Robin Hood (1991/I) (TV)

Director:

John Irvin

Writers (WGA):

Sam Resnick (story)
Sam Resnick (teleplay) ...

Release Date:

13 May 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Romance | Drama

Tagline:

The adventure. The romance. The legend.

Plot:

Yet another version of the classic epic, with enough variation to make it interesting. The story is the same...

Plot Keywords:

Swashbuckler | Robin Hood | Character Name In Title

US TV Schedule:

Wed. May 14	7:15 AM	HBO
Tue. May 20	9:30 AM	HBO

Cast

Danny Webb	...	Much the Miller (as Daniel Webb)
Conrad Asquith	...	Lodwick
Barry Stanton	...	Miter
Patrick Bergin	...	Sir Robert Hode / Robin Hood
Owen Teale	...	Will Scarlett
Jürgen Prochnow	...	Sir Miles Folcanet (as Jurgen Prochnow)
Uma Thurman	...	Maid Marian
Jeroen Krabbé	...	Baron Roger Daguerre (as Jeroen Krabbe)
Phelim McDermott	...	Jester
Carolyn Backhouse	...	Nicole, Roger's Mistress
David Morrissey	...	Little John
Caspar De La Mare	...	Sam Timmons the Carpenter
Cecily Hobbs	...	Mabel
Gabrielle Reidy	...	Lily
Stephen Pallister	...	Jack Runnel

Also Known As:

Robin Hood - Ein Leben für Richard Löwenherz (Germany)

Runtime:

104 min | Germany:133 min | Germany:97 min | USA:116 min (video release)

Country:

Canada | Germany | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:14 (original rating) | Spain:T | USA:TV-14 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12/9 | Sweden:11 | Singapore:PG | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Peckforton Castle, Peckforton, Cheshire, England, UK

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Goofs:

Factual errors: Woad (the purple dye Robin throws at the tax-collector) wouldn't have been around in the middle of the village. The process used to make the dye smelled so bad that woad-makers had to live outside the village to make it. Also, while in the cauldron it actually looks green, the indigo/purple colour only shows up as you remove the dyed item from the liquid, so the dye would not have appeared purple in the bowl before Robin threw it.

Quotes:

Maid Marian: I will not marry to symbolize a peace, or to ratify a treaty. But... this man I will have... because he makes the May tree blossom and the bees buzz in my breast. I will take this man because he brings springtime to my heart.

Movie Connections:

Version of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Endearing version with good performances

This version is my second best one of Robin Hood tales on screen after "Robin and Marian."

Though the direction is uninspired, the performances are notable. First, Uma Thurman as Marian is the backbone of the film. She is lends color to the otherwise grey and morbid ambience. So does Edward Fox as an intelligent King John--most other versions show the King as a stupid tyrant. This is Fox's best performance since "Day of the Jackal". Patrick Bergin was not exceptional, but his Robin was a credible perspective of the character. He has talent as he proved in his meaty role in "Durango." Jurgen Prochnow is a great German actor in any film either as a good guy ("Das Boot") or as a bad guy ("The English Patient"). Jeroen Krabbe was also notable though his character of the Baron left me totally puzzled--the director was totally at a loss to etch out facets of his relationship with his niece, with Robin (early part of the film and the later parts), his relationship with his wife... This was an interesting character that the director John Irvin could have fleshed out, having invested so much screen time to the character. The direction and screenplay were the weak departments.

But all in all it was Uma Thurman who really made this version important.