Prince Of Thieves (1948)

Loosely based on Alexandre Dumas’ ROBIN HOOD, this poverty row creation from producer Sam Katzman (TWIST AROUND THE CLOCK) shows its low budget climate all too clearly. It’s even shot in Cinecolor, a pale imitation of Technicolor. Its Robin Hood (Jon Hall THE HURRICANE) had seen better days, two of its fair maidens (Adele Jergens, Robin Raymond) usually played tarts and trollops and films like these sent leading lady Patricia Morison, as Maid Marian, back to New York (where she had a great success in Cole Porter’s KISS ME KATE). That being said, at a compressed 72 minutes, it rushes along amiably like Saturday matinee fodder and isn’t inflated like more recent adaptations of the Robin Hood legend. With Alan Mowbray, H.B. Warner and Michael Duane.