the legend. Jon Hall plays are hero nicely but not with the charm of Flynn. The film is worth watching if you have a lazy afternoon and you have a chance to watch - but I wouldn't go out of my way to find this film though it's decent enough.

6.5/10.

I initially am wondering what is eomhitng new the R.B. movies can show and find this to have satisfying action, funny parts, and a different focus on areas (more castle scenes which actually makes cents at the title, his is ironically the prince of the evil castle), and an increase on R.H.'s assistants that need more focus like Will Scarlet, and less on ones that are known plenty like from other R.H. movies, and R.h> himself is very manageably played, just there not to eclipse the plot, but remains with that same action focus and also light wit he has, treated iconographically, but still the main hero, like a piece of the puzzle as "the main hero" while there are also "second heroes" yet still the main and giving just enough action and lightness. The movie is not about oh wow it is this legend, but more about getting the plot and action sequences first that the characters happen to be in which makes them notable characters themselves, refreshing. In the beginning it is kinda like where is the interest, it is another R.H. movie is the thought but how it is in the castle setting and plot begins it is like ah now this is something interesting. There are extensive castle scenes for this to provide something more than the first setting and functions well along with the rustic part sas they also provide notable stuff, some of the forsest parts show a good camp style that seems like California camp I was in and there is something else interesting such as the Roman column even which is goic in the middle of the forest, reminiscent of some R.H. tales having such columns in the setting. Also funny parts, people thrown into a moat, a place for poop and pee in castles not only for defensive purpose, and R.H. and assistant wading through, this is actually just me amused also the characters falling in there, also eating meet and throwing bone away, some one toward the end not even wearing leggings, and also an assistant battling alongside R.H. and after he is done just strolls off the scene while R.H. is continuing, some of the confusion of the numerous gals here that is the blonde the focus but then shifts to the dark haired female later?

Very refreshing that this does not feature overdone scenes from other R.H. movies like the Little John bridge or archery contest but truly awesome other scenes, like the castle stuff, even the villains are not lavished upon so much but actually doing things to warrante their villain stature. I just reminisce the main guy, the bad king to the good king who is not even in here as it is unecessary enjoy your crusade instead king. It is as it eh move is as refreshing as being in the cool wood itself.