Post by Dennis of Ravenscar on Apr 6, 2023 12:43:32 GMT
i.imgur.com/kZJ4vFJ.jpg
Plot
i.imgur.com/QCSHDS0.png
The titles open with sweeping shots of a forest which soon becomes the beginning of a chase. A peasant poacher is being hunted by a group of Normans, complete with horses and hawks. The man, Much, falls at a Saxon nobleman's feet and begs Robert Hode to help him. Encouraged by his friend Will, Robert saves Much from losing his eyes by claiming that he allows the miller to hunt on his land. Sir Miles Falconet is not happy and demands that Robert appear before Baron Daguerre the next day. Marian tries not to be impressed by Robert.
i.imgur.com/gjEw7hc.png
That evening, Robert is playing backgammon at his pal Daguerre's place. As they talk, Marian appears. She is Daguerre's niece and is there to be married to Sir Miles.
i.imgur.com/iOgeEmB.png
The next day, Robert and Will arrive at Nottingham Castle where Miles forces Daguerre to sentence Robert to a lashing, betraying their friendship and Robert's pride. Robert in return tells of Daguerre's dubious ancestry and is declared outlaw. Robert and Will manage to escape (in true swashbuckling style) into the forest where they spend a cold, wet night. In the morning, they meet a certain John Little, who fights with Robert and wins. The boys then adopt the names Robin Hood and Will Scarlet.
i.imgur.com/tnmdEbO.png
John takes them to the outlaw camp. To pay for their keep, they must prove they have useful skills. Robin beats Harry in a shooting match by splitting a wand. Harry is far from happy. He fights Robin and is beaten (again). Robin leads the outlaws in an ambush of a party of Normans, including Miles and Marian. Robin sends Miles back to Daguerre with the message, 'Some wounds never heal'. There is a brief but very telling conversation between Robin and Marian.
Briefly, we see a banquet in Nottingham where Marian's dislike of Miles, and Daguerre's plan to offer a large reward for Robin's capture are both revealed.
i.imgur.com/cWDpQEx.png
After an attempt to rob Tuck and a brief fight with Robin, the friar joins the band and tells them of the price on their heads and the proposed hanging of two children. These are duly saved and returned to their parents.
Will talks to Robin about his worries over the offered reward and Robin proposes a plan to steal the taxes from Nottingham. Everyone is with him, except Harry (who glowers a lot).
i.imgur.com/8M652VK.png
Next we see Marian spitting venom at her future husband. Daguerre puts his foot down, insisting that she marry Miles on the seventh. They leave her alone and she spots the dressmaking shears.
There is a lovely, playful stealing of the taxes by Robin and his band of merry men, full of slapstick and action. Daguerre is not happy, even shouting at his jester. He's been stung where it really hurts: his large wallet, and now he is out to get Robin.
i.imgur.com/RCB9F1A.png
Back at the outlaw camp, a young man called Martin Pride is taunted out of a tree. Robin thinks he recognizes the boy, but leaves him chopping logs for his dinner. The boys go off and loot a church by threatening the abbot at knife point. When they return to the camp, Martin/Marian has chopped the logs and is fed.
One of Prince John's aides arrives at Nottingham Castle. He tells of the prince's arrival to collect the tax money. Daguerre gets a bit ticked off and doubles the effort to get Robin. He hatches a cunning plan involving the ladies' maid, Nicole, who is his lover.
i.imgur.com/5sTvYxP.png
While the men are being trained, Robin announces that he is going to an assignation. He takes Martin with him as his squire because Will is worried about him going alone. As the two wait for his assignation, Robin tells Martin about Marian. Just before the trap is sprung, Martin and Robin escape into a river and Martin reveals that 'he' is Marian. They hide from the Normans in a Welshman's cart and he lets them have the longbows he was to sell to Daguerre. They return to the camp where Will tells them about the rewards going up. They decide to give the money to the poor and to start immediately. Robin accidentally calls Martin 'Marian' and Harry notices.
i.imgur.com/0fiegnS.png
When Robin and Marian get to the village, they find a man dead because he couldn't and wouldn't give the Normans any information about Robin and his gang. They give some money to the widow and Marian admits that she feels guilty about being a Norman. They hide together from the soldiers in a barn. After they kiss, the screen fades to black, and we all know what that means, don't we?
Prince John has arrived in Nottingham and gives Daguerre a good telling off for sympathizing with Saxons. He orders Miles to get out after Robin and gives him troops.
i.imgur.com/Bb6qjuA.png
Back at the outlaw camp, Martin has disappeared and a search is set up. Harry takes Marian to Nottingham where she reveals that she has given herself to someone else 'with the greatest of pleasure' (I bet she did!). Miles gets a bit miffed and Harry is taken away for questioning after denying knowledge of Robin.
i.imgur.com/s4ehQDX.png
A peasant turns up at the outlaw camp telling them about Harry. Robin comes up with a plan to get into Nottingham Castle the next day which is All Fool's Day. The Fool's Parade cannot be denied entry.
On the morning of her wedding, Marian is decidedly unhappy.
i.imgur.com/uR5hvjP.png
When the parade arrives at the castle, Harry is hanging, dead, from the ramparts. They are let in. The wedding begins as the noise starts outside. Marian refuses to say 'I will', and Miles has a tantrum, demanding that the abbot marry them anyway. Outside, the battle continues as Robin appears at the wedding and literally sweeps Marian off her feet and out of Miles' horrible clutches. Then, he turns to face Miles. The battle for the castle is won as Will confronts Daguerre. They argue (rather eloquently), then surrender their swords to each other in the name of peace and brotherhood. Marian joins the fight and finally Robin kills Miles who dies in true baddie fashion.
i.imgur.com/zSfGJjq.png
Daguerre makes peace with Robin, agreeing that Saxons and Normans must live as one nation. He suggests that Marian marry Robin to symbolize the union. She refuses, wanting to marry Robin because she loves him.
The film ends with a kiss and the sun coming out. All is well with the world.
i.imgur.com/94JMayr.png
Review
This is a very realistic representation of the legend, despite the slightly fairy-tale music (written by Geoffrey Burgon, who wrote the score for The Chronicles of Narnia). The colours are muted and dark, there is mud everywhere and the costumes are historically correct. Even though Will is idealistic enough for everyone, the most realistic element is the decision to give to the poor to protect the outlaws from betrayal. It is a decision made out of a need to survive as well as from national pride. Another plus is the almost entirely European cast (Uma Thurman being the exception). The accents fit, although why Robin Hood is Irish is anyone's guess. It may be disappointing to some fans that there is no Sheriff and no Gisburne, but Daguerre and Miles Falconet are more than acceptable, with the added and interesting complication of Daguerre's split loyalties. All in all, the cast are wonderful. Patrick Bergin has a twinkle in his eye (more than slightly reminiscent of Errol Flynn), and throws himself into the plot with huge enthusiasm. Uma Thurman is proud, beautiful and touching. Oddly enough, she makes a very convincing boy, and her accent hardly ever slips. A Marian for the nineties, she is a match for anyone without being out of historical context. Jeroen Krabbe plays the ambitious Daguerre with such style and insight that a viewer cannot fail to empathize and Jurgen Prochnow is the archetypal bad guy as Miles, stomping on the Saxons. Edward Fox's Prince John is perfect (and I'm not exaggerating).
The script is at times comic, in places poetic, and manages to keep pace with the action without getting in the way. Some of the actors seem to have problems with the comedy which can be quite subtle. Patrick Bergin handles it well, as does Uma Thurman, but Owen Teale as an oddly wooden Will Scarlet seems a little lost.
The only major problem I have with this film is that, with the chemistry between Patrick and Uma, it had the potential to be another Robin and Marion, but came nowhere near achieving it. Being an incurable romantic, I prefer weepy endings, and no one ever seems willing to kill Robin, even though that is how the legend always ends. After all the realism, the incredibly sickly-sweet-happy-ever-after ending is a bit hard to believe or to stomach.
Best Lines
There are some great speeches, especially from Robin and Daguerre, but these are a bit long, so here are my favourite lines from each of the main characters.
Robert Hode, "Behold, the glorious Normans. The noble Baron of the realm whose great grandfather was no more than a pirate. From cut-throat to judge in the blink of an eye."
Robin Hood (I know, it's the same guy), "I can shoot; a bit."
Marian, "Conquer your own lechery, Miles; fight your own stupid greed and do battle with anybody as far away as possible. I don't want you."
Will Scarlet, "None more trustworthy in England, John Little."
Little John, "Nothing like an abbot on his arse to make one's day."
Sir Miles Falconet, "Pronounce us man and wife now, or you'll be consulting God direct."
Prince John, "I will not have my throne threatened. I will not have Saxon mock Norman. And I will have my money."
Cast
Robin Hood - Patrick Bergin
Marian - Uma Thurman
Daguerre - Jeroen Krabbe
Miles Falconet - Jurgen Prochnow
Will Scarlet - Owen Teale
John Little - David Morrissey
Prince John - Edward Fox
Much the Miller - Daniel Webb
Friar Tuck - Jeff Nuttall
Harry - Alex Norton
Lodwick - Conrad Asquith
Miter - Barry Stanton
Emlyn - Anthony O'Donnell
Gerald of Tewkesbury - Jonathan Cullen
Nicole - Carolyn Backhouse
Jester - Phelim McDermott
Sam Timmons - Caspar de la Mare
Mabel - Cecily Hobbs
Lily - Gabrielle Ready
Jack Rummel - Stephen Pallister
Charlie Rummel - Kevin Pallister
Abbot - Richard Moore
Gammer Tanzie - Gabrielle Lloyd
Guard - Josh Moran
Bearded Mason - Stan Pinton
-------------
Art Director, Austen Spriggs
Music Geoffrey, Burgon
Editor, Peter Tanner
Photographic Director, Jason Lehel
Screenplay Sam Resnick, John McGrath
Producer, Sarah Radclyffe
Director, John Irvin
Filming Locations
Peckforton Castle, nr Nantwich, Cheshire - Nottingham
Plot
i.imgur.com/QCSHDS0.png
The titles open with sweeping shots of a forest which soon becomes the beginning of a chase. A peasant poacher is being hunted by a group of Normans, complete with horses and hawks. The man, Much, falls at a Saxon nobleman's feet and begs Robert Hode to help him. Encouraged by his friend Will, Robert saves Much from losing his eyes by claiming that he allows the miller to hunt on his land. Sir Miles Falconet is not happy and demands that Robert appear before Baron Daguerre the next day. Marian tries not to be impressed by Robert.
i.imgur.com/gjEw7hc.png
That evening, Robert is playing backgammon at his pal Daguerre's place. As they talk, Marian appears. She is Daguerre's niece and is there to be married to Sir Miles.
i.imgur.com/iOgeEmB.png
The next day, Robert and Will arrive at Nottingham Castle where Miles forces Daguerre to sentence Robert to a lashing, betraying their friendship and Robert's pride. Robert in return tells of Daguerre's dubious ancestry and is declared outlaw. Robert and Will manage to escape (in true swashbuckling style) into the forest where they spend a cold, wet night. In the morning, they meet a certain John Little, who fights with Robert and wins. The boys then adopt the names Robin Hood and Will Scarlet.
i.imgur.com/tnmdEbO.png
John takes them to the outlaw camp. To pay for their keep, they must prove they have useful skills. Robin beats Harry in a shooting match by splitting a wand. Harry is far from happy. He fights Robin and is beaten (again). Robin leads the outlaws in an ambush of a party of Normans, including Miles and Marian. Robin sends Miles back to Daguerre with the message, 'Some wounds never heal'. There is a brief but very telling conversation between Robin and Marian.
Briefly, we see a banquet in Nottingham where Marian's dislike of Miles, and Daguerre's plan to offer a large reward for Robin's capture are both revealed.
i.imgur.com/cWDpQEx.png
After an attempt to rob Tuck and a brief fight with Robin, the friar joins the band and tells them of the price on their heads and the proposed hanging of two children. These are duly saved and returned to their parents.
Will talks to Robin about his worries over the offered reward and Robin proposes a plan to steal the taxes from Nottingham. Everyone is with him, except Harry (who glowers a lot).
i.imgur.com/8M652VK.png
Next we see Marian spitting venom at her future husband. Daguerre puts his foot down, insisting that she marry Miles on the seventh. They leave her alone and she spots the dressmaking shears.
There is a lovely, playful stealing of the taxes by Robin and his band of merry men, full of slapstick and action. Daguerre is not happy, even shouting at his jester. He's been stung where it really hurts: his large wallet, and now he is out to get Robin.
i.imgur.com/RCB9F1A.png
Back at the outlaw camp, a young man called Martin Pride is taunted out of a tree. Robin thinks he recognizes the boy, but leaves him chopping logs for his dinner. The boys go off and loot a church by threatening the abbot at knife point. When they return to the camp, Martin/Marian has chopped the logs and is fed.
One of Prince John's aides arrives at Nottingham Castle. He tells of the prince's arrival to collect the tax money. Daguerre gets a bit ticked off and doubles the effort to get Robin. He hatches a cunning plan involving the ladies' maid, Nicole, who is his lover.
i.imgur.com/5sTvYxP.png
While the men are being trained, Robin announces that he is going to an assignation. He takes Martin with him as his squire because Will is worried about him going alone. As the two wait for his assignation, Robin tells Martin about Marian. Just before the trap is sprung, Martin and Robin escape into a river and Martin reveals that 'he' is Marian. They hide from the Normans in a Welshman's cart and he lets them have the longbows he was to sell to Daguerre. They return to the camp where Will tells them about the rewards going up. They decide to give the money to the poor and to start immediately. Robin accidentally calls Martin 'Marian' and Harry notices.
i.imgur.com/0fiegnS.png
When Robin and Marian get to the village, they find a man dead because he couldn't and wouldn't give the Normans any information about Robin and his gang. They give some money to the widow and Marian admits that she feels guilty about being a Norman. They hide together from the soldiers in a barn. After they kiss, the screen fades to black, and we all know what that means, don't we?
Prince John has arrived in Nottingham and gives Daguerre a good telling off for sympathizing with Saxons. He orders Miles to get out after Robin and gives him troops.
i.imgur.com/Bb6qjuA.png
Back at the outlaw camp, Martin has disappeared and a search is set up. Harry takes Marian to Nottingham where she reveals that she has given herself to someone else 'with the greatest of pleasure' (I bet she did!). Miles gets a bit miffed and Harry is taken away for questioning after denying knowledge of Robin.
i.imgur.com/s4ehQDX.png
A peasant turns up at the outlaw camp telling them about Harry. Robin comes up with a plan to get into Nottingham Castle the next day which is All Fool's Day. The Fool's Parade cannot be denied entry.
On the morning of her wedding, Marian is decidedly unhappy.
i.imgur.com/uR5hvjP.png
When the parade arrives at the castle, Harry is hanging, dead, from the ramparts. They are let in. The wedding begins as the noise starts outside. Marian refuses to say 'I will', and Miles has a tantrum, demanding that the abbot marry them anyway. Outside, the battle continues as Robin appears at the wedding and literally sweeps Marian off her feet and out of Miles' horrible clutches. Then, he turns to face Miles. The battle for the castle is won as Will confronts Daguerre. They argue (rather eloquently), then surrender their swords to each other in the name of peace and brotherhood. Marian joins the fight and finally Robin kills Miles who dies in true baddie fashion.
i.imgur.com/zSfGJjq.png
Daguerre makes peace with Robin, agreeing that Saxons and Normans must live as one nation. He suggests that Marian marry Robin to symbolize the union. She refuses, wanting to marry Robin because she loves him.
The film ends with a kiss and the sun coming out. All is well with the world.
i.imgur.com/94JMayr.png
Review
This is a very realistic representation of the legend, despite the slightly fairy-tale music (written by Geoffrey Burgon, who wrote the score for The Chronicles of Narnia). The colours are muted and dark, there is mud everywhere and the costumes are historically correct. Even though Will is idealistic enough for everyone, the most realistic element is the decision to give to the poor to protect the outlaws from betrayal. It is a decision made out of a need to survive as well as from national pride. Another plus is the almost entirely European cast (Uma Thurman being the exception). The accents fit, although why Robin Hood is Irish is anyone's guess. It may be disappointing to some fans that there is no Sheriff and no Gisburne, but Daguerre and Miles Falconet are more than acceptable, with the added and interesting complication of Daguerre's split loyalties. All in all, the cast are wonderful. Patrick Bergin has a twinkle in his eye (more than slightly reminiscent of Errol Flynn), and throws himself into the plot with huge enthusiasm. Uma Thurman is proud, beautiful and touching. Oddly enough, she makes a very convincing boy, and her accent hardly ever slips. A Marian for the nineties, she is a match for anyone without being out of historical context. Jeroen Krabbe plays the ambitious Daguerre with such style and insight that a viewer cannot fail to empathize and Jurgen Prochnow is the archetypal bad guy as Miles, stomping on the Saxons. Edward Fox's Prince John is perfect (and I'm not exaggerating).
The script is at times comic, in places poetic, and manages to keep pace with the action without getting in the way. Some of the actors seem to have problems with the comedy which can be quite subtle. Patrick Bergin handles it well, as does Uma Thurman, but Owen Teale as an oddly wooden Will Scarlet seems a little lost.
The only major problem I have with this film is that, with the chemistry between Patrick and Uma, it had the potential to be another Robin and Marion, but came nowhere near achieving it. Being an incurable romantic, I prefer weepy endings, and no one ever seems willing to kill Robin, even though that is how the legend always ends. After all the realism, the incredibly sickly-sweet-happy-ever-after ending is a bit hard to believe or to stomach.
Best Lines
There are some great speeches, especially from Robin and Daguerre, but these are a bit long, so here are my favourite lines from each of the main characters.
Robert Hode, "Behold, the glorious Normans. The noble Baron of the realm whose great grandfather was no more than a pirate. From cut-throat to judge in the blink of an eye."
Robin Hood (I know, it's the same guy), "I can shoot; a bit."
Marian, "Conquer your own lechery, Miles; fight your own stupid greed and do battle with anybody as far away as possible. I don't want you."
Will Scarlet, "None more trustworthy in England, John Little."
Little John, "Nothing like an abbot on his arse to make one's day."
Sir Miles Falconet, "Pronounce us man and wife now, or you'll be consulting God direct."
Prince John, "I will not have my throne threatened. I will not have Saxon mock Norman. And I will have my money."
Cast
Robin Hood - Patrick Bergin
Marian - Uma Thurman
Daguerre - Jeroen Krabbe
Miles Falconet - Jurgen Prochnow
Will Scarlet - Owen Teale
John Little - David Morrissey
Prince John - Edward Fox
Much the Miller - Daniel Webb
Friar Tuck - Jeff Nuttall
Harry - Alex Norton
Lodwick - Conrad Asquith
Miter - Barry Stanton
Emlyn - Anthony O'Donnell
Gerald of Tewkesbury - Jonathan Cullen
Nicole - Carolyn Backhouse
Jester - Phelim McDermott
Sam Timmons - Caspar de la Mare
Mabel - Cecily Hobbs
Lily - Gabrielle Ready
Jack Rummel - Stephen Pallister
Charlie Rummel - Kevin Pallister
Abbot - Richard Moore
Gammer Tanzie - Gabrielle Lloyd
Guard - Josh Moran
Bearded Mason - Stan Pinton
-------------
Art Director, Austen Spriggs
Music Geoffrey, Burgon
Editor, Peter Tanner
Photographic Director, Jason Lehel
Screenplay Sam Resnick, John McGrath
Producer, Sarah Radclyffe
Director, John Irvin
Filming Locations
Peckforton Castle, nr Nantwich, Cheshire - Nottingham