DVD Talk review of 'Adventures of Robin Hood - Complete First Season'
04-13-09 | 08:50 AM
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DVD Talk review of 'Adventures of Robin Hood - Complete First Season'
I read David Cornelius's DVD review of Adventures of Robin Hood - Complete First Season at http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=36837 and...
The best looking transfers that I've seen of "The Adventures of Robin Hood" here in the U.S. come from the Timeless Media Group which are better looking than what is presented here by Mill Creek. Unfortunately, TMG has only released the first 30 episodes of season 1 and have never followed up that release, making the season 1 release from Mill Creek Entertainment the most complete release available on U.S. shores.
I just recently picked up Mill Creek's season 2 (1956-57) release of "Robin Hood" and, while only having viewed the first two episodes, they look better than most episodes in the season 1 release. Mill Creek has also recently released season 3 (1957-58). The fourth season had an abbreviated number of episodes (26 versus the 39 in the first three seasons) and, to the best of my knowledge, did not have a prime time run in the U.S. on CBS like the first three seasons, but did play in syndication. Season Four episodes have been the most difficult to find domestically, so it will be interesting to see if Mill Creek completes the series.
The best looking transfers that I've seen of "The Adventures of Robin Hood" here in the U.S. come from the Timeless Media Group which are better looking than what is presented here by Mill Creek. Unfortunately, TMG has only released the first 30 episodes of season 1 and have never followed up that release, making the season 1 release from Mill Creek Entertainment the most complete release available on U.S. shores.
I just recently picked up Mill Creek's season 2 (1956-57) release of "Robin Hood" and, while only having viewed the first two episodes, they look better than most episodes in the season 1 release. Mill Creek has also recently released season 3 (1957-58). The fourth season had an abbreviated number of episodes (26 versus the 39 in the first three seasons) and, to the best of my knowledge, did not have a prime time run in the U.S. on CBS like the first three seasons, but did play in syndication. Season Four episodes have been the most difficult to find domestically, so it will be interesting to see if Mill Creek completes the series.
04-14-09 | 01:15 PM
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Re: DVD Talk review of 'Adventures of Robin Hood - Complete First Season'
Didn't know about the TMG release - I'll have to look into that. Thanks!
And I can't imagine why Mill Creek wouldn't find a way to release season 4, especially if they were able to scrounge up prints (in any condition) of previous hard-to-find episodes.
And I can't imagine why Mill Creek wouldn't find a way to release season 4, especially if they were able to scrounge up prints (in any condition) of previous hard-to-find episodes.
04-14-09 | 02:29 PM
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Re: DVD Talk review of 'Adventures of Robin Hood - Complete First Season'
Don't know how long the sale will last, but Amazon currently has the TMG "Robin Hood" set for just $8.
http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Rob...9736930&sr=1-7
Timeless has also released incomplete 30 episode sets of some of the other popular English costume adventure series, including "The Buccaneers" and "William Tell." Timeless also released "The Adventures of Sir Lancelot" with 30 episodes; that one is complete since only 30 episodes were produced and it's notable as being the first British series that had multiple episodes filmed in color. Fourteen episodes in the second half of the series were filmed in color but only 12 have survived over the years. "William Tell" plays a lot like "Robin Hood" but with a harder edge to it. Mill Creek also has the full run (1 season, 39 episodes) of "The Buccaneers," but their logo pops up in the bottom right hand corner of the screen twice in each episode; however, there's more consistent visual quality running throughout "The Buccaneers" than there is for season 1 of "The Adventures of Robin Hood."
http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Rob...9736930&sr=1-7
Timeless has also released incomplete 30 episode sets of some of the other popular English costume adventure series, including "The Buccaneers" and "William Tell." Timeless also released "The Adventures of Sir Lancelot" with 30 episodes; that one is complete since only 30 episodes were produced and it's notable as being the first British series that had multiple episodes filmed in color. Fourteen episodes in the second half of the series were filmed in color but only 12 have survived over the years. "William Tell" plays a lot like "Robin Hood" but with a harder edge to it. Mill Creek also has the full run (1 season, 39 episodes) of "The Buccaneers," but their logo pops up in the bottom right hand corner of the screen twice in each episode; however, there's more consistent visual quality running throughout "The Buccaneers" than there is for season 1 of "The Adventures of Robin Hood."
Last edited by Bobhug; 04-14-09 at 02:43 PM.
04-20-09 | 07:29 AM
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Re: DVD Talk review of 'Adventures of Robin Hood - Complete First Season'
I've now watched the first 10 episodes of season 2 of Mill Creek Entertainment's "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and must say that the video quality is pretty consistent over these episodes thus far and, for the most part, represents a marked improvement over the varying picture quality in season 1. Not sure where MC is sourcing these from, but the quality is pretty good for a budget release. Great to see actors like Donald Pleasence and Nigel Green early in their careers on this show.
