Giuliano Gemma portrays Robin Hood obviously inspired by the swashbuckling tradition of Douglas Fairbanks, young Burt Lancaster and Errol Flynn, with a never disappearing broad grin against all odds. All characters in this movie either have an ugly beard or a ridiculous Prince Valiant haircut. That was 1970 for ya. "L'Arciere del fuoco", as it was retitled, is a jolly good B-movie with sense of humour, just the kind of thing you will be looking for when you get bored by stylish 100 million bucks productions.

ARCHER OF FIRE is a film with many names. It's also variously called THE SCALAWAG GANG and LONG LIVE ROBIN HOOD, and as you might have guessed it's a cheerful Italian spin on the Robin Hood legend, starring popular western star Giuliano Gemma as the titular hero, battling against the typically evil oppressors and doing some neat archery tricks along the way.

The costume adventure boom experienced a brief resurgence in popularity in the early 1970s in Italy, helped no doubt thanks to the popularity of the likes of Terence Spencer and Bud Hill. ARCHER OF FIRE is a sturdy entry in that sub-genre, getting by thanks to good charm, plenty of energy, and some low brow humour.

The plot is barely worth writing down and the characters are thinner than thin, suffice to say this is based on the usual action-adventure template in which the sneering villains get their just desserts and the rowdy heroes end up winning out against their foes. Supporting cast members include Mario Adorf (as Brother Tuck, no less!) and Mark Damon. Expect bad dubbing, cheesy acrobatics, and an anything-goes mentality.

Greatest adventure of the centuries ¡ , greatest thrill of the screen ¡ an adventure the world has thrilled to for centuries , in a picture it will never forget . He lives again , a hero of every villain , friend to those who have friends . In 13th century England , here Giuliano Gemma is the heir to the Nottingham dukedom who is stolen of his heritage. He becomes Robin Hood (Giuliano Gemma at his swashbuckling best) who joins a brave warrior called Allan (Mark Damon) and a band of marauders confronting corruption of wicked Sir Robert (Luis Davila at his evil best ) and Sir Guy Gisbourne (Pierre Cressoy ) and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power , foiling evil Prince John Lackland . When the Norman Lords begin oppressing the Saxon masses in King Richard's absence , a Saxon archer named Robin Hood fights back as the outlaw leader of a rebel guerrilla army . The legendary Sherwood forest's hero Robin Locksly again and Lady Marian (lovely Maid Silvia Dionisio) along with his Merrie men brought by him : Will Scarlett (Manuel Zarzo) , Friar Tuck (Mari Adorf) and Little John (Nello Pazzafini). Story is indirectly based on historic events and is developed after third Crusade when Richard Lion Heart conquered Acre . In route England Richard was captured by Henry VII of Germany and ransomed by his own subjects . But Richard returns England to put down a revolt against him though his brother John without Land takes over the kingdom with his underlings evil Sir Guy of Gisbourne and Sheriff of Nottingham .

This swashbuckler has great action sequences well staged with stylish and vitality , adventure , romance , outstanding final dueling and is pretty entertaining . There are great action sequences including the battles in forests and the ending confrontation at the climax of the film . Funny and fun movie with stylish gowns , noisy action , brawls , fights , and sword-play . Here Robin joins the already-established 'Merrie Men' and becomes their chief against the villains . Including atmospheric as well as evocative cinematography and an agreeable score , as musician Gianni Ferrio composes an attractive soundtrack , well conducted and including a splendid leitmotif ; it's full of enjoyable sounds and really emotive , including catching songs . Casting is frankly well , the famous main players as stalwart Giuliano Gemma is very fine and Silvia Dionisio is memorable and attractive , she comes up the film as a valiant and obstinate heroine . They are backed up by fine support actors such as Manuel Zarzo , Mario Adorf , Nello Pazzafini , Pierre Cressoy , Helga Liné . Special mention to treacherous Sir Robert magnetically performed by Luis Davila and Daniele Dublino as evil and crazed king in an appealing interpretation as Prince John . Even the smallest characters are well represented as Nazzareno Zamperla , Giovanni Cianfriglia and Antonio Pica , among others .

It packs an atmospheric and stirring soundtrack by Gianni Ferrio , including some songs . Colorful cinematography in glimmer Eastmancolor . Musical score , settings , cinematography , acceptable performances abound , all of them help place this Italian movie the very best adventure film . I found it fun , entertaining , thrilling , well-acted, and fast-paced . The flick was professionally directed by Giorgo Ferroni , an expert on Peplum . As he directed ¨The war of Troy¨ with Steve Reeves ,¨Hercules against Molock¨ and ¨Il Colosso Di Roma¨ with Gordon Scott . He also directed Western as "Fort Yuma Gold" , ¨Wanted¨ , "Blood for a Silver Dollar" , Wartime as ¨Battle of El Alamein¨ and Terror in acceptable results as ¨ Mill of the stone woman¨ and "Night of the Devils" .

The film is partially based on true events. Although Ivanhoe didn't exist, John Lackland was king of England from 1199 to 1216. Few monarchs have been subject to such appalling publicity as John . Although by no means lovable, he was an able administrator and spent more time in England than his predecessor and elder brother Richard I but he was jailed by Leopold of Austria, returning from Crusades. Being dead king Henry II , then Richard Lionheart was crowned until the third crusade (intervening along with Philip II and vanquished Acre) which was crowned John with no Land . The English domain over France will cause length conflict known the hundred years wars(1339-1453).Robin Hood, also known Robin O'Locksley and the Earl of Huntingdom, is probably and sadly a creation of romantic imaginations . If Robin Hood did exist, it's almost certain that he was not a Saxon , though his enemies may well have been the Norman sheriff of Nottinghan and Prince and later king John Lackland.

Other versions about this famous personage are the following ones : classic version ¨Robin Hood¨ by Michael Curtiz with Errol Flynn , Olivia De Havilland , Claude Rains , Basil Rathbone , Eugene Palette . ¨Robin Hood price of thieves (1991) ¨ by Kevin Reynolds with Kevin Costner , Alan Rickman and Morgan Freenan , the same year was exhibited ¨Robin Hood¨ by John Irvin with Patrick Bergin and Uma Thurman but was a flop though the critics considered best adaptation . Furthermore , recent and revisionist version titled ¨Robin Hood¨(2010) by Ridley Scott with Russell Crowe , Cate Blanchet and Oscar Isaac .