Period action adventure series The Adventures of Robin Hood told stories of the exploits of Robin Hood (Richard Greene) and his merry men as they try to outwit the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.
Blessed with a cracking theme tune by Dick James this shot on film black and white adventure series helped start a trend in 1950’s TV in the UK, this was a purely family, sanitised version of the famous legend of the outlaw from the 12th century doing battle against the evil sheriff of Nottingham.
As with most of these ITC series filming was done at Nettlefield Studios, many of the sets were constructed on wheels to make the changes on the quick filming show easier.
Interestingly many of the scriptwriters on the show were black listed Hollywood screenwriters who had fled the McCarthy witch hunts. They were, however, forced to write their scripts under pseudonyms. The legendary Lindsay Anderson directed several episodes of the show too.
One aspect of the show that is quite amazing is the way that many of the regular characters changed faces at some point, for instance Will Scarlett was played by both Ronald Howard and Paul Eddington (Eddington in fact crops a number of times in different roles throughout the course of the series).
The show’s many imitators (most of which, it must be said, were made by the same company) included (all called The Adventures Of…) Sir Lancelot, William Tell, The Buccaneers and the Scarlet Pimpernel.
“Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the Glen, Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with his band of men”
Cast: Richard Greene as Robin Hood; Alexander Gauge as Friar Tuck; Alan Wheatley as The Sheriff of Nottingham; Archie Duncan as Little John(1); Rufus Cruickshank as Little John(2); Bernadette O’Farrell as Maid Marion(1); Patricia Driscoll as Maid Marion(2); Paul Eddington as Will Scarlett(1); Ronald Howard as Will Scarlett(2); Hubert Gregg as Prince John(1); Brian Haines as Prince John (2); Donald Pleasence as Prince John(3); Peter Asher as Prince Arthur (1); Richard O’Sullivan as Prince Arthur(2); Jonathan Bailey as Prince Arthur(3); John Arnatt as Deputy Sheriff of Nottingham (1960)
Executive Producer: Hannah Weinstein / Music: Dick James
UK / ITV Network-ITC-Sapphire / 143×30 minute episodes / Broadcast 1956-60
