Including special viewing hours for the Council’s exhibition “Playing God: The Art and Artists of Matte Painting,"

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

In conjunction with the Council’s exhibition “Playing God: The Art and Artists of Matte Painting,” Academy Award®-nominated visual effects supervisor Craig Barron and Oscar®-winning sound editor Ben Burtt will explore some of the secrets behind the making of The Adventures of Robin Hood.

This special evening includes a screening of the 1938 classic as well as two onstage presentations: Warner Bros. studio archivist Leith Adams will display a rare matte painting used in the film and discuss its curious history, and archery expert Dale Smith will reproduce the famous arrow sounds from the film using replica arrows designed by Burtt.

The Adventures of Robin Hood depicts the archetypal struggle of good against evil, with Errol Flynn as the quintessential hero matching wits - and blade and arrow - with the villainous Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone), the scheming Prince John (Claude Rains) and the Sheriff of Nottingham (Melville Cooper). Complementing the action is one of the screen’s most memorable love stories, in which the dashing Robin wins the heart of the beautiful Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland).

The most expensive Warner Bros. production to that point, The Adventures of Robin Hood was an early Technicolor hit and remains one of the technology’s masterpieces. The film epitomizes classic Hollywood filmmaking with its lavish production design, rousing score, and energetic stunts and swordplay. It garnered Academy Awards® for Art Direction, Film Editing and Original Score as well as a nomination for Outstanding Production.

Craig Barron is a veteran of Industrial Light & Magic and today heads the Marin-based effects company Matte World Digital. Barron also serves on the Academy’s Board of Governors (Visual Effects Branch).

Ben Burtt won Oscars® for his sound effects work on the original Star Wars, two Indiana Jones movies and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. He also served as film editor on the latest Star Wars trilogy.

Directed by Michael Curtiz, William Keighley. Executive Producer Hal B. Wallis. Associate Producer Henry Blanke. Screenplay Norman Reilly Raine, Seton I. Miller. Cinematography Tony Gaudio, Sol Polito. Technicolor Photography W. Howard Greene. Art Direction Carl Jules Weyl. Film Editing Ralph Dawson. Sound C.A. Riggs. Music Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Matte Department Supervisor Paul Detlefsen. Costume Design Milo Anderson. Makeup Perc Westmore. Technicolor Color Director Natalie Kalmus. Archery Supervisor Howard Hill. Fencing Master Fred Cavens. Warner Bros. Pictures. 1938. 35mm. 102 minutes.

Academy Award winner: Art Direction (Weyl), Film Editing (Dawson), Music – Original Score (Korngold)
Academy Award nominee: Outstanding Production (Warner Bros.–First National).