# A Challenge for Robin Hood > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/A_Challenge_for_Robin_Hood > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/A_Challenge_for_Robin_Hood.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Challenge_for_Robin_Hood > Source revision: 1339308775 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1967 British film by C. M. Pennington-Richards A Challenge for Robin Hood UK quad poster by Tom Chantrell Directed by C. M. Pennington-Richards Written by Peter Bryan Produced by Clifford Parkes Michael Carreras Starring Barrie Ingham Peter Blythe John Arnatt Cinematography Arthur Grant Edited by Chris Barnes Music by Gary Hughes Production companies Hammer Film Productions Seven Arts Productions Distributed by Warner-Pathé Distributors Release date 1 July 1967 (1967-07-01) Running time 96 minutes Country United Kingdom Language English ***A Challenge for Robin Hood*** is a 1967 British [adventure film](/source/Adventure_film) directed by [C. M. Pennington-Richards](/source/C._M._Pennington-Richards) and starring [Barrie Ingham](/source/Barrie_Ingham), [Peter Blythe](/source/Peter_Blythe) and [John Arnatt](/source/John_Arnatt).[1][2] This was the last of a trio of Hammer films about Robin Hood, following *[The Men of Sherwood Forest](/source/The_Men_of_Sherwood_Forest)* and *[Sword of Sherwood Forest](/source/Sword_of_Sherwood_Forest)*. As all three had different casts and no continuing storyline, the second and third films should not really be considered sequels. ## Plot When the father of the De Courtenay family dies, the brothers argue about the inheritance. Although rightfully most should go to Robin, his cousin Roger takes control after killing his brother and blaming Robin, and Robin has to go into hiding in the forest, taking Friar Tuck with him. The two come under attack from the Sheriff of Nottingham's soldiers but are saved by a mystery archer. This is Alan-a-Dale, who takes them to his forest hide-out despite distrusting Robin. After Robin beats Alan-a-Dale in a quarterstaff duel, the gang tests his archery skills with a hood over his head, and agree he is a natural leader. They decide to call him Robin Hood. Back in the De Courtenay castle, Roger sits with the Sheriff and Maid Marion and they watch a wrestling match. It is won by Little John. They plan to hang Will Scarlet, Robin's friend, who was captured at the time of Robin's escape, at the village fair. Robin stops Sir Jamyl de Penitone in the forest and challenges him to a sword duel. He learns of Will Scarlet's pending hanging. Robin robs him of the tax money he has collected. Robin and his men next stop a drayman and a pie seller traveling with him. They commandeer the cart-load of pies and Tuck disguises himself as the pie-seller, while Robin disguises himself as a monk. They go to the De Courteney fair, where they buy a lot of green cloth to better hide in the woods. A soldier recognises Robin but is sympathetic to his cause. Robin puts on a mask and volunteers for the prize wrestling match with Little John. John recognises him and they stage the fight so Robin wins. When he goes to collect his prize he grabs Marion and puts her on a horse for the loyal soldier to carry her off. He is arrested and is to be hung with Will Scarlet, but a pie fight begins and the soldiers are driven back. Little John and Will go back to the forest with them. In the forest the men take revenge on the tax collector and start returning the tax money to the peasants. The Sheriff's men trick Robin and his men into thinking the forest is on fire and while they investigate they kidnap Marion and her little brother, and kill Much, who was guarding them. Robin tries to rescue them but is captured too. Three of Robin's men (led by Little John) put fake ducks on their head and swim over the castle moat, despite a guard who fancies duck for dinner, and fires a [crossbow](/source/Crossbow) at them. The three enter via an iron yett at basement level. They take a [dumb waiter](/source/Dumb_waiter) from the kitchen to the great hall, announcing that a "special dish" is coming up. They release Robin who was roasting in front of the fire and let other men in. A fight begins with the soldiers. Roger and Robin end in a sword duel watched by Marion. Alan-a-Dale ends it with an arrow in Roger's back. Back in the forest Friar Tuck marries Robin and Marion. ## Cast - [Barrie Ingham](/source/Barrie_Ingham) as Robin de Courtenay, alias [Robin Hood](/source/Robin_Hood) - [Peter Blythe](/source/Peter_Blythe) as Sir Roger de Courtenay - [John Arnatt](/source/John_Arnatt) as the [Sheriff of Nottingham](/source/Sheriff_of_Nottingham) - [Gay Hamilton](/source/Gay_Hamilton) as [Lady Marian Fitzwarren](/source/Maid_Marian) - John Gugolka as Stephen Fitzwarren, the boy - [James Hayter](/source/James_Hayter_(actor)) as [Friar Tuck](/source/Friar_Tuck) - [Eric Flynn](/source/Eric_Flynn) as [Alan-a-Dale](/source/Alan-a-Dale) - [Reg Lye](/source/Reg_Lye) as [Much](/source/Much_the_Miller's_Son) - [Leon Greene](/source/Leon_Greene) as [Little John](/source/Little_John) - Douglas Mitchell as [Will Scarlett](/source/Will_Scarlett) - Eric Woofe as Henry de Courtenay - [John Harvey](/source/John_Harvey_(actor)) as Wallace, Sir Roger's chief henchman - [Arthur Hewlett](/source/Arthur_Hewlett) as Edwin, the castle steward - John Graham as Justin, a loyal guard - Jenny Till as The Imposter Lady Marian - [William Squire](/source/William_Squire) as Sir John de Courtenay - [Norman Mitchell](/source/Norman_Mitchell) as dray driver - [Alfie Bass](/source/Alfie_Bass) as the pie seller - [Donald Pickering](/source/Donald_Pickering) as Sir Jamyl de Penitone Note: Eric Flynn is not related to [Errol Flynn](/source/Errol_Flynn). ## Reception ### Critical *[The Monthly Film Bulletin](/source/The_Monthly_Film_Bulletin)* wrote: "Unassuming but lively rendering of the familiar legend. Simplicity is the keynote, with very few embellishments and distortions so that the characters emerge exactly as one remembers them. Sherwood Forest looks disappointingly sparse, but there is ample compensation in some splendidly arranged fights and in James Hayter's engagingly jovial Friar Tuck."[3] [The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) wrote, "*Challenge for Robin Hood* is excellent ... it should make ideal viewing for lads, from little sprouts up to about 14 ... The screenplay by Peter Bryan fiddles a bit with the old Robin Hood legend, but it is a snug story and the dialogue has bite and humor ... C. M. Pennington-Richards, has piloted the action with crackle, the musical score is fine and the color ranges from good to beautiful ... the fairly modest budget seldom shows".[4] ### Box office According to Fox records, the film required $950,000 in rentals to break even and by 11 December 1970 had made $675,000.[5] ## See also - [List of films and television series featuring Robin Hood](/source/List_of_films_and_television_series_featuring_Robin_Hood) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-BFIsearch_1-0)** ["A Challenge for Robin Hood"](https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150143578). *British Film Institute Collections Search*. Retrieved 29 August 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["A Challenge for Robin Hood"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090116024824/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/165051). *BFI*. Archived from [the original](http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/165051) on 16 January 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "A Challenge for Robin Hood". *[The Monthly Film Bulletin](/source/The_Monthly_Film_Bulletin)*. **35** (408): 8. 1 January 1968. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [1305829411](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305829411). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Movie Review - A Challenge For Robin Hood - Screen: A Matinee Idol: 'Robin Hood' Returns in Snug British Tale - NYTimes.com"](https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CEFD61130EE3BBC4052DFB7668382679EDE&module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3As). *The New York Times*. 20 July 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Silverman, Stephen M (1988). [*The Fox that got away : the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox*](https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv). L. Stuart. p. [327](https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv/page/327). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780818404856](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780818404856). ## External links - [*A Challenge for Robin Hood*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062787/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) v t e Films directed by C. M. Pennington-Richards The Oracle (1953) Hour of Decision (1957) Stormy Crossing (1958) Inn for Trouble (1960) Double Bunk (1961) Dentist on the Job (1961) Mystery Submarine (1963) Ladies Who Do (1963) Danny the Dragon (1967) A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967) Sky Pirates (1977) v t e Robin Hood Characters and settings Characters Main Robin Hood Maid Marian The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield Sheriff of Nottingham Guy of Gisbourne Prince John Bishop of Hereford Richard at the Lee King Richard Merry Men Little John Much the Miller's Son Will Scarlet Arthur a Bland David of Doncaster Will Stutely Friar Tuck Alan-a-Dale Gilbert Whitehand Settings Sherwood Forest Major Oak Nottingham Loxley St Mary's Abbey, York Barnsdale Wentbridge Media Screen Film Robin Hood (1912) Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood (1922) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1946) The Prince of Thieves (1948) Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950) Tales of Robin Hood (1951) The Story of Robin Hood (1952) The Men of Sherwood Forest (1954) Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) The Triumph of Robin Hood (1962) A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967) Long Live Robin Hood (1971) Wolfshead: The Legend of Robin Hood (1973) The Arrows of Robin Hood (1975) Robin and Marian (1976) Aaj Ka Robin Hood (1988) O Mistério de Robin Hood (1990) Robin Hood (1991) Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) Princess of Thieves (2001) Robin Hood (2010) Robin Hood (2018) The Death of Robin Hood (2026) TV Robin Hood (1953) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) The Legend of Robin Hood (1968) The Legend of Robin Hood (1975) Robin of Sherwood (1984) The New Adventures of Robin Hood (1997) Robin Hood (2006, episodes, characters) Robyn Hood (2023) Robin Hood (2025) Animated Robin Hood Makes Good (1939) Rabbit Hood (1949) Robin Hood Daffy (1958) Robin Hoodwinked (1958) Rocket Robin Hood (1966) Robin Hood (1973) Robin Hood (1990) Young Robin Hood (1991) Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse (2012) Sherwood (2019) Parody About Seven Brothers (1968) When Things Were Rotten (1975) The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood (1984) Maid Marian and Her Merry Men (1989) Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) Alternate settings Mexicali Rose (1939 film) Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964 film) Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985 Tamil film) Nyayam Meere Cheppali (1985 Telugu film) Robin of Locksley (1996 film) Catch Me Now (2008 Chinese TV series) Alyas Robin Hood (2016 Philippines TV series) Popular culture Statue of Robin Hood Robin Hood (DC Comics character) Robin Hood (Disney character) Child ballads 8: Erlinton 102: Willie and Earl Richard's Daughter 103: Rose the Red and White Lily 115: Robyn and Gandeleyn 117: A Gest of Robyn Hode 118: Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne 119: Robin Hood and the Monk 120: Robin Hood's Death 121: Robin Hood and the Potter 123: Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar 124: The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield 126: Robin Hood and the Tanner 127: Robin Hood and the Tinker 128: Robin Hood Newly Revived 129: Robin Hood and the Prince of Aragon 130: Robin Hood and the Scotchman 131: Robin Hood and the Ranger 132: The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood 136: Robin Hood's Delight 138: Robin Hood and Allan-a-Dale 139: Robin Hood's Progress to Nottingham 140: Robin Hood Rescuing Three Squires 141: Robin Hood Rescuing Will Stutly 142: Little John a Begging 143: Robin Hood and the Bishop 144: Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford 145: Robin Hood and Queen Katherine 146: Robin Hood's Chase 147: Robin Hood's Golden Prize 148: The Noble Fisherman 151: The King's Disguise, and Friendship with Robin Hood 152: Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow 153: Robin Hood and the Valiant Knight 154: A True Tale of Robin Hood Stage / theatre The Downfall and The Death of Robert Earl of Huntington (1598 and 1601 plays) The Merrie Men of Sherwood Forest (1871 operetta) Robin Hood (1890 De Koven opera) The Foresters (1892 play) Robin Hood (1934 Tippett opera) Twang!! (1965 musical parody) Robin Hood (1998 ballet) Robin des Bois (2013 musical) Video games Robin of Sherwood: The Touchstones of Rhiannon (1985) Robin of the Wood (1985) Super Robin Hood (1986) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1991) Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood (1991) Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood (2002) Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown (2003) Robin Hood's Quest (2007) Volume (2015) Hood: Outlaws & Legends (2021) Literature A Gest of Robyn Hode (probably 15th century) Ivanhoe (1819) Maid Marian (1822) The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (1883) Bows against the Barons (1934) The Once and Future King (1958) The Outlaws of Sherwood (1988) Through a Dark Mist (1991) Lady of the Forest (1992) In the Shadow of Midnight (1994) The Last Arrow (1997) Lady of Sherwood (1999) King Raven Trilogy (2006) Music Legend (1984 soundtrack) "Robin (The Hooded Man)" "Love" (song) "Not in Nottingham" (song) "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (song) The Tale of Gamelyn Robin Hood (2010 soundtrack) Robin Hood (2018 soundtrack) Alan Dale Outlaw (2009) Holy Warrior (2010) King's Man (2011) The Outlaw Chronicles (2012–2016) Related Miss Robin Hood Son of the Guardsman The Son of Robin Hood The Bandit of Sherwood Forest Robin Hood's Larder Robin Hood Morality Test "Robot of Sherwood" "Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men" Once Upon a Time The Tales of Robin Hood (former Nottingham attraction) Once Upon a Studio Category --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [A Challenge for Robin Hood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Challenge_for_Robin_Hood) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Challenge_for_Robin_Hood?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.