Overview: On 'Robin Hood: Origins' we get five films featuring the famed outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor!

DVD Verdict: We begin with 'The Bandit of Sherwood Forest' (1946) Color, NR @ 1 Hour 26 Minutes. Robert of Nottingham, the son of Robin Hood, goes to the aid of the Queen Mother and the beautiful Lady Catherine, who are fleeing the cruel Regent, William of Pembroke, who has the King imprisoned in the castle.

Robert, Catherine and Friar Tuck enter the guarded castle and free the King, but Robert and Catherine are captured.

As aforementioned, the story deals with the legend of Robin Hood. On this occasion it is the son of Robin Hood, namely Robert, played by Cornel Wilde, who is the hero.

Obviously, since Robin Hood lived in the days of Richard The Lion Heart and King John, one must assume that the young King is King John's son Henry III, who ascended the throne during his minority.

The kingdom during this time was ruled by Regents culminating in Simon de Montfort, when the King achieved his majority.

But historical fact aside, the film is an enjoyable piece of escapist adventure, which is sadly lacking from our screens today.

Next up is 'The Black Arrow' (1948) B&W, NR @ 1 Hour 16 Minutes. Young nobleman Richard Shelton returns from the War of the Roses to find his father murdered, a fugitive family friend blamed, and his uncle occupying his estates.

Starkly made in classic black and white, this medieval adventure is set and in England at the end of the War of the Roses. The main character must cope with the death of his father, apparently at the hand of a once trusted neighbor. Naturally, a love interest is provided for him in the person of the daughter of his father's killer.

'The Black Arrow' is the mysterious missive that keeps flying in, to suggest that things are not what they seem, and to motivate young Shelton to search for truth. Some good sword play, chase sequences, and a classic joust scene for the grand finale. A good film for a late afternoon unwind. Then comes 'The Prince of Thieves' (1948) Color, NR @ 1 Hour 12 Minutes. En route to Nottingham Castle to see his fiancee, Lady Cristabel, Sir Allen Claire and his sister Lady Marian (Patricia Morison) are told by Robin Hood (Jon Hall) that Sir Allen's bride-to-be is being forced into an arranged marriage by her father, Baron Tristram.

Jon Hall gets a break from the exotic Arabian Nights films he was doing during most of the Forties and gets his chance to play the legendary Robin Hood in 'Prince Of Thieves'. He's definitely a bit more of a rogue in this Robin Hood tale than you find in most.

He rescues Maid Marian and her brother Michael Duane a pair of Saxon nobles who were waylaid in Sherwood Forest. It's the brother that's heading for his wedding to Lady Adele Jergens.

However the powers that be who rule England in Richard I's absence have other ideas for some politically convenient marriages of alliance. Of course that's Prince John who is not seen in this film.

As it's only 71 minutes, barely longer than an hour we don't get too much time for character development. Hence, 'The Prince Of Thieves' plays like an episode of the old Richard Greene Robin Hood series. No bad thing though.

Next up is 'Rogues of Sherwood Forest' (1950) Color, NR @ 1 Hour 19 Minutes. When King John imposes oppressive taxes and cruel treatment upon the local population in medieval England, the son of legendary bandit Robin Hood reforms his father's "Merry Men" to once more rise against the king.

Personable John Derek makes a handsome Robin Hood, but he can't overcome a lifeless script and weak direction. What does steal the show are the costumes, scenery and brilliant Technicolor. Otherwise, this is a dull affair full of wooden acting and cardboard characters.

It looks magnificent and the sets are really striking, but the script is the main culprit. Even the villains are given little to do but strike angry poses, making one wish for Sir Guy of Gisbourne to show up in the person of Basil Rathbone.

It's a hodge-podge of Robin Hood elements, with Robin's son rounding up all of the "old guys" who helped his father in the past. Alan Hale is on hand to reprise his Little John role for the fourth and last time. He's a tired looking actor in this one, barely able to summon up enough gusto to get through the role.

Diana Lynn is the pretty spy at court who helps Derek with his fight against the palace stronghold. She's lovely but looks out of place in her period costumes since these kind of roles were never part of her past history as an ingénue.

Lowell Gilmore has almost no flair as the man who wants to marry her and even George Macready lacks the dynamic spirit to play a nasty villain.

Gordon Douglas can't be commended for directing this one. Pace and flair are two of the missing ingredients, along with a lifeless script.

Lastly comes 'Sword of Sherwood Forest' (1960) Color, NR @ 1 Hour 20 Minutes. The sheriff of Nottingham plots to confiscate the estate of the Lord of Bortrey, who has died on Crusade.

The Archbishop of Canterbury speaks against this plot, and the sheriff plans to eliminate him. Robin Hood pretends to undertake the assassination of the Archbishop for the plotters; Maid Marion, meeting him thinks him the leader of a gang of murderers, and leads him into a trap.

A real oddity from Hammer Films, 'Sword of Sherwood Forest' is their only film based on a popular UK TV series which actually features the star of the show in the movie.

The rest of the cast has still been replaced, however, and because of the nature of the story, it almost has to be an "alternate universe" continuity as I see no way it could fit into the run of the TV show.

Robin Hood (Richard Green) faces off mostly against the Sheriff of Nottingham (Peter Cushing), which means you've got "Sir Henry Baskerville" fighting "Sherlock Holmes" - although Cushing comes across more like "Baron Frankenstein" in this one.

Oddly enough, the real villain turns out to be "Edward, Earl of Newark", played by Richard Pasco, who I've never seen in anything else, but apparently played baddies in three different episodes of the TV series.

Also in the cast are Derren Nesbitt ('Where Eagles Dare') in one of his rare "good guy" roles, Edwin Richfield ("The Sea Devils") as a minor villain, and Oliver Reed ('The Big Sleep') as a total bastard, who, inexplicably, had his entire performance dubbed by another actor.

That all said, it's still a nice film, but not a great one, as the plot tends to ramble and never quite builds any kind of momentum; resembling more than anything a 30's serial with the cliffhangers removed!