Men of Sherwood Forest (1954)

"Terrific Stuff for Fans"

Hammer continues its invaluable series of extras-packed 4K restoration releases with this three disc set devoted to the studio's first colour film. As an essential  bonus we also get the hour long 1969 WOLFSHEAD which was subsequently released in UK cinemas as a support feature in 1973.

MEN OF SHERWOOD FOREST stars Don Taylor (Hammer's best Robin Hood, suggests David Huckvale in his commentary) in this tale of a plan to rescue Richard the Lionheart (Patrick Holt) from a prison in Germany. Unfortunately Robin ends up captured as well and the Merry Men have to rescue him. If you're a fan of classic British cinema and television of the period you'll find plenty of familiar faces here including Reginald Beckwith (NIGHT OF THE DEMON) as Friar Tuck, Ballard Berkely (Fawlty Towers) as Walter, and Leonard Sachs (The Good Old Days and KONGA) as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Hammer's 4K restoration is so vivid the colours almost pop out of the screen, and pretty much the same can be said for the other movie to grace this release

WOLFSHEAD is probably better known than MEN OF SHERWOOD FOREST because of its star David Warbeck and director John Hough. However if you've only ever seen available online transfers (or the VHS tape) be prepared to give your eyes a treat as we get an utterly gorgeous restoration of this Hammer piece from 1969. Other familiar faces in the cast include Roy Evans (the first face we see), Kathleen Byron (BLACK NARCISSUS), Ciaran Madden (THE BEAST MUST DIE) and Dan Meaden (THE CREEPING FLESH). 

Hammer's three disc set consists of one UHD and two Blu-rays. Everything is on the UHD, with the same content reproduced on Blu-ray disc one for MEN OF SHERWOOD FOREST and its associated extras, and disc two for WOLFSHEAD.

David Huckvale provides the commentary track for MEN OF SHERWOOD FOREST, which is enthusiastic, meticulously presented and highly informative, while Tim Worthington does the same for WOLFSHEAD. Other extras for MEN OF SHERWOOD FOREST include Neil Brand discussing Doreen Carwithen's score to MEN (23 minutes), Neil Sinyard talking about the film and its director, Val Guest (20 minutes), and Keith M Johnston and Melanie Williams discussing colour in British film (29 minutes). Swashbuckler is a delightful 31 minute discussion of the genre spent in the company of experts Barry Forshaw, Allan Bryce, Richard Holliss and Bruce G Hallenbeck. For WOLFSHEAD you also get the original VHS version if you fancy comparing, as well as a 27 minute excerpt from the 2007 BEHP interview with John Hough. 

Finally, the set comes with the usual luxury packaging and other extras associated with all the Hammer releases, including a book with new essays, posters and a slipcase to keep it all in (see below). This really is the way to do this sort of thing, and by concentrating on more obscure films as well as their famous classics, Hammer are providing an invaluable service in documenting the lesser-known side of British popular cinema of the period. Terrific stuff for fans of Robin Hood movies and British cinema in general.

Hammer's 4K Restoration of MEN OF SHERWOOD FOREST is out in a limited edition three disc set (one UHD and two Blu-rays) with all the trimmings on Monday 17th November 2025