What it’s about
Robin of Locksley, a noble Saxon (Flynn), sees the people of England exploited by the Normans and their leader, Prince John (Rains), who’s seized the throne in his brother Richard’s absence. Robin and his followers work to undermine the corrupt regime until King Richard’s return. With Maid Marion (Olivia De Havilland) as love interest and Sir Guy Gisbourne (Rathbone) as nemesis, Robin is kept constantly occupied.
Why we love it
This rousing, gorgeously photographed adventure movie exemplifies the magical heights Warner Brothers attained in the Golden Age of the studio system. Bolstered by a consistently clever script, with both humor and romance complementing the derring-do, Curtiz's “Robin Hood” is a milestone in Hollywood cinema: the first, and perhaps best, color swashbuckler.