Peter Finch as the Sheriff of Nottingham

6 comments:

Clement Glen said...

Peter Finch as the Sheriff of Nottingham

Mike Giddens said...

He was spendid, Peter Finch looked so different as the sheriff, i remember we cheered in the cinama when the townsfolk pelted him with vegetables in the square. he was the man you loved to hate, dumping him in the moat was a highlight, as was riding hind side to for.

Neil said...

This film proved to be the springboard for Peter Finch's career. He had not been much noticed prior to this but as Herns Son says he was splendid in the role and as this film reached a worldwide audience he came to the attention of film makers. Ken Annakin says that his was the best portayal of its type he had seen. He also said that some of the scenes played with Hubert Gregg were really great. They certainly worked well. Peter Finch is a very interesting character and Ken again said that he never saw him happier that the days on set at Denham when he stomped around the set in costume as The Sheriff of Nottingham.

Clement Glen said...

As soon as Peter Finch stepped out of the shadows, along the battlements of Nottingham Castle,he brought a sinister but slightly vulnerable edge to the character of the Sheriff.

In most pre-Disney Robin Hood films and most modern adaptions the Sheriff is more of a rotund comical character- but with Finchie there was more elegant realism-as Annakin says,"he brought a sincerity to the part with a lot of bite. Rather like the casting of Guinness in Star Wars."

As a matter of interest, can any of you guys imagine any other actor playing the part of the Sheriff in the film at that time?

Neil said...

I dont think that anyone could have been as good or have added the dimensions to the role that Peter Finch did. Possibly Michael Gough could have done a good job OR does anyone remember James Donald - I think he could have been a contender for the part. He was a lean character who seemed to be around a lot in films at the time and he was a very good actor

Mike Giddens said...

I remember James Donald, he was good in "The Vikings" another favorite of mine. i agree Neil, he would have been a good sheriff.Peter Finch though was the best ever. the only other perfect sheriff was Nicholas Grace from "Robin of Sherwood".