Robin and Marian (1976)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Richard Lester

Writer:

James Goldman (written by)

Release Date:

April 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Love is the greatest adventure of all.

Plot:

Robin Hood, aging none too gracefully, returns exhausted from the Crusades to woo and win Maid Marian one last time.

Plot Keywords:

Crusades | Robin Hood | Aging | Abbess | Sheriff

Cast

Sean Connery	...	Robin Hood
Audrey Hepburn	...	Lady Marian
Robert Shaw	...	Sheriff of Nottingham
Richard Harris	...	Richard the Lionheart
Nicol Williamson	...	Little John
Denholm Elliott	...	Will Scarlett
Kenneth Haigh	...	Sir Ranulf
Ronnie Barker	...	Friar Tuck
Ian Holm	...	King John
Bill Maynard	...	Mercadier
Esmond Knight	...	Old Defender
Veronica Quilligan	...	Sister Mary
Peter Butterworth	...	Surgeon
John Barrett	...	Jack
Kenneth Cranham	...	Jack's Apprentice
Victoria Abril	...	Queen Isabella
Montserrat Julió	...	1st Sister
Victoria Hernández Sanguino	...	2nd Sister
Margarida Minguillón	...	3rd Sister (as Margarita Minguillón)

Directed by
Richard Lester

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
James Goldman		written by

Produced by
Denis O'Dell	....	producer
Richard Shepherd	....	executive producer
Ray Stark	....	executive producer

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
David Watkin

Film Editing by
John Victor-Smith

Casting by
Mary Selway

Production Design by
Michael Stringer

Art Direction by
Gil Parrondo

Costume Design by
Yvonne Blake

Makeup Department
José Antonio Sánchez	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Barrie Melrose	....	production supervisor
Juan Clemente Prosper	....	unit manager (as Juan Clemente)
Apolinar Rabinal	....	production manager
Roberto Roberts	....	production supervisor
Dusty Symonds	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
José López Rodero	....	assistant director

Art Department
Julián Mateos	....	property master
Francisco Prósper	....	construction manager
Tony Reading	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Roy Charman	....	sound recordist
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound recordist
Don Sharpe	....	sound editor
Paul Smith	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Eddie Fowlie	....	special effects

Stunts
Joaquim Parra	....	stunt coordinator
Miguel Pedregosa	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Iain Coates	....	still photographer
Federico G. Grau	....	still photographer
Miguel Sancho	....	gaffer
Jimmy Turrell	....	camera operator
Paul Wilson	....	director of photography: second unit
Kathy Fields	....	special still photographer (uncredited)
Stephen Smith	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Peter Boyle	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor
Michael Clifford	....	music editor
Richard Shores	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
William Hobbs	....	fight arranger
Ian McKay	....	fight arranger
Ann Skinner	....	continuity
Nat Weiss	....	unit publicist

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (as Columbia Pictures) (presents)
• Rastar Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1976) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1981) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1977) (France) (theatrical)
• Pioneer Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Merry Band Associates  production services
• Twickenham Film Studios  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

The Death of Robin (USA) (working title)
The Return of Robin Hood (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Pamplona, Navarra, Spain

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

James Goldman had already written The Lion in Winter (1968), which included the characters of Richard and John Plantagenet in their younger years.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Golden Delicious apples (in windows during last scene) did not exist in 13th century England.

Quotes:

Robin Hood: I've followed you for twenty years. I fought for you in the Crusades. I fought for you here in France. Show me a soldier and I'll fight him now. But I won't slaughter children for a piece of gold that never was!
Richard the Lionheart: I ordered it. I command you.
Robin Hood: *You* do it! You're a bloody bastard, you'll enjoy it!
Richard the Lionheart: Damn right I'll do it!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Audrey Hepburn: Ein Star auf der Suche nach sich selbst (2004) (TV)

The most moving {if one of the least exciting} of Robin Hood films

One needs to say straight off the bat that if one wants lots of typical Robin Hood swashbuckling then one is better off seeing the Errol Flynn, Kevin Costner or one of the countless lesser films of Robin Hood. There is not much action here. However, the shortage of action is really quite appropriate to this particular film, which can be seen as a sequel to almost any other version you've seen. 'The Last Days Of Robin Hood' would have been as good a title as the one we have.

This being a Richard Lester film, there are plenty of humorous touches. Here, they seem somewhat out of place,as the general tone of the film is bittersweet. We have a Robin Hood who is aging and aware of it, yet still has to fill the role of a legendary hero. The film portrays even better than El Cid the passing of somebody into legend, and a sense of destiny- it's more important that Robin fulfill his than opt out and not have the risk of things ending sadly. Sean Connery never did change that accent, but he could be a superb actor at times, as indeed he is here. The supporting cast is a virtual Who's Who of fine British character actors of the time, but Robert Shaw stands out as the most menacing Sheriff Of Nottingham on film.

There is much in this film that is immensely touching, especially when Robin and Marian start resuming their romance which supposedly ended 18 years previously. David Watkin's gorgeous photography of the countryside is essential in giving the film it's autumnal quality. Despite the overly lengthy build up to it, the final Robin/Sheriff duel is well worth the wait, a really realistic, convincing brawl. The film is aided immensely by John Barry's music- his main theme is beautiful and deserves to be ranked among the more famous themes this great composer has written. One could easily find a more exciting and even more entertaining Robin Hood film than this, but probably not a more touching one.