A Scene from Bidwell Park in Chic0
Those were the halcyon days of the late 70's and 80's when one could rent a horse from the local stables and ride solo for 2 hours--before lawsuits and liability coverage escalated and robbed the safe rider of one of his last pleasures.
The stable owners had told me on more than one occasion that the Academy Award winning movie Robin Hood used Bidwell Park as the backdrop for Sherwood Forest. Here is where the outlaw Sir Robin of Lacksley organizes his guerilla band of Merry Men of downtrodden Saxon peasants to fight back against the Norman usurper Prince John who has claimed the throne from its rightful owner, the absent Richard The Lionhearted.
As I cantered along the many wooded trails and along streams of this magnificent park, I could only imagine the scenes of chivalry, daring and excitement as the noble Errol Flynn would rally his followers in stealing from the rich and giving to the poor while evading the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Robin shouts to his recruits: give me "...good swordsmen, good archers, good fighters. Are you with me?" (Shouts of approval)
So, it was a delight recently to stumble upon the original movie --72 years after its release--with the swashbuckling Errol Flynn playing Robin, wooing the beautiful Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland); she, of course, is a conduit for sneaking out information from the court to Robin. There is a wonderful chemistry between the two of them. Also grabbing and holding my attention is the evil scheming Sir Guy of Gisbourne played by Basil Rathbone and Prince John depicted by Claude Rains
One scene etched into my memory is the sword duel between Robin and Gisbourne where the reflections/shadows of the warriors are caught on a spiral stone staircase as Robin vanquishes his opponent.
This is a five star movie. See it, and visit Bidwell Park, if you can!
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