Robin and Marian: Difference between revisions
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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The film was generally given a positive review by critics. [[Roger Ebert]] |
The film was generally given a positive review by critics. [[Roger Ebert]] was positive towards Connery and Hepburn as Robin and Marian although he was uncertain about "history repeating itself" in regards to the plot. According the Ebert, "What prevents the movie from really losing its way, though, are the performances of Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn in the title roles. No matter what the director and the writer may think, Connery and Hepburn seem to have arrived at a tacit understanding between themselves about their characters. They glow. They really do seem in love. And they project as marvelously complex, fond, tender people; the passage of 20 years has given them grace and wisdom."<ref name="Ebert"> [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19760421/REVIEWS/604210301/1023 Chicago Sun-Times review by Roger Ebert ], April 21, 1976, Retrieved on July 7, 2008</ref> He also approved of the cinematography of the film in comparison to early films of the genre noting that, "Lester photographs them with more restraint than he might have used 10 years ago. His active camera is replaced here by a visual tempo more suited to bittersweet nostalgia. He photographs Sherwood Forest and its characters with a nice off-hand realism that's better than the pretentious solemnity we sometimes get in historical pictures."<ref name="Ebert"/> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 20:00, 9 April 2010
| Robin and Marian | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Richard Lester |
| Written by | James Goldman |
| Produced by | Dennis O'Dell Richard Shepherd Ray Stark |
| Starring | Sean Connery Audrey Hepburn Robert Shaw Nicol Williamson and Ronnie Barker |
| Cinematography | David Watkin |
| Music by | John Barry |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date | 11 March 1976 |
Running time | 106 minutes |
| Countries | UK US |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £5,000,000 |
Robin and Marian is a 1976 British/American co-produced romantic adventure period film starring Sean Connery as Robin Hood, Audrey Hepburn as Maid Marian, Nicol Williamson as Little John, Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham and Richard Harris as King Richard. It also features comedian Ronnie Barker in a rare film role as Friar Tuck.
Director Richard Lester made Robin and Marian amid a series of period pieces, including The Three Musketeers. The screenplay was written by James Goldman. The original music score was composed by John Barry.
Plot
An aging Robin Hood (Connery) is a trusted captain fighting for Richard the Lion-Heart (Harris) in France, the Crusades long over. Richard orders him to take a castle that is rumoured to hold a gold statue. Discovering that it is defended by a solitary, one-eyed old man (Esmond Knight) who is sheltering harmless women and children and convinced that there is no statue, Robin and his right-hand man, Little John (Williamson), refuse to attack. King Richard, angry at their insubordination, orders the pair's execution, but before his orders can be carried out, he is fatally wounded by an arrow thrown by the old man. Richard has the helpless residents massacred, with the exception the old man, because Richard likes his eye. The King asks Robin to pray for mercy for him. When Robin refuses, Richard draws his sword, but lacks the strength to strike him and falls to the floor. Robin helps him, and moved by his loyalty, with his last words, Richard frees Robin and Little John.
After Richard's death, Robin and Little John return to England and are reunited with old friends Will Scarlet (Denholm Elliott) and Friar Tuck (Ronnie Barker) in Sherwood Forest. When Robin casually inquires about Maid Marian (Hepburn), they tell him she has become a nun. When he goes to see her, she finds him as impossible as ever.
He learns that his old nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham (Shaw), has ordered her arrest in response to the King's order to expel senior leaders of the Roman Catholic Church from England. Marian wants no trouble, but Robin rescues her against her will, injuring Sir Ranulf (Kenneth Haigh), the Sheriff's arrogant guest, in the process. Ignoring the Sheriff's warnings, Sir Ranulf pursues Robin into the forest. His men are ambushed and decimated by arrows; Sir Ranulf is left unharmed only because Robin orders him spared. When the news of Robin's return spreads, old comrades and new recruits rally once more to him. Sir Ranulf asks King John for 200 soldiers to deal with Robin.
The Sheriff waits in the open fields beyond the Forest, knowing Robin will attack. When Robin does, he proposes that he and the Sheriff duel to settle the issue, despite the protests of Sir Ranulf. After a long fight, the Sheriff has the wounded Robin at his mercy and demands his surrender. Refusing, Robin manages to kill the Sheriff with the last of his strength. Led by Sir Ranulf, the soldiers attack and scatter Robin's ragtag band. Little John swiftly kills Sir Ranulf. Then he and Marian take Robin to a nunnery.
Robin believes he will recover to win future battles. Little John stands guard outside while Marian tends to Robin's wounds. Marian prepares a draft and takes a drink of it herself before giving it to Robin. He drinks the medicine and notes that the pain has gone away and his legs have gone numb. Then, realising that she has poisoned them both, he cries out for Little John. However, he comes to understand that Marian has acted out of love because he would never be the same man again. She tells him:
I love you. More than all you know. I love you more than children. More than fields I've planted with my hands. I love you more than morning prayers or peace or food to eat. I love you more than sunlight, more than flesh or joy, or one more day. I love you...more than God.
Little John crashes through the door and weeps at Robin's bedside. Robin shoots an arrow from his deathbed through the open window and tells Little John to bury them both where it lands.
Cast
- Sean Connery as Robin Hood
- Audrey Hepburn as Lady Marian; this was Audrey Hepburn's first film in nine years.
- Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham
- Nicol Williamson as Little John
- Richard Harris as Richard the Lion-Heart
- Denholm Elliott as Will Scarlet
- Ronnie Barker as Friar Tuck
- Kenneth Haigh as Sir Ranulf
- Ian Holm as King John
- Bill Maynard as Mercadier
- Esmond Knight as Old Defender
- Veronica Quilligan as Sister Mary
- Peter Butterworth as Surgeon
- John Barrett as Jack
- Kenneth Cranham as Jack's Apprentice
- Victoria Abril as Queen Isabella
Reception
The film was generally given a positive review by critics. Roger Ebert was positive towards Connery and Hepburn as Robin and Marian although he was uncertain about "history repeating itself" in regards to the plot. According the Ebert, "What prevents the movie from really losing its way, though, are the performances of Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn in the title roles. No matter what the director and the writer may think, Connery and Hepburn seem to have arrived at a tacit understanding between themselves about their characters. They glow. They really do seem in love. And they project as marvelously complex, fond, tender people; the passage of 20 years has given them grace and wisdom."[1] He also approved of the cinematography of the film in comparison to early films of the genre noting that, "Lester photographs them with more restraint than he might have used 10 years ago. His active camera is replaced here by a visual tempo more suited to bittersweet nostalgia. He photographs Sherwood Forest and its characters with a nice off-hand realism that's better than the pretentious solemnity we sometimes get in historical pictures."[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b Chicago Sun-Times review by Roger Ebert , April 21, 1976, Retrieved on July 7, 2008
