Robin and Marian

Infobox_Film
name = Robin and Marian


caption =
director = Richard Lester
producer = Dennis O'Dell
Richard Shepherd
Ray Stark
writer = James Goldman
starring = Sean Connery
Audrey Hepburn
Robert Shaw
Nicol Williamson
and
Ronnie Barker
distributor = Columbia Pictures
music = John Barry
cinematography = David Watkin
released = 11 March 1976
runtime = 106 min.
country = UK/
USA
language = English
budget = £5,000,000
amg_id = 1:41671
imdb_id = 0075147

"Robin and Marian" is a 1976 British and 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. When he is ordered to take a castle that is rumoured to hold a great treasure, he refuses since it is held by a single old man, sheltering harmless women and children. Richard is furious and orders Robin's execution, but before it can take place, the king is fatally wounded by an arrow from the old man. Richard then orders the massacre of the residents.

When Richard dies, Robin and Little John (Williamson) return to England and are reunited with old friends Will Scarlett (Denholm Elliott) and Friar Tuck (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. She goes willingly, but Robin objects and rescues her against her will.The Sheriff and Robin gather their men for a final showdown, but agree to a personal duel to settle the matter. Robin kills his enemy, but is badly wounded. The Sheriff's men then attack, scattering the ragtag band. Little John and Marian help him back to the nunnery, where he optimistically believes that he will recover and return to his adventurous ways. Marian prepares a draft and takes a drink of it herself. John stands guard outside while Marian tends to Robin. He drinks the medicine and notes that the pain has gone away and his legs have gone numb. As Marian herself gets weaker he realises that she has poisoned them both and he cries out for Little John.

Robin then sees that Marian has acted out of love because he would never be the same man again if he lived. 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 kicks the door in and weeps at Robin's bedside as Robin consoles him. Robin picks up a bow and tells Little John to bury them where the arrow lands. He shoots it from his deathbed through an open window.

Cast

*Sean Connery as Robin Hood. Jason Connery, also portrayed Robin Hood, in the TV series "Robin of Sherwood". Sean Connery later played King Richard in an uncredited cameo role in "". He also appeared in Terry Gilliam's "Time Bandits", which starred John Cleese 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 Lionheart
*Denholm Elliott as Will Scarlet
*Ronnie Barker as Friar Tuck
*Kenneth Haigh as Sir Ranulf
*Ian Holm as King John

Reception

The film was generally given a positive review by critics. Roger Ebert on reviewing the film was positive towards 'Connery and Hepurn 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." [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] 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. "

References

External links

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