Robin and Little John are still stuck in France working for King Richard. They are ordered to take a run down pathetic castle to retrieve some kind of bounty. It all ends with a wimper. No treasure, Richard taking an arrow in the neck (thrown by an old man). Robin and his king have a falling out. Richard dies. After 20 years away fighting in the Crusades, Robin and Little John decide to return to England and Sherwood Forest where things are much the same as when they left. They hook up with some old friends and enemies and Robin and maid Marion rekindle their interrupted romance.
This film is far from an epic period piece with a huge cast and lots of staged battles. It’s stripped down and tells the story of an older Robin returning to England and picking up where he left off as a young man. Only he isn’t young anymore and the glory days are behind him. His time has past but he gives it a go anyway. Richard Lester tells the story with a subtle touch. Lots of humor, good camera work , locations that bring the feel of the times. But the thing he has going for him is the cast.
Richard Harris as King Richard isn’t around long but his scenes and banter with Connery are good. Robert Shaw as the Sherriff turns in his usual quiet strong performance. Nicol Williamson as little John is perfect. You believe that he and Robin have one of those special friendships. Lots of other good support.
Hepburn and Connery are good together and separate. I bought their relationship. Two good actors who knew how to make the characters real and believable. You really feel Hepburn’s love for Robin with sadness being part of it.
Sean Connery is perfect as Hood. He is such a natural actor. He brings a man child quality. He just makes everyone around him better because he keeps it real. His subtle humor works for me. Not many actors can pull it off. Great performance. Hepburn loves this side of Robin but also is sad about it. She knows he’ll never retire from being an outlaw.
Robin and Marian is not over produced, no epic battles (Real good one on one with Connery and Shaw), CGI none of that. What it does have is good performances, humor , some sword play and a romantic story. I like this film and so did my Gal. She was a teary mess at the end.
If you want to see Robin a little older, stiffer, banged up and still trying to show his girl he’s the same man, you might like this.
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This was pretty good. I like the fact that they went with a different angle. 20 years later.
Your line of “If you want to see Robin a little older, stiffer, banged up” says it all!
Cheers Pal…
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Thanks deKE. Like you say a “different angle”. Worked for me.
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The better half is a big fan of the Robin Hood movies. It started when she was a kid and saw the Errol Flynn version in reruns on the tube. I think she’s seen every version and there was even a TV show. I suspect she saw this but not sure. Me I’m indifferent to this kind of stuff, good acting aside It does for me what romcoms for you which is to say not much.
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No flash and dash here Doc. Just a little slice of a guy wanting to hang on to long.
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What?! No swashbucking? No swordplay? No damsel in distress? No men in tights? Is this one of those “thoughtful” pictures?
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A sword fight with 200 pound swords they could barely lift.
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Turns out she’s seen it. There’s no Robin Hood she doesn’t love.
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I see this one come up on the movie channels once in a while. I’ll press record the next time I see it.
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I’d be interested on a Mars take.
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You know, I haven’t seen this movie in a long time, but I think about it now and then. It’s a pretty great one. Very touching.
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Yeah it is “touching”. the actors put a real human side to it. The getting older thing.
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An older, possibly wiser Robin certainly he seems more thoughtful than the Erroll Flynn portrayals of him in the Hollywood blockbusters. I vaguely recall seeing this film on a rainy a rainy Saturday afternoon. A good little movie. Quiet and thought provoking.
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I find a lot of those old films hard to watch (for a lot of reasons). As a kid I might have got off on Flynn’s hero turn. This film is more rooted in reality. Lost love, missed opportunities aging, changes etc. I thought they did a good job. They all act their age even though Connery doesn’t want to.
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Lol, I like the last line of your reply. I must admit that the memory of Errol Flynn as Robin Hood is a hard image to shift. I suggest that watching Mel Brooks – Men In Tights might help.
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You know us guys Queen, just boys that got big. Mel is a good cleanser for sure.
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😆
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I’ve never seen this one but I fancy checking this out. Stranger still as Sean Connery cropped up as King Richard in that elongated Bryan Admas music video with Kevin Costner.
Then again I quite like the idea of a series of ‘adventures of’ Robin Hood and Little John buddy movies now
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I’ll leave the Costner take in your capable hands.
On the buddy thing, Connery and Williamson are totally believable as two best friends. Unconditional and bonded in trust. Loved the relationship. Give it a go, you might get a chuckle out of it.
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Pinky, are you pondering what I’m pondering?
Well, I think so, but Kevin Costner with an English accent?
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That’s what you can do with an unlimited budget. Did folks go see it?
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