The Son of Robin Hood (1958) | Full Movie

After a few earlier 'son of Robin Hood' films, this 1958 installment bit the bullet and took the title for real! The film sees the tyrannical Duke Simon de Roche imprison the regent Earl of Chester before the coronation of the "boy prince" (presumably Henry the Third!). The Earl manages to tip off the old guard of Sherwood Forest, but with Robin Hood long dead, they fear the people won't rally to their cry. When they hear Robin had a child, they dispatch him to England to lead their cause - only it isn't a son of Robin Hood, but a daughter, Deering Hood!

This is where the film completely derails - what could have been a wonderfully interesting story is overcome by typical Hollywood misogyny by having Little John reject the idea that the men would possibly rally around a woman. Jamie, the man mistaken for Robin's son by the duke's men, is convinced to stand in as Deering, with the real child of Robin Hood acting undercover as the man's wife.

While a typical mindless sword-and-castle flick, there remains a bitter tinge to the way Deering is handled, especially when compared to the wonderfully executed Marianne in "Rogues of Sherwood Forest" eight years earlier. Thankfully, the daughter of Robin Hood story would finally be told properly with the Keira Knightley vehicle "Princess of Thieves" in 2001 (also on this channel!). "The Son of Robin Hood" is a fun romp, but the unfortunate misogyny taints what should be your basic Sunday afternoon adventure.

Starring James Bond's David Hedison (here Al Hedison) as Jamie, June Laverick as Deering Hood, David Farrar as Duke Simon Des Roches, Marius Goring as Earl of Chester, Delphi Lawrence as Lady Sylvia, George Coulouris as Alan A. Dale, and George Woodbridge as Little John.

Uploaded here in the spirit of sharing this hard to find film. All rights to the current licence holder.