Claude-Rains Movie Reviews

At a time when Hollywood paid more attention to its female audience and made films for them, this may be the best of the bunch. A padded Bette Davis stars as Charlotte Vale, an overweight, unattractive spinster bullied by the mother who never wanted her. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, her sister-in-law arranges for her to meet a psychiatrist played by Claude Rains, and after spending time at his "hospital", she emerges thinner, beautiful, and more prepared to face the world, a world which include Paul Henreid, a married man that she falls in love with while on a post-recovery cruise. It's the kind of role an actress must love, and Davis plays it with restraint and class. Rains is good as usual, and Henreid delivers one of his best performances. The supporting cast is excellent, with Gladys Cooper pulling out all the stops as the tough mother and Mary Wickes bringing a gentle humour to her role as a nurse. The musical score by Max Steiner is excellent, and of course, there are the famous moments of Henreid lighting two cigarettes at once, something that wouldn't work in today's movies, but is quite effective in this film. With it's Ugly Duckling/Cinderella angle and it's sense of romance, this has to be the ultimate woman's picture. It knows its audience and delivers.

Some movies simply get better with age, much like fine red wine. This is certainly true of "Now Voyager." It is an "ugly duckling" to "beautiful swan" tale--hardly a cutting edge concept--but it works impressively here. Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis) seems doomed to a life of dull spinsterhood under the thumb of her domineering mother, the outstanding Gladys Cooper. But a kindly psychiatrist comes along (Claude Rains) who sees potential worth tapping under nervous Charlotte's dumpy exterior. And the transformation is filmed superbly;Bette Davis never looked more glamorous. The first shot of the "new" Charlotte--now traveling under an assumed name on a cruise ship--as she makes her entrance is a moment of monumental film making. Aboard the cruise, Charlotte meets and falls in love with a married man (Paul Henried), and she manages to stay connected to him through his troubled daughter that she finds and helps at Cascade, the very institution that helped bring forth the new Charlotte Vale. There are moments of joy, moments of humor, moments of sadness in this movie. Max Steiner's score is top notch, and Orry-Kelly's costumes could not be better. This film has frequently been singled out as perhaps the best representation of the trends in moviemaking in the 1940's. After viewing it, you will understand why.

Great film - great DVD transfer.

The single disappointment is the CAST & CREW segment of the Bonus Material. Although it lists the other actors and crew, underneath Ms Davis' name, one is unable to pull up their biographies.

At a time when Hollywood paid more attention to its female audience and made films for them, this may be the best of the bunch. A padded Bette Davis stars as Charlotte Vale, an overweight, unattractive spinster bullied by the mother who never wanted her. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, her sister-in-law arranges for her to meet a psychiatrist played by Claude Rains, and after spending time at his "hospital", she emerges thinner, beautiful, and more prepared to face the world, a world which include Paul Henreid, a married man that she falls in love with while on a post-recovery cruise. It's the kind of role an actress must love, and Davis plays it with restraint and class. Rains is good as usual, and Henreid delivers one of his best performances. The supporting cast is excellent, with Gladys Cooper pulling out all the stops as the tough mother and Mary Wickes bringing a gentle humour to her role as a nurse. The musical score by Max Steiner is excellent, and of course, there are the famous moments of Henreid lighting two cigarettes at once, something that wouldn't work in today's movies, but is quite effective in this film. With it's Ugly Duckling/Cinderella angle and it's sense of romance, this has to be the ultimate woman's picture. It knows its audience and delivers.

Some movies simply get better with age, much like fine red wine. This is certainly true of "Now Voyager." It is an "ugly duckling" to "beautiful swan" tale--hardly a cutting edge concept--but it works impressively here. Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis) seems doomed to a life of dull spinsterhood under the thumb of her domineering mother, the outstanding Gladys Cooper. But a kindly psychiatrist comes along (Claude Rains) who sees potential worth tapping under nervous Charlotte's dumpy exterior. And the transformation is filmed superbly;Bette Davis never looked more glamorous. The first shot of the "new" Charlotte--now traveling under an assumed name on a cruise ship--as she makes her entrance is a moment of monumental film making. Aboard the cruise, Charlotte meets and falls in love with a married man (Paul Henried), and she manages to stay connected to him through his troubled daughter that she finds and helps at Cascade, the very institution that helped bring forth the new Charlotte Vale. There are moments of joy, moments of humor, moments of sadness in this movie. Max Steiner's score is top notch, and Orry-Kelly's costumes could not be better. This film has frequently been singled out as perhaps the best representation of the trends in moviemaking in the 1940's. After viewing it, you will understand why.

Great film - great DVD transfer.

The single disappointment is the CAST & CREW segment of the Bonus Material. Although it lists the other actors and crew, underneath Ms Davis' name, one is unable to pull up their biographies.

Robert Montgomery made an effective transition from debonair 30's leading man to 40's tough guy, but it took me a little while to get used to and I laughed a little at first at what sounded like an East Side Kids bronx honk imitation! Great plot and acting in a story about likable and feisty prizefighter Joe Pendelton, who is destined to die in fifty years, but is accidentally "snatched up" by an inexperienced and tart-tongued angel, played by Edward Everett Horton, with the always wonderful Claude Rains as Mr. Jordan, head honcho of the otherworld. Unfortunately Joe's body has been cremated by the time they locate it to put his spirit back in, and the three look long and hard to find a new body that will satisfy Joe's picky requirements. He reluctantly agrees to be temporarily placed in the body of just-departed Bruce Farnsworth, a wealthy and ruthless playboy recently killed by his wife and her lover, to help Bette Logan (played by a luminous Evelyn Keyes) get her unjustly jailed father out of prison, a man Farnsworth used as a fall guy. But Joe falls deeply in love with the grateful Bette, a problem since the dastardly duo who offed Farnsworth the first time are still around and plotting again to kill the man they naturally believe is still him. There is a tender poignancy in Joe's making the most of the time left in his temporary body before the inevitable happens, by attempting to prepare an understandably confused and concerned Bette about his impending death and "return" as somebody else. He tells her this in vague "supposing if" terms and not the truth because she naturally wouldn't believe it--who could? Well, his inevitable demise does come at the hands of the terrible two and he is transferred to the body of a principled prizefighter named Ralph Murdoch, just-killed in the ring during a crooked match and a would-be opponent if Joe hadn't "died." Mr. Jordan, knowing Joe has found his rightful "place", erases all Joe's knowledge of who he once was so he can be his own person without any of the confusion, memory and baggage of his past life. In a stunningly touching ending, by chance (or is it really?) Joe/Ralph encounters Bette and there is an instant mystical recognition and chemistry which they both experience--then Bette recalls what she thought was Farnsworth's bewildering ramblings at the time, and realizes he has "returned" to her. An excellent movie with just about everything in it to please anyone--humor, the supernatural, romance, poignancy, murder, boxing, and fascinating and compelling matters of predestination and fate, "reincarnation," our spirits/souls transcending physical cloakings, and how love never truly dies.

Stories which carry an audience to other worlds or realms of experience are enthusiastically received regardless of trends, fads, or the prevailing national mood. HERE COMES MR. JORDAN is a variation of the usual simple motif of a benevolent angel being sent on a mission to earth. The film begins its rather complicated and enjoyable tale by turning the tables and having a human being journey to heaven to rectify an angelic error. This delightful 1941 film is delightfully refreshing, but its real strength lies in the performance of Robert Montgomery. His sustaining sense of awe concerning all that is happening never falters nor becomes overdone, and he never allows the audience to entertain the idea that the film is a fantasy. Claude Rains performance as Mr. Jordan is immaculate, and Edward Everett Horton makes one hope that none of his descendents are still in the heavenly messenger business! Strangely enough, as clever and quick as the male actors' dialogue is, the dialogue is proportiately bland and unimaginitive for the women. James Gleason as feisty Max Corkle comes close to scene stealing, and all the male characters have solid well-written roles.

It is a shame that this delightful comedy isn't better known today. Part of the reason might lie in the fact that the film's star Robert Montgomery (father of Elizabeth Montgomery of BEWITCHED), after a stint in the military in WW II, did very little acting following the war. Therefore, he doesn't have many later films to draw attention to his career as a whole. Also, after the war he because deeply involved in political matters, and was one of Hollywood's more avid Communist hunters. For whatever reason, the film does not today have the reputation it deserves.

There have been two remakes of this film, so some explanation is in order. HERE COMES MR. JORDAN was a film version of a play by Harry Segal titled HEAVEN CAN WAIT. There was a 1944 film by Ernst Lubitsch called HEAVEN CAN WAIT starring Don Ameche, but that movie had nothing in common with HERE COMES MR. JORDAN (apart from being an equally superb comedy). In 1978, Warren Beatty wanted to remake HERE COMES MR. JORDAN using the original play's title with Muhammad Ali in the lead role, but Ali's schedule made this impossible, so he cast himself in the lead and transformed the central character into a football quarterback. Not as good as the original film, this actually wasn't a bad movie at all. In 2001, the film was remade again as DOWN TO EARTH, starring Chris Rock. I often love Chris Rock, but this film is not merely one of the low points of his career: it is a miserable film on every level, with the dreadful decision to make our hero a comic rather than an athlete.

Because of the remakes, the plot is familiar: Joe Pendleton, a boxer with a penchant for playing the saxophone and a shot at the title, is accidentally taken to heaven fifty years too early by an overzealous angel who wrongly assumes that he is about to die. The angel, Messenger 7013 (played marvelously by the inimitable Edward Everett Horton), brings Joe to his supervisor, Mr. Jordan (played magnificently by the ultra-suave and civilized Claude Rains). It is decided to provide Joe with a new body, where upon he tries in his new millionaire's body to get back into shape ("in the pink") in order to get a new shot at the championship. The only trouble is that the millionaire's wife and lover want to kill him so they can get his money and each other. Rounding out a great cast is Evelyn Keyes as the girlfriend of Joe (and the love interest of his subsequent incarnations) and James Gleason, Joe's trainer, who nearly steals ever scene he is in. The scene where Joe, in his new body, hires Gleason and then tries to convince him of his real identity, is just hysterical.

More people need to see this film. It remains one of the finer comedies made immediately before the onset of WW II, and is vastly better than the two films based upon it. It deserves far more attention than it has, in recent years, received.

In 1938 Australian-born motion-picture actor Errol Flynn won the heart of Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland) and defeated his evil foes as Robin Hood in "The Adventures of Robin Hood", a legendary motion picture about a Saxon knight who steals from the rich and gives to the poor oppressed people of England, based on the wellknown english medieval legends. Released in 1938, the film won 3 Academy Awards for art direction, film editing, and musical score, and it was nominated for that of Best Picture. It was also Selected for Registry by the National Film Preservation Board (1995). "The Adventures of Robin Hood" is listed among Warner Bros. Studio's classic films and biggest hits and solidified Flynn's image as the dashing young swashbuckler hero who always saves the day.
Robin Hood (played by Errol Flynn) fights against the villainous Prince John (Claude Rains), who took control of the kingdom as regent when King Richard (Ian Hunter) was captured in Austria during his return from the Holly Lands after Third Crusade's end . Prince John conspires with Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone) and certain Norman Knights against his brother Richard the Lionheart so to become a King and oppresses the poor, yet faithful to Richard, Saxons. Robin Hood and his brave men waylay caravans that travel through Sherwood Forest, including one carrying Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland). Robin Hood woos Maid Marian and helps King Richard regain his throne. Even based on legends, the movie has a quiet accurate historical set and a very interesting depiction of the conflict between Norman conquerors and Saxon vassals, in medieval England.
In my opinion this is one of the greatest film ever made in Hollywood. Undoubtebly it's the definitive Robin Hood version, where Errol Flynn surpassed Douglas Fairbanks who had played the same role in 1922. Kevin Costner's remake of this movie and newest version (1991) on the same medieval legend, although is quiet interesting and entertaining, seems to be inferior and mediocre in all comparison to this excellent, and brilliant large-scale epic.
Flynn's accent, (which sounded very English to most Americans), and the fact that he brought athletic exuberance, dashing good looks, and a sense of boyish fun, made him a natural choice to star as Sir Robin of Locksley. He plays one of his best roles with bravado and charisma ,appearing his great talent that made him a legend. Olivia de Havilland (who's really of Norman descent!!) gives an other great performance as the definitive Maid Marian, a sweetly beautiful romantic Norman heroine who's loyal to Richard and Robin's love interest.
Claude Rains, Basil Rathbone, Melville Cooper (the coward High Sheriff of Nottingham) and Montagu Love (as the Bishob of Black Canons) are simply perfect as villain conspirators and Rathbone displays his great talent in swordfighting in the magnificient final fencing between Gisbourne and Robin Hood which is one of the most famous scenes in cinema's history. Great and brilliant performances too from Alan Hale(Little John),Eugene Pallette (astonishing as Friar Tuck), Una O'Connor (Bess), Herbert Mundin(Much the Miller's Son) and Patrick Knowles(Will Scarlett) as Locksley's loyal companions.
Curtiz's direction is marvellous and authentic, art direction and costumes are splendid, Korngold's music score is unique and the Cinematography Color is astonisingly beautiful so that deserved to be awarded.
The movie is excellent and give it all the stars that I can.

This film is still thrilling for children and intensely nostalgic for grown-ups. 1938's THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD remains one of the most popular adventure films for all time. The film gives the legend of Robin Hood a light, satirical edge. Everyone in it is defined clear to the bone. Errol Flynn with exuberant aplomb plays Robin with a mixture of daring-do and self-mockery. It's good vs. evil all the way with Olivia De Havilland as Maid Marian, Alan Hale as Little John, Ian Hunter as Richard the Lion-Hearted, Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains as the villains. The rousing film's direction is credited to Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, the former having replaced the latter. In a way this is a forerunner of the modern popular screen action hero. There is no situation as hopeless as it looks that Robin cannot escape from. This should be credited to Flynn's tongue-in-cheek approach to the role with all and his athletic screen presence. Composer Erich Wolfgang (CAPTAIN BLOOD, JUAREZ, THE SEA HAWK, KINGS ROW) Korngold's score won an Academy Award. The fantastic colour photography was the work of Cinematographers Sol Polito and Tony Gaudio. When we think of the best of Flynn we think of this role. I hope someone somewhere is seeing that this film is being preserved for future generations. Films like this are rare and we need them today in these uncertain times more than ever before.

I bought the DVD largely out of curiosity, as I've watched it from time to time on TV over the years. I was completely fascinated by the quality of this film, made 65 years ago, and the restoration. It simply can't be faulted. The extras are just as good and tell how the film evolved from what was to be a humble B&W affair, with James Cagney as Robin Hood ( ???), into a Technicolour spectacular with the then, new boy on the block, Errol Flynn.
Just sit back and enjoy it for what it is - a very well made fairy tale movie, with a great cast of legends.
Loved it.

In 1938 Australian-born motion-picture actor Errol Flynn won the heart of Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland) and defeated his evil foes as Robin Hood in "The Adventures of Robin Hood", a legendary motion picture about a Saxon knight who steals from the rich and gives to the poor oppressed people of England, based on the wellknown english medieval legends. Released in 1938, the film won 3 Academy Awards for art direction, film editing, and musical score, and it was nominated for that of Best Picture. It was also Selected for Registry by the National Film Preservation Board (1995). "The Adventures of Robin Hood" is listed among Warner Bros. Studio's classic films and biggest hits and solidified Flynn's image as the dashing young swashbuckler hero who always saves the day.
Robin Hood (played by Errol Flynn) fights against the villainous Prince John (Claude Rains), who took control of the kingdom as regent when King Richard (Ian Hunter) was captured in Austria during his return from the Holly Lands after Third Crusade's end . Prince John conspires with Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone) and certain Norman Knights against his brother Richard the Lionheart so to become a King and oppresses the poor, yet faithful to Richard, Saxons. Robin Hood and his brave men waylay caravans that travel through Sherwood Forest, including one carrying Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland). Robin Hood woos Maid Marian and helps King Richard regain his throne. Even based on legends, the movie has a quiet accurate historical set and a very interesting depiction of the conflict between Norman conquerors and Saxon vassals, in medieval England.
In my opinion this is one of the greatest film ever made in Hollywood. Undoubtebly it's the definitive Robin Hood version, where Errol Flynn surpassed Douglas Fairbanks who had played the same role in 1922. Kevin Costner's remake of this movie and newest version (1991) on the same medieval legend, although is quiet interesting and entertaining, seems to be inferior and mediocre in all comparison to this excellent, and brilliant large-scale epic.
Flynn's accent, (which sounded very English to most Americans), and the fact that he brought athletic exuberance, dashing good looks, and a sense of boyish fun, made him a natural choice to star as Sir Robin of Locksley. He plays one of his best roles with bravado and charisma ,appearing his great talent that made him a legend. Olivia de Havilland (who's really of Norman descent!!) gives an other great performance as the definitive Maid Marian, a sweetly beautiful romantic Norman heroine who's loyal to Richard and Robin's love interest.
Claude Rains, Basil Rathbone, Melville Cooper (the coward High Sheriff of Nottingham) and Montagu Love (as the Bishob of Black Canons) are simply perfect as villain conspirators and Rathbone displays his great talent in swordfighting in the magnificient final fencing between Gisbourne and Robin Hood which is one of the most famous scenes in cinema's history. Great and brilliant performances too from Alan Hale(Little John),Eugene Pallette (astonishing as Friar Tuck), Una O'Connor (Bess), Herbert Mundin(Much the Miller's Son) and Patrick Knowles(Will Scarlett) as Locksley's loyal companions.
Curtiz's direction is marvellous and authentic, art direction and costumes are splendid, Korngold's music score is unique and the Cinematography Color is astonisingly beautiful so that deserved to be awarded.
The movie is excellent and give it all the stars that I can.

This film is still thrilling for children and intensely nostalgic for grown-ups. 1938's THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD remains one of the most popular adventure films for all time. The film gives the legend of Robin Hood a light, satirical edge. Everyone in it is defined clear to the bone. Errol Flynn with exuberant aplomb plays Robin with a mixture of daring-do and self-mockery. It's good vs. evil all the way with Olivia De Havilland as Maid Marian, Alan Hale as Little John, Ian Hunter as Richard the Lion-Hearted, Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains as the villains. The rousing film's direction is credited to Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, the former having replaced the latter. In a way this is a forerunner of the modern popular screen action hero. There is no situation as hopeless as it looks that Robin cannot escape from. This should be credited to Flynn's tongue-in-cheek approach to the role with all and his athletic screen presence. Composer Erich Wolfgang (CAPTAIN BLOOD, JUAREZ, THE SEA HAWK, KINGS ROW) Korngold's score won an Academy Award. The fantastic colour photography was the work of Cinematographers Sol Polito and Tony Gaudio. When we think of the best of Flynn we think of this role. I hope someone somewhere is seeing that this film is being preserved for future generations. Films like this are rare and we need them today in these uncertain times more than ever before.

I bought the DVD largely out of curiosity, as I've watched it from time to time on TV over the years. I was completely fascinated by the quality of this film, made 65 years ago, and the restoration. It simply can't be faulted. The extras are just as good and tell how the film evolved from what was to be a humble B&W affair, with James Cagney as Robin Hood ( ???), into a Technicolour spectacular with the then, new boy on the block, Errol Flynn.
Just sit back and enjoy it for what it is - a very well made fairy tale movie, with a great cast of legends.
Loved it.

In 1938 Australian-born motion-picture actor Errol Flynn won the heart of Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland) and defeated his evil foes as Robin Hood in "The Adventures of Robin Hood", a legendary motion picture about a Saxon knight who steals from the rich and gives to the poor oppressed people of England, based on the wellknown english medieval legends. Released in 1938, the film won 3 Academy Awards for art direction, film editing, and musical score, and it was nominated for that of Best Picture. It was also Selected for Registry by the National Film Preservation Board (1995). "The Adventures of Robin Hood" is listed among Warner Bros. Studio's classic films and biggest hits and solidified Flynn's image as the dashing young swashbuckler hero who always saves the day.
Robin Hood (played by Errol Flynn) fights against the villainous Prince John (Claude Rains), who took control of the kingdom as regent when King Richard (Ian Hunter) was captured in Austria during his return from the Holly Lands after Third Crusade's end . Prince John conspires with Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone) and certain Norman Knights against his brother Richard the Lionheart so to become a King and oppresses the poor, yet faithful to Richard, Saxons. Robin Hood and his brave men waylay caravans that travel through Sherwood Forest, including one carrying Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland). Robin Hood woos Maid Marian and helps King Richard regain his throne. Even based on legends, the movie has a quiet accurate historical set and a very interesting depiction of the conflict between Norman conquerors and Saxon vassals, in medieval England.
In my opinion this is one of the greatest film ever made in Hollywood. Undoubtebly it's the definitive Robin Hood version, where Errol Flynn surpassed Douglas Fairbanks who had played the same role in 1922. Kevin Costner's remake of this movie and newest version (1991) on the same medieval legend, although is quiet interesting and entertaining, seems to be inferior and mediocre in all comparison to this excellent, and brilliant large-scale epic.
Flynn's accent, (which sounded very English to most Americans), and the fact that he brought athletic exuberance, dashing good looks, and a sense of boyish fun, made him a natural choice to star as Sir Robin of Locksley. He plays one of his best roles with bravado and charisma ,appearing his great talent that made him a legend. Olivia de Havilland (who's really of Norman descent!!) gives an other great performance as the definitive Maid Marian, a sweetly beautiful romantic Norman heroine who's loyal to Richard and Robin's love interest.
Claude Rains, Basil Rathbone, Melville Cooper (the coward High Sheriff of Nottingham) and Montagu Love (as the Bishob of Black Canons) are simply perfect as villain conspirators and Rathbone displays his great talent in swordfighting in the magnificient final fencing between Gisbourne and Robin Hood which is one of the most famous scenes in cinema's history. Great and brilliant performances too from Alan Hale(Little John),Eugene Pallette (astonishing as Friar Tuck), Una O'Connor (Bess), Herbert Mundin(Much the Miller's Son) and Patrick Knowles(Will Scarlett) as Locksley's loyal companions.
Curtiz's direction is marvellous and authentic, art direction and costumes are splendid, Korngold's music score is unique and the Cinematography Color is astonisingly beautiful so that deserved to be awarded.
The movie is excellent and give it all the stars that I can.

This film is still thrilling for children and intensely nostalgic for grown-ups. 1938's THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD remains one of the most popular adventure films for all time. The film gives the legend of Robin Hood a light, satirical edge. Everyone in it is defined clear to the bone. Errol Flynn with exuberant aplomb plays Robin with a mixture of daring-do and self-mockery. It's good vs. evil all the way with Olivia De Havilland as Maid Marian, Alan Hale as Little John, Ian Hunter as Richard the Lion-Hearted, Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains as the villains. The rousing film's direction is credited to Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, the former having replaced the latter. In a way this is a forerunner of the modern popular screen action hero. There is no situation as hopeless as it looks that Robin cannot escape from. This should be credited to Flynn's tongue-in-cheek approach to the role with all and his athletic screen presence. Composer Erich Wolfgang (CAPTAIN BLOOD, JUAREZ, THE SEA HAWK, KINGS ROW) Korngold's score won an Academy Award. The fantastic colour photography was the work of Cinematographers Sol Polito and Tony Gaudio. When we think of the best of Flynn we think of this role. I hope someone somewhere is seeing that this film is being preserved for future generations. Films like this are rare and we need them today in these uncertain times more than ever before.

I bought the DVD largely out of curiosity, as I've watched it from time to time on TV over the years. I was completely fascinated by the quality of this film, made 65 years ago, and the restoration. It simply can't be faulted. The extras are just as good and tell how the film evolved from what was to be a humble B&W affair, with James Cagney as Robin Hood ( ???), into a Technicolour spectacular with the then, new boy on the block, Errol Flynn.
Just sit back and enjoy it for what it is - a very well made fairy tale movie, with a great cast of legends.
Loved it.

In 1938 Australian-born motion-picture actor Errol Flynn won the heart of Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland) and defeated his evil foes as Robin Hood in "The Adventures of Robin Hood", a legendary motion picture about a Saxon knight who steals from the rich and gives to the poor oppressed people of England, based on the wellknown english medieval legends. Released in 1938, the film won 3 Academy Awards for art direction, film editing, and musical score, and it was nominated for that of Best Picture. It was also Selected for Registry by the National Film Preservation Board (1995). "The Adventures of Robin Hood" is listed among Warner Bros. Studio's classic films and biggest hits and solidified Flynn's image as the dashing young swashbuckler hero who always saves the day.
Robin Hood (played by Errol Flynn) fights against the villainous Prince John (Claude Rains), who took control of the kingdom as regent when King Richard (Ian Hunter) was captured in Austria during his return from the Holly Lands after Third Crusade's end . Prince John conspires with Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone) and certain Norman Knights against his brother Richard the Lionheart so to become a King and oppresses the poor, yet faithful to Richard, Saxons. Robin Hood and his brave men waylay caravans that travel through Sherwood Forest, including one carrying Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland). Robin Hood woos Maid Marian and helps King Richard regain his throne. Even based on legends, the movie has a quiet accurate historical set and a very interesting depiction of the conflict between Norman conquerors and Saxon vassals, in medieval England.
In my opinion this is one of the greatest film ever made in Hollywood. Undoubtebly it's the definitive Robin Hood version, where Errol Flynn surpassed Douglas Fairbanks who had played the same role in 1922. Kevin Costner's remake of this movie and newest version (1991) on the same medieval legend, although is quiet interesting and entertaining, seems to be inferior and mediocre in all comparison to this excellent, and brilliant large-scale epic.
Flynn's accent, (which sounded very English to most Americans), and the fact that he brought athletic exuberance, dashing good looks, and a sense of boyish fun, made him a natural choice to star as Sir Robin of Locksley. He plays one of his best roles with bravado and charisma ,appearing his great talent that made him a legend. Olivia de Havilland (who's really of Norman descent!!) gives an other great performance as the definitive Maid Marian, a sweetly beautiful romantic Norman heroine who's loyal to Richard and Robin's love interest.
Claude Rains, Basil Rathbone, Melville Cooper (the coward High Sheriff of Nottingham) and Montagu Love (as the Bishob of Black Canons) are simply perfect as villain conspirators and Rathbone displays his great talent in swordfighting in the magnificient final fencing between Gisbourne and Robin Hood which is one of the most famous scenes in cinema's history. Great and brilliant performances too from Alan Hale(Little John),Eugene Pallette (astonishing as Friar Tuck), Una O'Connor (Bess), Herbert Mundin(Much the Miller's Son) and Patrick Knowles(Will Scarlett) as Locksley's loyal companions.
Curtiz's direction is marvellous and authentic, art direction and costumes are splendid, Korngold's music score is unique and the Cinematography Color is astonisingly beautiful so that deserved to be awarded.
The movie is excellent and give it all the stars that I can.

This film is still thrilling for children and intensely nostalgic for grown-ups. 1938's THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD remains one of the most popular adventure films for all time. The film gives the legend of Robin Hood a light, satirical edge. Everyone in it is defined clear to the bone. Errol Flynn with exuberant aplomb plays Robin with a mixture of daring-do and self-mockery. It's good vs. evil all the way with Olivia De Havilland as Maid Marian, Alan Hale as Little John, Ian Hunter as Richard the Lion-Hearted, Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains as the villains. The rousing film's direction is credited to Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, the former having replaced the latter. In a way this is a forerunner of the modern popular screen action hero. There is no situation as hopeless as it looks that Robin cannot escape from. This should be credited to Flynn's tongue-in-cheek approach to the role with all and his athletic screen presence. Composer Erich Wolfgang (CAPTAIN BLOOD, JUAREZ, THE SEA HAWK, KINGS ROW) Korngold's score won an Academy Award. The fantastic colour photography was the work of Cinematographers Sol Polito and Tony Gaudio. When we think of the best of Flynn we think of this role. I hope someone somewhere is seeing that this film is being preserved for future generations. Films like this are rare and we need them today in these uncertain times more than ever before.

I bought the DVD largely out of curiosity, as I've watched it from time to time on TV over the years. I was completely fascinated by the quality of this film, made 65 years ago, and the restoration. It simply can't be faulted. The extras are just as good and tell how the film evolved from what was to be a humble B&W affair, with James Cagney as Robin Hood ( ???), into a Technicolour spectacular with the then, new boy on the block, Errol Flynn.
Just sit back and enjoy it for what it is - a very well made fairy tale movie, with a great cast of legends.
Loved it.

King's Row starts off with a view of a sign that announces that the town of King's Row is a great place to live and have a family. The rest of the movie shows you just how untrue that sign was. The film turns the romantic view of life in a small town upside down, exposing a lot of vices and prejudices. The performances are a mixed bag. Ann Sheridan gives one of her best performances as the girl from the wrong side of the tracks (literally), and Ronald Reagan surprises with an effective job as the victim of a sadistic doctor. But Robert Cummings is sometimes laughable as the very idealistic young doctor and Betty Field is over the top as his troubled girlfriend. The supporting cast is generally fine, with an especially fine performance by Nancy Coleman, who should have become a star but didn't. The movie is both dramatic and entertaining, and if you like stories about small towns like I do, then don't miss this one. It's an eye-opener!

"King's Row" is the most distinguished film of Ronald Reagan's actor career, for which he drew his best reviews. However, by the time it was released in 1942, Reagan was in the Army and his film career received a fateful interruption that would eventually lead to his shifting to a political career. I remember that when Breshnev was preparing to meet with President Reagan the Soviet leader screened several of Reagan's films, and "King's Row" was the one that impressed him. If you have already seen this film, directed by Sam Wood, you know why.

The film focuses on five childhood friends who grow up to complicated lives. Parris Mitchell (Robert Cummings) has become a medical student, studying privately with Dr. Alexander Tower (Claude Rains), whose daughter Cassandra (Betty Field) is a sheltered neurotic. Louise Gordon (Nancy Coleman) has been raised by harsh parents who warn here away from playboy Drake McHugh (Reagan), who is living off an inheritance. Drake ends up falling for Randy Monoghan (Ann Sheridan), the former tomboy who has grown up in to a most practical working class girl. Things then get very dark. First, when Dr. Tower discovers Cassandra is pregnant he kills her and himself. Then, after losing his fortune and taking a job at the railroad yard, Drake is injured and Dr. Gordon (Charles Coburn) decides to amputate the young man's legs as a punishment for his former hedonism. This is what leads to Reagan's unforgettable scene when he wakes up and discovers what has been done to him. The scene could have become ludicrous, but Reagan pulls it off and it is clearly his finest moment as an actor.

"King's Row" is based on the novel by Henry Bellamann, which is a massive story of sadism and thwarted love in what was clearly the "Payton Place" of its day, set in a quiet Midwestern town at the turn of the (last) century. A lot of the novel's elements, such as incest, homosexuality and euthanasia were never going to make it into the film forcing screenwriter Casey Robinson to salvage what he could (e.g., turning the incest between Dr. Tower and his daughter Cassandra into a question of insanity). Robinson also gave the movie a "happier" ending (originally, Drake McHugh dies of cancer after his legs are unnecessarily amputated). Even more radical was the casting, since few in Hollywood were comfortable with Sheridan, Cummings and Reagan having the three lead roles. However, all of them perform admirably, as does Field and the supporting cast of veteran character actors. Reagan would go on to entitle his autobiography "Where's the Rest of Me?" after the famous line he screams when he awakens to discover his legs are gone.

This is a riveting soap opera with a cast that holds all the pieces together, and keeps the sometimes improbable plot fascinating at all times for the viewer.
It was filmed on a soundstage, with very effective scenic design by William Cameron Menzies...I just love the skies !
Brilliantly conceived and directed by Sam Wood, it's based on Harry Bellamann's best-selling novel. The excellent Erich Wolfgang Korngold score also adds to the drama and atmosphere.

Set in a turn of the century small town, where the dark secrets and vile motives of some contrast with the goodness of others, the best scenes are between Ann Sheridan and Ronald Reagan.
The chemistry between them is a delight, and their acting so real, one feels one is sharing the moment with them, even though this was filmed over 60 years ago. They shine as Randy and Drake, two strong, independent, and fun loving souls.

With the exception of one or two scenes with rather stilted dialogue between Betty Field and Robert Cummings, the pacing never lags. There are great actors even in the supporting roles, like Dame Judith Anderson and Maria Ouspenskaya. Claude Rains is absolutely marvelous, and steals every scene he's in.

This classic was nominated for several Oscars...B&W Cinematography (James Wong Howe), Director, and Best Picture, but lost to a "Mrs. Minever" sweep.
It's perhaps Ronald Reagan's best performance, so this film is a piece of American history, as well as being highly entertaining.

Amazingly, I only just rented this movie and saw it for the first time this week, and I was pleased to see how well this legendary Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart classic had held up. Stewart won the Academy award for best actor in 1939 for his performance as the idealistic young senator from Montana who triumphs against dirty politics and overwhelming odds--including the collusion and corruption of those who he admired and thought to be his friends--such as his fellow Senator Paine, played by the great Claude Rains. I was equally impressed by Rains's part, and his dramatic reversal of his position toward Stewart at the very end and confession in the Senate chamber about his cooperating with the corrupt Taylor political machine has to be one of the most moving, climatic scenes in cinema--except that Stewart had just passed out from exhaustion after his marathon filibuster--so he didn't get a chance to witness it himself.

I was discussing the movie with someone who knows more about film than I do, and they said that the movie showed what tremendous range Stewart had, from joy to despair, from energetic exhuberance to exhaustion, and from his initial naive idealism about Washington to his quickly wising up about the realities of politics. They said Stewart really never had a chance to show as great a range of emotion during much of the rest of his career, since he was often cast in light-hearted and humorous roles after that. I thought this was an interesting comment about one of America's most famous and loved actors, as his part in Rear Window was certainly a very serious role, but again, I'm not an expert on film history so I offer this comment for what it's worth.

Overall, still a great classic that has stood the test of time, and a must see for fans of old movies, especially Jimmy Stewart, Claude Rains, and Frank Capra fans. And I can't forget to mention the rest of the supporting cast--Jean Arthur, Thomas Mitchell, Edward Arnold, and Guy Kibbee--are also superb.

I was shown this movie by my 12th grade government teacher, Mr. Jones. Now that I am a teacher, I find this to be a great resource for students. It puts an entertaining spin on a subject that high school students sometimes find tedious and tough to understand, our government. In addition to the above mentioned qualities, I find that watching this movies allows me to believe that our Representitives, at one time, stood for what they belive in and govern in a responsible and ethical manner. Congress should have to sit and watch this on a monthly basis, just as a reminder :-)

This film is what film making is or should be about. The exitement and drama are not only high but of a very real nature. The story tells us that no matter how great and wonderful we think our country is, we still need to work at keeping it great while holding on to the great ideals set down in our constitution by the nation's founders. the film's "hero," Jefferson Smith tells us that even today we can fight against corruption and special interest groups influencing our government if we just get off our pop cultured couch potatoe and do something about it!
This film offers too an amazingly powerful cast and great acting. This is a great Capra legacy and DVD to have in your collection!!!

They don't make them like this anymore and they never will again. How could they? The brilliant and insightful director Frank Capra is gone. Jimmy Stewart, the quitessential American actor( along with Gary Cooper), is also gone. Look at the incomparable supporting cast: Thomas Mitchell, Edward Arnold, Claude Rains and Harry Carey all in one movie. Incredible!

And what a movie this is. Stewart's performance is sublime and Capra wrings every ounce of emotion from him in the immortal Senate scene. Jean Arthur ably supports, though this is thoroughly Jimmy Stewart's picture. The script never flags, there are no filler scenes, no superfluous dialogue, no irritating sub-plots... it's the perfect movie and one which should bring tears to the eyes of anyone who is proud to be an American.

Of course Capra was hokey at times, that was his stock in trade. But somehow, when Capra does it, it's still magical, it's still timeless and this is still one of the great American movies. If you've never seen it, you're in for a memorable treat. For those of us who have seen it many times, there's still more magic to wring from another viewing.

It isn't hard to imagine that our founding fathers envisioned politicians like Jefferson Smith. Of course we all know that a man with such integrity and idealism could never achieve political office. The reason: It's right there in this movie. The Jim Taylors and Sen. Paines would never allow it. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington isn't as artistic a film as Citizen Kane or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but it's quite simply the most entertaining and moving film I've ever seen. The reason: It's right there in the movie. The greatest film actor of all time, in arguably his greatest performance, and, in terms of commercial success, the greatest director in arguably his greatest film. The reason I say arguably is because these two teamed up for another film called It's A Wonderful Life. However, I think Mr. Smith is a better movie. It's able to elicit the same emotion and sentiment as It's A Wonderful Life, but it has a powerful message that drives it. More importantly, Frank Capra believes in his subject and his message. Some people accuse him of making commercial movies, not venturing into deeper subject matter, and painting the world in unrealistic ways. But how many of those same critics aren't completely engrossed in the movie when Stewart filibusters before congress, one of the most powerful scenes in film history. I guess Capra believed that there is a little good in all of us and it takes a Mr. Smith to bring it out of us. That may be commercial, shallow, and unrealistic but it's a nice thought anyway. And I certainly don't want to be the one to prove Mr. Capra wrong. So what's wrong with a movie that believes in Americanism and idealism, especially when it is as well-made and well-acted as Mr. Smith.

Amazingly, I only just rented this movie and saw it for the first time this week, and I was pleased to see how well this legendary Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart classic had held up. Stewart won the Academy award for best actor in 1939 for his performance as the idealistic young senator from Montana who triumphs against dirty politics and overwhelming odds--including the collusion and corruption of those who he admired and thought to be his friends--such as his fellow Senator Paine, played by the great Claude Rains. I was equally impressed by Rains's part, and his dramatic reversal of his position toward Stewart at the very end and confession in the Senate chamber about his cooperating with the corrupt Taylor political machine has to be one of the most moving, climatic scenes in cinema--except that Stewart had just passed out from exhaustion after his marathon filibuster--so he didn't get a chance to witness it himself.

I was discussing the movie with someone who knows more about film than I do, and they said that the movie showed what tremendous range Stewart had, from joy to despair, from energetic exhuberance to exhaustion, and from his initial naive idealism about Washington to his quickly wising up about the realities of politics. They said Stewart really never had a chance to show as great a range of emotion during much of the rest of his career, since he was often cast in light-hearted and humorous roles after that. I thought this was an interesting comment about one of America's most famous and loved actors, as his part in Rear Window was certainly a very serious role, but again, I'm not an expert on film history so I offer this comment for what it's worth.

Overall, still a great classic that has stood the test of time, and a must see for fans of old movies, especially Jimmy Stewart, Claude Rains, and Frank Capra fans. And I can't forget to mention the rest of the supporting cast--Jean Arthur, Thomas Mitchell, Edward Arnold, and Guy Kibbee--are also superb.