| Robin Hood and His Merry Men | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Percy Stow |
| Written by | Langford Reed |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Gaumont |
Release date |
|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | Silent |
Robin Hood and His Merry Men is a 1908 British silent short film directed by Percy Stow and produced by the Clarendon Film Company. [1] [2] It is notable for being the earliest known film adaptation featuring the English folk hero Robin Hood. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
The film portrays Robin Hood and his band of outlaws as they rescue a man from being executed by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Despite its short runtime, the film includes forest ambush scenes and archery, establishing visual tropes later used in many Robin Hood adaptations. [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]
Robin Hood and His Merry Men was filmed in the United Kingdom and distributed by Gaumont. The screenplay was written by Langford Reed. The film is estimated to have run approximately 10 minutes and was released in a single reel. [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]
The film is believed to be lost, with no known surviving prints. It holds historical significance as the first known motion picture to depict the legend of Robin Hood. It predates other early adaptations, such as the 1912 American version starring Robert Frazer. [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]