A highway heist on a shipment of gold sees Robin cross paths with Maid Marian (frequent Flynn collaborator and Gone with the Wind star Olivia de Havilland) who comes to empathise with Robin’s cause. True fact: Marian’s horse is played by “Trigger” – the famous equine who appeared in American Western films with his owner and cowboy star Roy Rogers. And whose hoof prints are captured in concrete on the sidewalk outside the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood!

A secondary antagonist in the Robin mythos is Sir Guy of Gisbourne. In this version, he’s played by Basil Rathbone. Most famous for his 14 appearances as Sherlock Holmes, Rathbone was a two-time Oscar nominee and despite being born in South Africa, actually grew up in Derbyshire. My kingdom for a Midlander!

Rathbone attended Repton School in Derbyshire and during the First World War he was called up via the Derby Scheme into the British Army. Rathbone was also a two-time British Army Fencing Champion – something that would serve him well i n Robin Hood as he taught swordsmanship to Flynn on set.

Speaking of Gisborne, it’s worth noting he is portrayed by Leicester’s own Richard Armitage (The Hobbit trilogy) in BBC’s 2006 Robin Hood TV series. And Richard himself is named after an historical King! Find out more about both in our interview with the actor here.

Rathbone is not the sole Midlander in the cast though. Melville Cooper stars as the Sheriff of Nottingham and was born in Aston, Birmingham. Cooper also attended King Edward's School before making his professional stage debut in a production at Stratford-upon-Avon.

These and the rest of the huge and talented cast ensures that the film is engrossing from the start as it flits between the heroes and villains. As huge crowds gather for an archery tournament, the film’s $2 million budget – the highest ever for Warner Bros. when it was made - can be seen across the film in its lavish sets and high quality prestige look.

The bright and bold use of Technicolor – with green and red clothing simply popping off the screen at times – is a welcome antidote to the murky and dull “medieval” look of modern movies. It’s refreshing to see such luxurious visuals when so often the colour palette of recent historical epics are so washed out they may be in black and white. (Funnily enough this movie was planned to be shot in black and white before changing to Technicolor just three months before production started!)

The colourful adventures continue in the film as we are thrilled with the exciting capture and escape sequence which ends the film’s second act, before Robin and Marian declare their love to each other in an “everything I do, I do it for you” moment on the palace walls.

The Adventures of Robin Hood has clearly influenced more modern interpretations despite the legend being so well known. Kevin Costner’s Prince of Thieves (1991) and Disney animation Robin Hood (1973) have cribbed visuals and clothing directly from this movie. And as this film culminates to its climax at the castle, we also get iconic but familiar sequences of disguises, fighting in battles and a lengthy duel to free Marian. Finally finishing with the return of King Richard.

These action scenes may seem a little “stagey” compared to modern movies but all the ingredients are certainly there – sword fights, horse chases, bows and arrows and even just Jason Bourne make-the-most-of-what you-have-nearby furniture throwing. And it wasn’t all smooth sailing. During the banquet hall brawl, Rathbone himself was trampled by an extra whose spear cut his so badly it required eight stitches!

And 'legend’ has it that professional archer Howard Hill, who provided all the arrow firing in the film, really did “split the arrow” with one particular shot but it needed replacing as it didn’t look great on camera! *rubs chin*

As with nearly all versions before and after, the filmmakers avoided using any real Midlands locations for their production. To be fair, 1938 Hollywood was never coming to Sherwood were they? As a stand in they used Bidwell Park in California as the famed forest. However, they did film at "Lake Sherwood" and "Sherwood Forest". These are California locations that were so named after they were used for the 1922 Douglas Fairbanks film version. The rest were mostly stage sets at Burbank Studios and it meant the Midlands was short-changed once more as a shooting location for one of its most famous sons.

More postitively, in addition to the entertaining action, actors and amazing stunts, the final bullseye in the film came in the form of Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s grandiose film score. Its orchestral movements leap from delicate tuneful ditties and romantic interludes to a host of powerful melodic themes and operatic compositions. And it won the musician a well-deserved Academy Award. Later on, composer John Williams cited Korngold's work as an inspiration for his own heroic music in Star Wars.

As well as that, it won 2 further Oscars for Best Art Direction and Best Film Editing and was a box office success grossing around $4 million, making it one of the highest earners of 1938. Not bad when ticket prices were under 25 cents!

Sadly, a sequel, Sir Robin of Locksley, was announced but not developed, yet the film has rightfully become a benchmark that all other movie adaptations strive to achieve. It’s a lush, fun, almost pantomime version of the legend but it’s a hugely ambitious film that doesn’t scrimp on the comedy, drama, romance or action that a big screen adaptation needs and deserves. So I recommend catching it, not only to fill a gap in your cinematic history, but to have a rollicking good time too.

Is it our favourite Hood movie of all time? Well, it’s certainly close. Check our Top 10 Robin Hood film list from a few years ago as it goes up against a personal favourite of mine – Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Coming out in 1991 (a great year for films on its 35^th anniversary year) it has the same Americanised flavour as Flynn's and although filmed in England, it also still fails to make use of any place in our region. [big sigh] Oh well.

But you don't have to wait too long for more! If you’re a fan of Robin Hood in all his guises, then later this year comes another interpretation. Historical drama The Death of Robin Hood is a re-imagining where Hugh Jackman (Flynn’s fellow Australian!) stars in a movie filmed in, you’ve guessed it, Ireland.

Gisbourne (Rathbone): “You've come to Nottingham once too often!”

Robin (Flynn): “When this is over, my friend, there'll be no need for me to come again”.

One day, they may just come to this area for the first time.

But for now, let us all just enjoy Hollywood's version of Sherwood in this fantastic Flynn fable from yesteryear.