The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Prince John and the Norman Lords begin oppressing the Saxon masses in King Richard's absence in 1190s England. However, Saxon lord, Sir Robin of Locksley, fights back as the outlaw leader of a resistance movement. He and his band of Merry Men, rob the rich to give to the poor and foil the cruel sheriff of Nottingham, Sir Guy of Gisbourne, whilst keeping the nefarious Prince John off the throne. Robin Hood is one of the oldest tales in English folklore that, despite its age, continues to entertain the masses to this day. A story full of enthralling adventure naturally captivates the imagination and excitement of people of all ages over countless decades. It is therefore no wonder such a tale would make for a thrilling big screen experience. However, this wasn't the first big screen outing for the swashbuckling hero, with previous adaptations dating back to 1908 and 1922. Whilst equally entertaining, many, including myself, would regard this as a definite introduction to the character on the silver screen. This adaptation is rich in every conceivable aspect. Firstly, the enormous 'stage-like' sets were magnificent, like, for instance, the castle, which held an unprecedented scale unlike anything I had seen in film from this time. It truly took advantage of the possibilities for a big-screen depiction, allowing opportunities to leave audiences in awe at the sheer size of its set design. Personally, this was the most surprising aspect that impressed me immensely. A film from this decade with real sets of this magnitude easily overshadows the lifeless CGI landscapes of some movies. Secondly, there was the action that ups the ante with its invigorating flashy sword fights, which were as visually impressive as they were physically. Accompanying these fights is the grand soundtrack that elevates these scenes to their peak excitement, equally doing wonders for other scenes of varying emotions. Thirdly, we have the other integral participant in the visual spectacle, the magnificent colours. I find this to be the film's greatest asset since not only was it not commonly used at this time in filmmaking, but it allowed for some spectacular striking visuals. The colours used were the most vibrant possible and like the effort dealt to the grandiose scale, it too took full advantage of its capabilities making for another Technicolor delight. Finally, we have the players, those in the foreground delivering those hard-hitting lines, leaping into the action and having all the fun. Robin Hood is played by Errol Flynn who is best known for his swashbuckling romance roles with this one probably being his most recognisable. His portrayal certainly set the bar for all future incarnations of the character and his performance was quite the stand out. From the physical side with the sword duels to his comedic playful dialogue, filling the story with plenty of joyful laughter. I thoroughly enjoyed watching his formation of the band of Merry Men and how he gained their trust and loyalty. Naturally, his crew consists of Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlett, Much the Miller's son and countless others. I found it quite interesting to see just how many people join forces with Robin in the woods as some depictions only show the main names you know with the occasional aid from villages, so an army made for quite the spectacle during battles. Later joining them would be the beautiful Maid Marian played by Olivia de Havilland whose performance as the heroine equally shone, especially in the growing romance with Robin. Similar praise can be said for all cast including the villains, Sir Guy of Gisbourne and Prince John, whose cunning and imposing presences made for fantastic antagonists, especially Gisbourne, who has some exquisite fencing with Robin in the final battle. Overall, The Adventures of Robin Hood is a pinnacle of the golden age of Hollywood. From its superb casting in both leading and supporting roles, the phenomenal action, set pieces and score, to the stunning colour visuals, this picture is everything a movie should aspire to be. It has stood the test of time and still looks incredible, inspiring countless films over the decades and influencing the many Robin Hoods yet to come. 

Runtime: 1h 42m

Directors: Michael Curtiz, William Keighley

Genre: Action / Adventure / Romance

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Dracula (1931)

Estate agent, Renfield, travels to Transylvania for a business meeting with Count Dracula to finalize the transferral of Carfax Abbey in London. Unbeknown to Renfield however, despite warnings of evil by some of the locals, Dracula is a vampire and the visitor is soon to become his unwilling servant. They travel by ship to England but by the time it makes port, an insane Renfield is the only living passenger left aboard. Count Dracula moves into Carfax Abbey and immediately sets out in search of potential victims by night. It's left to Professor Van Helsing, who knows exactly what Dracula is, to stop the spread of his evil and finish him once and for all. What a classic film! A true piece of history that's so enjoyable, even 90-plus years since it came out. Bela Lugosi's Dracula can easily be described as a timeless masterpiece. With so many versions of Dracula done over the years, I believe Bela Lugosi brought such character and elegance to the role of the most famous vampire. I would hold him in such high regard with Christopher Lee's depiction, although quite different, equally entertaining. To have become such an icon in pop culture history and have lasted nearly 100 years as one of the best adaptations from the numerous screen versions of Bram Stoker's classic tale, is such a tremendous feat. I loved the tone set in this film, which certainly gave a chilling atmosphere from the Count's castle to wandering the streets of London at night. Even the glaring stare of Dracula's piercing eyes is enough to send shivers down your spine, that is if Renfield's psychotic laughter doesn't first. I think my favourite character in the movie has to be Professor Van Helsing who had some fantastic scenes with the Count which I truly loved. The sequence where Helsing observes a small mirror in a cigarette box has no reflection of Count Dracula leads to his conclusion that he is not human and indeed a vampire. Helsing proceeds to ask Dracula, before he leaves, to be of help to him by looking at the box claiming that he had "stumbled upon a most amazing phenomenon" saying it is so incredible he mistrusts his own judgement. Van Helsing opens the box and as Dracula's eyes meet with the mirror inside, he smacks it out of Helsing's hands and his face is overcome with fear and hatred, which presents just how amazing of an actor Bela Lugosi really is. What's even better about this sequence is how he exposed Dracula in a room with two other people who saw his outburst, which worked to Helsing's advantage. To top it off, this scene has a brilliant line from Dracula as he leaves directed to Van Helsing: "For one who has not lived even a single lifetime, you're a wise man Van Helsing". Easily the best line and scene in the whole film, in my opinion. Even if you don't check this film out, definitely look up this scene. It is just phenomenal! However, this encounter between the two continues in a later scene that sees Dracula test Helsing discovering he has a strong will when he disobeys Dracula's powers and instructions. The film throughout is very well paced and for only being: 1 hour and 11 minutes long, it didn't feel at all rushed until the last few minutes, which felt a little quick in my opinion, as if trying to finish it as quickly as possible. Otherwise, it was perfect. Overall, this is a magnificent horror classic featuring one of cinema's most famous and beloved vampires with some outstanding acting from all involved and, for a film of the 1930s, it was above and beyond. I would even go as far as to say ahead of its time. A piece of classic film history, still engaging and entertaining today. Also, check out the Spanish iteration of this film of the same year in Drácula (1931), which features many of the same sets but uses other actors and is directed in a completely different way making it a very close competitor with this version. I would further recommend checking out the first of many Hammer Horror classic takes on the iconic vampire with the outstanding Christopher Lee in the leading role in Dracula (1958), which so happens to be my absolute favourite depiction of this story.

Runtime: 1h 11m

Director: Tod Browning, Karl Freund

Genre: Drama / Fantasy / Horror

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King Kong (1933)

Carl Denham needs to finish his movie and has the perfect location: Skull Island. But he still needs to find a leading lady. This 'soon-to-be-unfortunate' soul is Ann Darrow. No one knows what they will encounter on this island and why it is so mysterious, but once they reach it, they will soon find out. Living on this hidden island is a giant gorilla and this beast now has Ann in its grasp. Kong grows attached to Ann and protects her from all the prehistoric life that surrounds them. Carl and Ann's new love, Jack Driscoll, must travel through the jungle looking for Kong and Ann, whilst avoiding all sorts of creatures and beasts. Eventually, the gorilla is captured and brought to New York. In the middle of a show on Broadway, Kong escapes and mass panic ensues as he rampages through the city. What a classic film! One of the most iconic in cinematic history that has shaped the movie industry that has become so cemented in pop culture. Its importance and relevance are shown through countless references over the years in movies and other media. Films like King Kong show the amazing work of early movies and I can only imagine how amazing this was to people of the day. It must have been a true adventure and a real thrill. I love the models that are used for all the prehistoric creatures and Kong, which are well implemented into shots and are so well animated. I've always been a fan of stop-motion because of the amount of detail and time it takes to make the models come to life and the dedication put into it. Today CGI is the go-to method, it is stunning and believable but I appreciate the time and care these older movies put into such elements. One of my favourite uses of stop-motion and detailed models is in Clash of the Titans (1981) which was done by Ray Harryhausen who was inspired by this film. That can be said for most stop-motion animators as it inspired them to create their own and as they grew up they would later fulfil their love for it in movies like in Star Wars where the team of ILM used models like Kong. If you like seeing behind the scenes of stop-motion and the development of special effects check out the amazing documentary: Light & Magic (TV Series 2022). This feature is truly a spectacle that is extremely compelling with some great acting on display here, showing how truly incredible big blockbuster films were in their earliest years. To be transported into another world where a giant gorilla faces off against prehistoric creatures from the Tyrannosaurus to the Pteranodon, in huge battles. People then were only just getting used to sound being used in motion pictures and it will have been a tremendous leap into a picture like Kong. There had never been anything quite like this at that time and it went all out in creating some fantastic visuals and effects. Not only that, but this film is rather brutal too. We see Kong break a T-Rex's head by prising its jaws apart which is very gruesome however it is such a phenomenal moment. That whole fight sequence is a perfect demonstration of the sheer hard work put into this film, really pushing the boundaries and delivering a satisfying pay-off. A magnificent fight that combines real life with animation, blending them seamlessly. Everyone is familiar with the iconic scene of Kong climbing the Empire State Building and fending off the attacks of the airplanes, which is such a heartbreaking sequence. However, it is one of the most recognisable moments in film history and has equally sprouted many references in other movies over the years. Overall, King Kong has to be one of the most important and recognisable films in movie history with so many amazing scenes, great performances and effects it stands the test of time as one of the greatest. Also, if you enjoyed this classic why not check out the equally entertaining remake, King Kong (2005). It uses CGI special effects that make the adventure all the more exciting making it an exceptional remake.

Runtime: 1h 40m
Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack

Genre: Adventure / Fantasy / Horror / Sci-fi

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The Wizard of Oz (1939)

After a tornado hurls through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are swept away in their home to the colourful and vibrant Land of Oz. To find their way back home, they must embark on a journey to the Emerald City, where the Wizard of Oz resides by following the yellow brick road. On the way, they bump into a Scarecrow who wants a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage. They are all hopeful that the Wizard will be able to fulfil their wishes. However, they must survive perils put in place by the Wicked Witch of the West, who is out for revenge on Dorothy after she accidentally killed her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East with her house. This is probably one of the most iconic films ever made and a true cult classic. It was a great accomplishment in the 1930s and is astonishing now as it was then. The opening and closing credits, and the Kansas sequences, were filmed in black and white and then coloured in a sepia-tone process. When the film moves to the magical land of Oz the movie changes to colour, which is visually awe-inspiring. This film knows how to fully utilise the ability to make a colour film by using so many vibrant and beautiful colours. From the bright yellow brick road to the shimmering Emerald City, this film uses its colour wisely to produce such an appealing and colourful film, which was so ahead of its time. Colour films wouldn't become widely used till the late 40s, however, mostly in the few, but by the 50s they started to show up more and more, which shows how groundbreaking this film really was. There are so many prominent and unforgettable characters too, each giving an incredible performance. Also, the film has many musical numbers with so many amazing songs that are very catchy like: 'Follow the Yellow Brick Road', which is so iconic. I have very fond memories of this film as I'm sure so many others do as I saw it when I was young with my family and is definitely a film for the whole family to enjoy. Especially with the amazing switch to colour, which when shown to younger audiences is sure to leave them in awe as it did me and love to see others share that reaction. One of the coolest details that I completely missed on my first few viewings, is that the other workers on the farm turn out to be the characters Dorathy meets with in the magical land. With all 3 taking on the roles of the Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Lion, which I somehow never realised until the end when Dorathy returns and we see them again and it just clicked with me. Each of the friends Dorathy makes along the way is equally brilliant and full of joyful characteristics that make them so fun to watch, further making us root for them in their own needs. The Wicked Witch of the West on the other hand is a frightening villain and certainly one of the most recognisable in that category. She is a terrifying foe who has scared children for years with her evil acts and scenes. The Wizard of Oz is most certainly a cult classic and is referenced still to this day in all kinds of media. From the house flying in the tornado seen in the background of the film reference filled: Ready Player One (2018), to the greatest crossovers in gaming: Lego Dimensions (2015), the video game filled with film franchises brought together in one massive Lego story. It shows that this film has really stood the test of time, becoming so iconic and beloved that it is frequently brought back many years later. Overall, this is such a phenomenal film that cannot be missed for its incredible accomplishments, with beautiful bright colour visuals, happy and memorable musical numbers and a charming story filled with entertaining characters. This is a film which everyone can find something to enjoy, bringing so much happiness to people of all ages to this day. The definition of the must-see when it comes to a movie recommendation. 

Runtime: 1h 42m

Director: Victor Fleming

Genre: Adventure / Family / Fantasy / Musical

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