The Swashbuckling Technicolor Wonder

Is it a coincidence that the greatest adventure film of all time has the word "adventure" in the title? Probably not, and it is, without any question the best ever in the swashbuckling genre. Out of Warner-Bros. from 1938 The Adventures of Robin Hood is the classic Robin Hood tale about the evil Prince John, played brilliantly, as always by the incomparable Claude Rains, unrightfully capturing the throne in place of his kidnapped brother, the beloved King Richard "The Lion-Heart"(Ian Hunter). But when Prince John and all of his Norman Lords start oppressing the Saxon people of England beyond counteraction, Robin Hood, played classically by Errol Flynn, steps up into the spotlight to fight the tyranny. The Maid Marian to Errol's Robin is Olivia de Havialland, and though of course their chemistry on(and speculatory off-) screen is luminescent, not just one aspect of this film makes it the masterpiece that it is.
The choice to use Technicolor for The Adventures of Robin Hood, is maybe, next to Gone With The Wind(1936), the most inspired and fitting way to showcase such a picture. In accordance with the look of the film, thanks to cinematographers Tony Gaudio and Sol Polito, the music is among the finest ever composed. From the first frame and the joyous eruption of the trumpets, Erich Wolfgang Kornhold's score is simple in it's composition but, more importantly, the most seamless combination ever in the history of cinema. The stunt work which was lightyears ahead of it's time is magnified 1000x by the lighting (most apparent in the classic swordfights with the projected shadows on the castle walls) and directing of William Keighley, and predominately, Michael Curtiz(Casablanca 1942).
But if one had to pick the true shining star of this picture, it would be the illustriast cast that deliver still one of the best esemble Hollywood performances after all of these years. The stars, of course, Errol Flynn (in his prime), Olivia de Havilland and Claude Rains. And the supporting cast: Sir Basil Rathbone as Sir Guy of Gisbourne, Alan Hale as Little John, Patrick Knowles as Will Scarlett, Eugene Pallette as Friar Tuck, Una O'Connor as Bess, and Melville Cooper as the High Sheriff of Nottingham.
The true test of any adventure film is it's ability to engage the audience from start to finish. To get your blood pumping, your heart beating, make you laugh, make you cry, make you angry, make you sad, hold your breath in moments of uncertainty, sigh after every kiss of true love and smile until the very last frame. I do not know many pictures who can boast every aspect of the aformentioned but one I do know, The Adventures of Robin Hood, is not only the greatest swashbuckling-adventure of all time, but rightfully takes it's place among the best films ever made--and we are so lucky to have it.