Compared with some other classic characters, like Sherlock Holmes or Zorro, fairly little Robin Hood material appears to exist at the Internet Archive. There is Douglas Fairbanks’ classic 1922 film, but apart from that my only significant find is parts of the 1955 British TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood.
The Adventures of Robin Hood was the second ever Robin Hood TV series. The first was a six-part live production from 1953, also of British origin. But that first series has no complete preserved episodes, making The Adventures of Robin Hood the oldest Robin Hood TV series still in existence.
The series lasted for four seasons, until 1959. There were some changes in the cast along the way, but the title character was played all the way through by Richard Greene, an actor who I do not associate with any other role.
Richard Greene may not have the charm or charisma of either Douglas Fairbanks or Errol Flynn, nor does he have half of their skill with a sword. But he is not a bad actor, and carries something personal and unique to the role. Greene’s Robin is perhaps a bit more thoughtful and calculating than most other interpretations, though he can still get that mischievous gleam in the corner of his eye.
The complete series is 143 episodes. The following list contains those that I have found at the Internet Archive. There may be more that I have missed. The episode numbers given at the Internet Archive is often at odds with those in the episode guide at Wikipedia. I have here used the numbers from Wikipedia.
1. The Coming of Robin Hood
2. The Moneylender
3. Dead or Alive
4. Friar Tuck
5. Maid Marian
6. The Inquisitor
7. The Knight Who Came to Dinner
8. The Challenge
9. Queen Eleanor
10. Checkmate
11. The Ordeal
12. A Guest for the Gallows
13. The Highlander
14. The Wager
15. The Betrothal
16. The Alchemist
17. A Husband for Marian
18. The Jongleur
19. The Brothers
20. The Intruders
21. Errand of Mercy
22. The Sheriff’s Boots
24. The Ladies of Sherwood
25. The Deserted Castle
26. The Miser
27. Trial by Battle
28. The May Queen
30. The Vandals
31. The Byzantine Treasure
33. The Youngest Outlaw
34. The Traitor
35. Tables Turned
36. The Thorkill Ghost
37. Secret Mission
38. Richard the Lion-Heart
39. The Scientist
40. The Prisoner
41. Blackmail (3D version)
42. A Year and a Day
44. The Goldmaker
47. The Hero
48. Isabella
50. Outlaw Money
55. The Dream
57. The Final Tax
59. The Bandit of Brittany
60. The Goldmaker’s Return
61. Flight from France
62. Fair Play
63. The Secret Pool
65. The York Treasure
66. The Borrowed Baby
67. The Black Five
68. Food for Thought
72. The Little People
93. A Village Wooing
126. Goodbye Little John
As with any series, the quality of the episodes vary. The first half dozen or so are all good, so if you are looking for a few episodes to try out, I would recommend starting from the beginning.
The series became very popular, both in Britain and in the US, and it spawned several similar series. At least two, The Adventures of Sir Lancelot and The Adventures of William Tell, can be found at the Internet Archive.
This series is best enjoyed if you like vanilla Robin Hood. There are no surprises here in the characters’ portrayals or backgrounds.
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Download link (episode 1)
Years: 1955 – 1959
Running time: Approx 25 min per episode
Directors: Ralph Smart, many others
Stars: Richard Greene
Image quality: Acceptable for most episodes
Resolution: Medium to High for most episodes
Sound quality: Acceptable for most episodes