sdavidmiles

"The Fox" (Paul Sutton) is out for revenge and lures Hoppy across the border via a letter from an old friend into Mexico. Hoppy finds that his friend has been murdered and had left a partial message written in the sand, "Zorro", Spanish for Fox. Hoppy, who had captured "The Fox" in "Borderland", whilst working undercover for both the U.S. and Mexican governments; the Fox had been leading raids on both sides of the border.

Morris Ankrum aka Stephen Morris played "The Fox" in "Borderland". Paul Sutton does a fine job as "The Fox"; but for the sake of continuity I would have preferred Morris Ankrum in the role.

This one is a little more violent than the majority of "Hoppy" pictures but not unnecessarily so, it also has the benefit of a good plot and the story moves along nicely; and "Hoppy", "Lucky" (Russell Hayden) and "Windy" (George "Gabby" Hayes) are in fine form as are the rest of the cast. Highly recommended. See Borderland first, if you can.

This one has all the ingredients necessary for a smash hit, (or block buster, in modern terms) which are: the actors with the necessary charm and charisma for the leads (Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Claud Rains, Basil Rathbone and Eugene Pallete), the necessary character actors for support and comedy (Herbert Mundin, Una O'Conner and Melville Cooper), direction ( William Keighley and Michael Curtez), music score (Erich Wolfgang Korngold), and superb editing of the finished product. That it was a 'smash hit' is undisputed, whether it is, or was, the best version of "Robin Hood" is a matter of opinion. For me, personally, it is unsurpassed and it is most unlikely (but not impossible)to be surpassed in this age in which we live.

Errol Flynn was at his 'dashing' best; athletic, witty and charming.Fast moving but literate, he played no better role, in no better movie at any time during his career. What better villain could the studio produce than Basil Rathbone? As for some comic relief; who could better Herbert Mundin as "Much the Miller's son" with Una O'Connor as his love interest; and Melville Cooper as a bumbling Sheriff of Nottingham?

The production values were,and still are, there for all to see; the brilliant three colour early Technicolor, the superb music score which audibly grabs and excites the viewer into believing (at least for a time) what they are seeing, the excellent sets of medieval England and the superb editing of the finished product which brings it all together. This one was and still is great entertainment.

10 stars? I would give it 20!