Robin Hood (1973) - 5/5

This is one of the two most classic Robin Hood adaptations every put on screen, and it does not disappoint. This family adaptation doesn’t shy away from the hopeless plight of the villagers, and the theme of hopelessness doesn’t interfere with the swashbuckling adventure. The silliness here is kept to a minimum when compared to similar Disney fare, and never gets to the point where it might begin to affect the plot. It’s fun, creative, charismatic, and the whole movie is downright iconic, from Friar Tuck to the stork disguise at the archery tournament.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) by way of The Sword in the Stone (Disney).

Setting: Action Adventure
Plot: Heist Adventure
Tone: Family Adventure

Topkapi - 3/5

This movie is a fairly straightforward heist plot that mistakes quirk for substance. It’s bright and colorful, with ‘70s European fashion sensibilities that I found amateurishly garish but may appeal more to others. The narrative is the standard plan-snag-resolution heist fare that here lacks the audience-character buy-in that is a prerequisite of the genre. Peter Ustinov is very good, but the rest of the cast is more mundane than the fanfare of the setting and cinematography can sustain. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t offer anything above average.

Closest comparison: It’s like Rififi by way of Roman Holiday.

Setting: Vacation
Plot: Heist
Tone: Euro Comedy