how do one start a commentary on such a perfect specimen of film making . be this exaggeration . i think not . every aspect and element of the movie be absolutely top of the line in the cinematic art and science . once again and where to start . casting be so important . who could find a good line up of actor than this . start with errol flynn . never be there a good screen robin hood while not douglas fairbanks and not richard green and not even kevin costner . mr. flynn be sure a handful for the studio in real life and a lot of this surely rubbed of on his screen persona . add to a great athletic ability and probably a natural athlete . next and we have delicately and beautiful olivia de havilland who bring not only her feminine pulchritude to the movie and but also an innate sense of class and intelligence too . her lady marion be much more than a helpless female . be she a damsel in distress . oh and most surely she be that and but not a screaming and whiny helpless girl . basil rathbone ( sir guy of gisbourne ) be perhaps the best villain in the business . next to his characterization of sherlock holmes in all those film ( and some radio and tv work as well ) and as well a be a top fencer . ironic it be that this master swordsman lose so many screen duel with the like of errol flynn and tyrone power ( the mark of zorro ) . claude rain a prince john give th story a somewhat foppish and prim and prissy version of a bad monarch and which this future king john surely be . his type of person could never do some of the assignation and execution that he order and but saw no difficulty or remorse in order underling to do so . the rest of the cast read like a who who of british actor in hollywood or a role call of regular warner brother player . just consider the following represent melville cooper ( sheriff of nottingham ) una oconner and alan hale ( little john ) and eugene palette ( friar tuck ) and patric knowles ( will scarlet ) and so on and so forth and en ad infinitum . to these talent add the great set and the forest of the pacific northwest . they have such great castle and town and tournament field . and how could simple b and w film do any justice to the beautifully tailor and multi hue costume . this be technicolor work at it very best . please let not go any far without remember our sense of hearing and or namely the musical score . the theme ( overture ) and the incidental music by erich wolfgang kornkold be at once classical and exciting and multi faceted . it play no small role in move the story along as well a underscoring action and danger and solemnity and even humorous moment . it belong right up there with composition by some of the guy like mozart and beethoven and brahms and tchaikowsky and chopin and rossini and etc . ( you get the idea . ) . a well write and tight and intelligent script be the foundation for this once in a lifetime true work of art . when a fine script meet able talent in the director chair the two element act to make the final product even well and well and well . errol flynn be a member of the 1928 0r 1932 australian olympic box team and a talent that no doubt and make him a candidate for the lead in gentleman jim four year later . alan hale and an all purpose support player who portray a tremendously wide variety of type . from mongol chieftan kaidu in marco polo to jam cagney father in the strawberry blonde . he must have really like portraying little john and for he be the big quarter staff man in douglas fairbanks silent screen robin hood ( 1922 ) and a role he re prise not only for this picture but also for rogue of sherwood forset ( 1950 ) .