Robin Hood and the Sorcerer (1983) (TV)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

Ian Sharp

Writer:

Richard Carpenter (writer)

Release Date:

15 January 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Plot:

His family massacred by Norman soldiers, Robin takes on the mantle of the Hooded Man, a champion long prophesised...

Plot Keywords:

Magic | Archery | Fencing | Robin Hood | Character Name In Title

Cast

Michael Praed	...	Robin Hood
Nickolas Grace	...	Robert de Rainault, Sheriff of Nottingham
Anthony Valentine	...	Baron Simon de Belleme
Judi Trott	...	Maid Marion
Ray Winstone	...	Will Scarlet
Clive Mantle	...	John Little of Hathersage
Peter Llewellyn Williams	...	Much
Robert Addie	...	Sir Guy of Gisburne
Phil Rose	...	Friar Tuck
Mark Ryan	...	Nasir
Philip Jackson	...	Abbot Hugo de Rainault
Mark Audley	...	Dickon of Barnsley
Paul Rainbow	...	Tom the Fletcher (as Paul Duggan)
John Abineri	...	Herne the Hunter
Wayne Michaels	...	Ailric of Loxley

Also Known As:

Robin Hood (Philippines: English title) (theatrical title)
Robin Hood: The Legend, Part 1

Runtime:

UK:100 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK

Company:

Goldcrest Films International

Movie Connections:

Edited from "Robin of Sherwood" (1984)

Soundtrack:

Now Is Here

Nothing is ever forgotten...

This is the first part of the wonderful tv series "Robin of Sherwood", which aired in the early and mid 80's. Although it can often be found in the children's or family sections of video stores, it deserves much more respect than this; it is one of those rare incidences of really good television.

The show mixes magic and paganism into the familiar Sherwood tale, and music by Clannad adds to the mystical atmosphere. But the characters are anything but the swashbuckling cardboard heroes that the Robin Hood stereotype embodies, and we have come to expect. Michael Praed (in my mind, the perfect Robin Hood), plays a fallible, conflicted Robin, who is nonetheless idealistic and strong. All of the Merry Men are fleshed out as full characters, with their own motivations and ideas, and Marion (Judi Trott) is represented particularly well. She avoids many female stereotypes: she is beautiful but not plastic, a fighter but still definitely feminine. The Sheriff of Nottingham (Nicholas Grace) and Guy of Gisburne (Robert Addie) are present as the classic villains, but they both go far beyond the usual limited parameters of these roles. The characters are all comfortable and unselfconscious, as though they don't realize that they are legends. To me, this is their most appealing trait of all.

Even after all this time, the show still has a devoted cult following, who gather for yearly conventions with the stars. Their devotion is understandable; "Robin Hood and the Sorcerer" is the beginning of the best representation of the Robin Hood legend that has ever been created.