If you read the trivia, Jimmy Cagney was originally considered for the role of Robin Hood, but was fired from Warner Brothers. How do you guys think he would have done?
If you're not taking any steps forward, you're not moving at all.
Cagney's screen persona was the average joe, sometimes turning to crime because of his environment. In 1939, he did play a Robin Hood type in a western "The Oklahoma Kid".
A Cagney Robin Hood would have been like factory worker organizing other laborers into a labor union.
The Robin Hood of the movie was a baron, which suggests a nobleman who inherited his wealth but who's sympathies lie with the commoners.
So a Cagney Robin Hood might have been fun, but not as good as Flynn's, who played Robin Hood as suave and well mannered but never soft.
Soy 'un hijo de la playa'
Its very easy to imagine Cagney in the role and him being very good but there wouldn't have been as much chemistry with Olivia (her and Flynn were magical together). Cagney and De Havilland were paired in STRAWBERRY BLONDE and despite it being an excellent film they are a very workmanlike couple, a believable but slightly standoffish pairing. Also, Flynn brought the suave, well spoken aristocratic feel to the role and Cagney would have been a lot more streetwise and a little too American for a British based tale. The rest of the cast are superb, especially Basil and Claude (the hairpiece in place of his usual, famously quiffed hair makes him look so different and menacing. Im even glad Knowles replaced the sought after David Niven, this really is a fab cast with equally fab voices....close your eyes and see how enjoyable it remains with the distinctive vocals and fab score.
shareWhat he said ^
share