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A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967) movie poster

Timeline

A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1967 · 92 mins · English
Directed by
C.M. Pennington-Richards
Starring
Alfie Bass, James Hayter, Barrie Ingham, William Squire, Douglas Mitchell, John Harvey

Falsely accused of murder, Sir Robin of Loxley retreats to Sherwood Forest, where he encounters a band of outlaws. Though wary of his noble background, they soon respect his honor and skill. Robin unites them into a daring force that robs the rich to aid the poor, and his deeds quickly become legend.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (13)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like A Challenge for Robin Hood
  5. 5 Every angle

13 events in order · contains spoilers

A Challenge for Robin Hood Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Father's death sparks inheritance feud

    The De Courtenay patriarch dies, triggering a fierce inheritance dispute. Roger kills his brother and frames Robin, seizing control of the family estate. Robin is forced into hiding with Friar Tuck to avoid punishment.

    Where
    De Courtenay Castle
  2. Robin and Tuck flee to the forest

    Robin and Friar Tuck retreat to the forest to escape Roger's machinations. They are attacked by the Sheriff of Nottingham's soldiers but are saved by a mysterious archer who leads them to a forest hide-out.

    Where
    Forest
  3. Alan-a-Dale proves his leadership

    Robin defeats Alan-a-Dale in a quarterstaff duel and the forest gang tests his archery with him hooded. They decide he is a natural leader and nickname him Robin Hood.

    Where
    Forest Hide-out
  4. Castle plotting against Will Scarlet

    Back at the De Courtenay castle, Roger presides with the Sheriff and Maid Marion as they watch a wrestling match won by Little John. They plan to hang Will Scarlet at the village fair, seizing an opportunity to eliminate Robin's ally.

    Where
    De Courtenay Castle
  5. Forest raid and Will Scarlet’s fate

    Robin travels through the forest to confront a tax collector in a bold raid. He learns of Will Scarlet's pending hanging and robs the tax money as a strike against unjust levies.

    Where
    Forest
  6. Pie caper and fair disguises

    Robin and Tuck stage a caper involving a drayman and a pie seller. Tuck disguises as the pie-seller and Robin as a monk, heading to the De Courtenay fair. They purchase green cloth to hide in the woods, and a soldier recognizes Robin but sides with his cause.

    Where
    De Courtenay Fair
  7. The wrestling match and Marion’s abduction setup

    Robin wins the wrestling match with Little John; during prize collection he grabs Maid Marion and places her on a horse, with a loyal soldier tasked to carry her off.

    Where
    De Courtenay Fair
  8. Robin’s arrest and the pie-fight chaos

    Robin is arrested and slated to be hung along with Will Scarlet. A pie fight erupts, driving back the soldiers and allowing Little John and Will to rejoin Robin in the forest.

    Where
    De Courtenay Fair
  9. Forest revenge on the tax collector

    In the forest, Robin and his men exact revenge on the tax collector by returning money to the peasants. This act boosts their standing and reinforces their cause.

    Where
    Forest
  10. Trap and the kidnapping of Marion

    The Sheriff's men trick Robin's band into thinking the forest is on fire, luring them into a rescue attempt. They kidnap Maid Marion and her little brother and kill Much, a guard.

    Where
    Forest
  11. Castle escape through the moat

    Three of Robin's men, led by Little John, disguise themselves with fake ducks and swim over the castle moat. They enter through an iron yett at basement level and bring a dumb waiter up to the great hall, freeing Robin who was roasting by the fire and joining the others in battle.

    Where
    Castle
  12. Duel in the great hall ends with Roger's fall

    Roger and Robin duel in the great hall with Marion watching. Alan-a-Dale ends the fight with an arrow in Roger's back, ending the threat to Robin's cause.

    Where
    Castle Great Hall
  13. Friar Tuck performs the forest wedding

    Back in the forest, Friar Tuck marries Robin and Marion, sealing their union. The ceremony marks a peaceful closure to their long struggle and solidifies the band’s bond.

    Where
    Forest

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:30

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Timeline questions answered

A Challenge for Robin Hood Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Roger frame Robin for murder?

Roger, Robin's cousin, kills his own brother during a fierce inheritance dispute after their father's death. He frames Robin for the murder to seize control of the De Courtenay family estate and eliminate his rival. This forces Robin to flee with Friar Tuck to avoid execution.

  • roger
  • framing
  • murder
  • inheritance
  • estate
Q2

How does Robin earn the outlaws' respect?

Robin defeats Alan-a-Dale in a quarterstaff duel, demonstrating his combat skills. The gang then tests his legendary archery by having him shoot while hooded, and he proves his accuracy. These demonstrations convince them he is a natural leader, earning him the nickname Robin Hood.

  • robin hood
  • outlaws
  • respect
  • leadership
  • archery
Q3

Why does Robin grab Maid Marion at the wrestling match?

Robin notices the Sheriff and Roger planning to hang his ally Will Scarlet at the village fair. During the wrestling match where Little John wins, Robin grabs Marion and places her on a horse to abduct her before the Sheriff can use her as bait against the outlaws. A loyal soldier helps carry her off to safety in the forest.

Foreshadowing: Earlier the Sheriff plots with Roger to eliminate Will Scarlet, revealing their intention to use Marion as leverage.

  • maid marion
  • kidnapping
  • rescue
  • wrestling
  • sheriff
Q4

How does the pie fight help Robin escape?

When Robin is arrested and scheduled to hang alongside Will Scarlet, a chaotic pie fight erupts at the fair. The flying pies drive back the soldiers and create confusion. This allows Little John and Will to break free and rejoin Robin in the forest, saving them from execution.

  • pie fight
  • escape
  • arrest
  • soldiers
  • fair
Q5

How does the Sheriff trick Robin's band into a trap?

The Sheriff's men set a fire in the forest to create a fake emergency. Robin's men rush to fight the blaze and rescue any threatened outlaws. While they are distracted, the Sheriff's soldiers kidnap Maid Marion and her little brother, killing Much in the process.

  • trap
  • fire
  • sheriff
  • kidnapping
  • much
Q6

How do Little John and the men rescue Robin from the castle?

Three of Robin's men, led by Little John, disguise themselves with fake ducks and swim across the castle moat. They enter through an iron yett at basement level, then use a dumb waiter to bring themselves up into the great hall. They free Robin, who was being roasted by the fire, and join him in battle against the Sheriff's forces.

  • castle rescue
  • little john
  • moat
  • yett
  • dumb waiter
Q7

How does Roger finally die?

Robin and Roger engage in a duel in the great hall while Marion watches. During the fight, Alan-a-Dale fires an arrow from hiding, striking Roger in the back and ending his threat to Robin's cause.

  • roger
  • duel
  • arrow
  • alan-a-dale
  • death
Q8

Why does Robin rob the tax collector?

After learning that the Sheriff plans to hang Will Scarlet at the village fair, Robin stages a bold raid against the tax collector. He steals the tax money as a strike against unjust levies imposed on peasants, returning the money to the poor and reinforcing the outlaws' reputation as champions of the common people.

  • tax collector
  • robbery
  • peasants
  • justice
  • fair
Q9

Does Robin marry Maid Marion in the end?

Yes. After defeating Roger and escaping the castle, Robin returns to the forest where Friar Tuck performs a wedding ceremony, uniting Robin and Marion. This marks a peaceful closure to their struggle and solidifies the bond among the outlaw band.

  • wedding
  • marion
  • friar tuck
  • marriage
  • forest
Q10

What happens to Will Scarlet at the fair?

Will Scarlet was scheduled to be hanged at the De Courtenay fair as part of Roger and the Sheriff's plot to eliminate Robin's ally. Robin learns of this through a tax collector and stages a raid. During the subsequent pie fight chaos at the fair, Will is freed and rejoins Robin in the forest.

  • will scarlet
  • hanging
  • fair
  • rescue
  • plot

Movie threads

More Movies Like A Challenge for Robin Hood, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes A Challenge for Robin Hood tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Heroic Outlaw Movies like A Challenge for Robin Hood

Wronged heroes turn outlaw to fight injustice and become folk legends. If you enjoyed the righteous rebellion and folk heroism of A Challenge for Robin Hood, explore these movies about charismatic outlaws fighting for justice. These films feature similar tales of wronged heroes, daring adventures, and the triumph of honor over tyranny.

  • heroic
  • swashbuckling
  • defiant
  • hopeful
  • legendary
  • adventurous
  • Tone: hopeful, adventurous, defiant
  • Pacing: steady, mission-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a classic arc: an honorable individual is falsely accused or oppressed, forcing them outside the law. They find purpose and a new 'family' among other outcasts, using their skills to rob from the corrupt and aid the oppressed. The story builds their legend through a series of escalating challenges against a clear antagonist, culminating in a victory that restores a sense of justice.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a hopeful, adventurous tone and a clear moral compass. They feature medium-intensity action, a steady pace driven by mission-based plots, and a light emotional weight focused on triumph rather than trauma. The central theme of fighting tyranny through righteous rebellion creates a cohesive and uplifting experience.

Movies about Rebel Bands like in A Challenge for Robin Hood

Misfits and outcasts unite in a secret sanctuary to become a force for good. Fans of the comradery and group dynamics in A Challenge for Robin Hood will enjoy these films about found families of rebels. Discover similar stories where outcasts in a hidden sanctuary bond and fight together, creating a powerful sense of loyalty and shared purpose.

  • found family
  • communal
  • defiant
  • hopeful
  • loyalty
  • band of misfits
  • Tone: hopeful, communal, defiant
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative centers on a community built in exile or hiding. A leader emerges to unite individuals from different backgrounds who initially may be wary of each other. Through shared challenges and a common goal, they develop deep bonds of loyalty and become a cohesive, effective unit. Their sanctuary serves as a home and base of operations from which they launch their campaigns.

Why they belong together: This thread groups movies based on the strong thematic focus on found family and community. They share a hopeful tone as the group's bond strengthens, a steady pace that allows for character interactions amidst the action, and a light-to-medium emotional weight that emphasizes camaraderie over deep conflict. The setting of a hidden base or natural sanctuary is a common unifying element.

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Every angle

A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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