When one thinks of Christmas movies, they don't usually think of a Roy Rogers western. This gives Trail of Robin Hood a very unique place among both Christmas films and Roy Rogers films. Still this movie provides one with all they could want from a Roy Rogers western. There is exciting action, great music, good humor and much more good natured family friendly fun. There is no pretention about this film at all. It just wants to provide us with some good natured escapism and it does this marvelously.
This movie also offers an extra treat for fans of old Hollywood westerns. Many old time western stars appear here as themselves. Jack Holt has a major role here and is one of the key parts of the plot. However most of these stars play smaller roles, but put a smile on a film buffs face very easily. These include Tom Tyler, Tom Keene, Monte Hale, Rex Allen, Rocky Lane, Bill Franum, Kermit Maynard and Crash Corrigan. Even western movie villain George Chesebro appears as himself. When a little girl tells him he is meanie, he responds that after making twenty pictures with Jack Holt, he reformed him. To quote a meme that was popular earlier a few years ago. "Infinity War: This is the most ambitious crossover ever. Me:..." Really this part of the film is what an old western fan would want to put into fan fiction and it is awesome for it.
Of course a Roy Rogers western has to have songs and a Roy Rogers Christmas western has to have Christmas songs. Roy preforms two lesser known Christmas songs here, both written by Jack Elliott. These songs are Get A Christmas Tree For Johnny and Ev'ry Day is Christmas Day in the West. Roy also preforms a non-Christmas song as well. This is Home Town Jubilee written by Foy Willing (who also appears in this movie). As a country music fan, the songs are something I always look forward to in these movies and these songs don't disappoint.
Children were a major part of Roy Rogers' audience and as such there was often a kid character in many of his movies. This film offers one of the best. This time the character is played by Carol Nugent. While often times a kid character was the weakest part of these movies, here she is delightful providing a lot of heart and humor to many scenes. She never feels like she is trying to be cute, rather she just naturally is. Carol Nugent would later appear with the other singing cowboy, Gene Autry in an episode of his television show. Speaking of children look for Roy Rogers and Dale Evens' then 11 year old daughter Cheryl Rogers as a girl asking for Jack Holt's autograph.
This movie does not feature Dale Evans as is usually common in Roy Rogers westerns of this time. The reason for this is that Dale was pregnant at this time. She choose Penny Edwards to take her place in this film, partly because Edwards also had a strong Christian upbringing. Roy's other usual costar Trigger does play a huge part in this film, providing many excellent action scenes and showing why he truly earned his title as "The Smartest Horse in the Movies."
This movie was the last film Roy made in Trucolor, which used only strips of red and blue. It used this fantastically and the color in this movie looks incredible.
This movie was directed by William Witney, who is best known today for directing movie serials. He had directed the infamous western serial, The Lone Ranger (1938). However he is probably best remembered for directing what many consider to be the greatest movie serial, The Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941). Witney was directing many of Roy's films at this time and actually directed all of Roy's feature length movies for the last four years.
Despite the title of this movie, the film has nothing to do with Robin Hood or robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. I personally have no idea where this title came from.
This is one of those movies that makes me feel like a little kid again. All my grown up cynicism quickly goes out the window as soon as I start watching. There may be nothing new, challenging or thought provoking here, but I don't care. I just want to see my hero Roy and his friends take down the bad guys and for good to prevail once again. If you let yourself be like a child again for 67 minutes, I think you will feel the same way. The charming simplicity is just too much for the child in me to resist and this movie reminds me of being a kid and falling in love with movies all over again.
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-Michael J. Ruhland
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