NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (August 2022): Indicator have transferred two Hammer Studio films with a 'Robin Hood' theme; 1960's Sword of Sherwood Forest and 1967's A Challenge for Robin Hood to separate Blu-rays. It is entitled as "Robin Hood at Hammer: Two Tales from Sherwood Forest".They are cited as being "High Definition remasters". Sword of Sherwood Forest was released on bare-bones Blu-ray by Twilight Time in 2019 and reviewed by Colin HERE. It looks the exact same with a duplicate bitrate graph. As Colin observed: "The Terence Fisher film was shot in Ireland and it should be noted that the cinematographer for this picture is Ken Hodges; the lensman for previous (and future) Robin Hood outings. Hodges worked on "The Adventures of Robin Hood" series from 1956-1960 and 1990's "Robin Hood: The Movie". The film is shot in 2.35:1 MegaScope Technicolor and Twilight Time's Blu-ray seems to be a decent transfer. The level of detail could be finer, though it is by no means blurry. The picture does seem to be on the brighter side, lacking deep or layered blacks. Colors however, look strong, with rich greens and deep reds. Contrast shows only mediocre black levels. This isn't too much of a disappointment, given the film's rather bright exposure, with a large number of exterior shots. It has some obvious Cinemascope mumps (horizontal squeeze)."

The 1080P of A Challenge for Robin Hood fares even better. It's in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio on a dual; layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. Colors (reds, greens) are bright an rich. Contrast is well-layered and there is plenty of depth. They are quite attractive HD presentations... for both films.

NOTE: We have added 90 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono tracks (24-bit) in the original English language. The aggressiveness is usually enacted by a silent zipping arrow and some fisticuffs, a staff, a joust, swords occasionally while riding horses. It comes through consistent and authentically flat. The music in Sword of Sherwood Forest is credited to Welshman Alun Hoddinott singing ballads and Stanley Black's 'Songs' sung by Dennis Lotis. The score for A Challenge for Robin Hood is credited to Gary Hughes (The Scarlet Blade, The Pirates of Blood River, The Devil-Ship Pirates, The Viking Queen) sounding clean with highly audible dialogue in the uncompressed transfers. Like the Twilight Time on the audio transfer for Sword of Sherwood Forest Indicator include an isolated music and effects only track. Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-rays.

The Indicator Blu-rays offers a new commentary for both films. On Sword of Sherwood Forest by writers Barry Forshaw (author the BFI Film Classics' The War of the Worlds book) and Kim Newman (author of Anno Dracula 1999: Daikaiju). They discuss the four Robin Hood films that Hammer Studio made - as many as they made 'Mummy' films plus they reflect on the Hammer style, how the Robin Hood character differed from Errol Flynn's and other relevant comparables, discussion of the cast and director Terence Fisher. It's at their usual fun, informative level. For the A Challenge for Robin Hood commentary we get the pairing of Kevin Lyons (The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film and Television) and Jonathan Rigby (author of American Gothic.) They have plenty to discuss about the production, locations (no where near Sherwood Forest), director C.M. Pennington-Richards (often remembered as a veteran DoP) - close to this with the 1958-59 Ivanhoe TV series. In fact he directed many TV series including episodes of Danger Man, and the 1958-1959 The Invisible Man. The commentary discusses the performers, identifying Hammer-esque themes, the history of Robin Hood and much more. There are a couple of other audio options that run to Sword of Sherwood Forest,; a 1967, 76-minute interview with Terence Fisher where the legendary director reflects on his work with Hammer in a rare archival audio recording plus there is the option of an 80-minute BEHP interview with Sidney Cole from 1987. It's described as a 'career-spanning audio interview, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the celebrated editor, writer and producer in conversation with Alan Lawson, Arthur Graham, and Rodney Giesler'. As A Challenge for Robin Hood runs you can access a John Player Lecture: The Hammer Forum audio piece from 1971- running over an hour - described as 'onstage discussion chaired by John Russell Taylor, with contributions from noted Hammer luminaries Michael Carreras, Peter Cushing, Terence Fisher, James Needs, Anthony Nelson-Keys, and Jimmy Sangster' or another BEHP interview with C. M. Pennington-Richards from 1990 running over 1.5 hours. It is an archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the veteran cinematographer and director in conversation with Alan Lawson and Colin Moffat. Other extras include Play It Again: Richard Greene from 1981 running over 20-minutes where film and television’s celebrated Robin Hood chats with Tony Bilbow about his favorite silver-screen moments. Merry Memories is new and spends a brief time with actor Dennis Lotis who fondly recalls his time making the film. All in a Quiver is also new and spends 7-minutes with continuity supervisor Pauline Wise as she remembers her big break at Hammer. Riding Through the Glen is a new 1/2 with Jonathan Rigby, who examines the production of Hammer’s second Robin Hood adventure, and considers its enduring appeal. A Hero’s Fanfare offers a new appreciation of Alun Hoddinott’s score by David Huckvale, author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-Garde. An Excuse for Action spends a dozen minutes, from 2022, with actor John Gugolka who remembers making the film at Pinewood and on location. Sherwood on Screen runs shy of 1/2 hour and has author and critic Kim Newman surveying the many cinematic portrayals of the world-famous English outlaw - also new (2022.) Songs from the Hood has David Huckvale again in an appreciation of Gary Hughes’ score. for A Challenge For Robin Hood. Indicator include the 1975, hour-long, Children’s Film Foundation adventure yarn Robin Hood Junior starring actor and television presenter Keith Chegwin as the young outlaw and it includes an optional audio commentary with film historian Vic Pratt. Both discs have an original theatrical trailers and image galleries. The Blu-ray package offers a limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by Frank Collins, an article on Richard Greene, archival materials, contemporary reviews, and film credits as well as a limited edition exclusive poster.

Indicator's Robin Hood at Hammer: Two Tales from Sherwood Forest Blu-ray package is about as stacked as you can get. The studio's Robin Hood efforts are sometimes forgotten, but they have some of the desirable Hammer charisma while playing liberally with the old Robin Hood legend. It's always a pleasure to see Peter Cushing (here as The Sheriff of Nottingham), Friar Tuck, Little John, Alan A'Dale and a couple of curvaceous Maid Marians - Sarah Branch (Hell Is a City) and Gay Hamilton (Space: 1999). New, commentaries, interviews (new and old), appreciations and the extensive book make this a must own for Hammer aficionados. How can we resist? Absolutely recommended!

Gary Tooze