Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Director:

Kevin Reynolds

Writers (WGA):

Pen Densham (story)
Pen Densham (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 June 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Sometimes the only way to uphold justice...is to break the law.

Plot:

When Robin and his Moorish companion come to England and the tyranny of the Sheriff of Nottingham, he decides to fight back as an outlaw.

Plot Keywords:

England | Crusades | Outlaw | Forest | Moors

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 13 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Kevin Costner	...	Robin Hood
Morgan Freeman	...	Azeem
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Marian Dubois
Christian Slater	...	Will Scarlett
Alan Rickman	...	Sheriff George of Nottingham
Geraldine McEwan	...	Mortianna
Michael McShane	...	Friar Tuck (as Micheal McShane)
Brian Blessed	...	Lord Locksley
Michael Wincott	...	Guy of Gisborne
Nick Brimble	...	Little John
Soo Drouet	...	Fanny
Daniel Newman	...	Wulf
Daniel Peacock	...	Bull
Walter Sparrow	...	Duncan
Harold Innocent	...	Bishop of Hereford
Jack Wild	...	Much the Miller's Son
Michael Goldie	...	Kenneth of Cowfall
Liam Halligan	...	Peter Dubois
Marc Zuber	...	Interrogator
Merelina Kendall	...	Old Woman
Imogen Bain	...	Sarah
Jimmy Gardner	...	Farmer
Bobby Parr	...	Villager
John Francis	...	Courier
John Hallam	...	Red-Headed Baron
Douglas Blackwell	...	Gray-Bearded Baron
Pat Roach	...	Celtic Chieftain
Andy Hockley	...	Ox
John Dallimore	...	Broth
Derek Deadman	...	Kneelock
Howard Lew Lewis	...	Hal
John Tordoff	...	Scribe
Andrew Lawden	...	Sergeant
Susannah Corbett	...	Lady in Coach
Sarah Alexandra	...	Small Girl
Christopher Adamson	...	Soldier
Richard Strange	...	Executioner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bryan Adams	...	The Balladeer (uncredited)
David Bowles	...	Morgar (uncredited)
Sean Connery	...	King Richard (uncredited)
Mickey Curry	...	The Balladeer's Drummer & Percussionist (uncredited)
Larry Klein	...	The Balladeer's Bassist (uncredited)
Bill Payne	...	The Balladeer's Keyboardist (uncredited)
Derek Pykett	...	Peasant in Crowd (uncredited)
Graham Riddell	...	Celtic Warrior (uncredited)
Keith Scott	...	The Balladeer's Lead Guitarist (uncredited)
Mark Thomason	...	Oarsman (uncredited)

Directed by
Kevin Reynolds

Writing credits (WGA)
Pen Densham		(story)
Pen Densham		(screenplay) &
John Watson		(screenplay)

Produced by
Gary Barber	....	executive producer
Pen Densham	....	producer
Michael J. Kagan	....	co-producer
Richard Barton Lewis	....	producer
David Nicksay	....	executive producer
James G. Robinson	....	executive producer
John Watson	....	producer
Kevin Costner	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Michael Kamen

Cinematography by
Douglas Milsome

Film Editing by
Peter Boyle

Casting by
Noel Davis
Ilene Starger
Jeremy Zimmermann		(as Jeremy Zimmerman)

Production Design by
John Graysmark

Art Direction by
Fred Carter

Costume Design by
John Bloomfield

Makeup Department
Christine Allsopp	....	makeup artist
Lynda Armstrong	....	makeup artist
Paul Engelen	....	key makeup artist
Richard Glass	....	standby contact lens optician
Daniel Parker	....	makeup artist
Lisa Tomblin	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Malcolm J. Christopher	....	production supervisor (as Malcolm Christopher)
Michael Hartman	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lee Cleary	....	key second assistant director
Jamie Fowlds	....	trainee assistant director
Marios Hamboulides	....	trainee assistant director
Nick Heckstall-Smith	....	second assistant director: second unit
Peter Heslop	....	second second assistant director
Mark Illsley	....	second unit director
Max Kleven	....	second unit director: action sequence
Adam Somner	....	third assistant director
David Tringham	....	first assistant director

Art Department
John Alvin	....	poster artist
Alan Cheevers	....	plasterer
John Chisholm	....	property master
Dominique Coste	....	art department
Gavin Gordon	....	carpenter
Patricia Johnson	....	draughtsman
Gwendolyn Margetson	....	draftsperson
Giles Masters	....	assistant art director
Mark Reynolds	....	stand-by props: second unit
Bill Stallion	....	storyboard artist
Dean Coldham	....	chargehand plasterer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Anna Behlmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Simon Coke	....	sound effects editor
Joe Dorn	....	adr editor
Robert Grieve	....	supervising sound editor
Steve Mann	....	sound effects editor
Courtenay Marvin	....	assistant sound editor
James Matheny	....	dialogue editor
Chris Munro	....	sound mixer
Greg Orloff	....	foley mixer
Judy Oseransky	....	assistant sound editor
Roy Seeger	....	assistant adr editor
Frank Smathers	....	dialogue editor
Mark Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Otto Snel	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer
David Williams	....	dialogue editor
James Allen	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)
David W. Alstadter	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Carmen Flores De Tanis	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
David R. Finkelstein	....	assistant foley editor (uncredited)
Dennis Leonard	....	additional sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Steve Hamilton	....	senior special effects technician
Barry Whitrod	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Craig Barron	....	visual effects supervisor: Matte World
Rob Burton	....	visual effects
Krystyna Demkowicz	....	executive in charge of production: Matte World
Joel Hladecek	....	motion control camera
Rich McKay	....	camera assistant
Michael Pangrazio	....	matte artist supervisor

Stunts
Del Baker	....	stunts
Ken Barker	....	stunts
Brian Bowes	....	stunts
Peter Brace	....	stunts
Helen Caldwell	....	stunts
Stuart Clark	....	stunts
Abbi Collins	....	stunts
Tim Condren	....	stunts
Simon Crane	....	stunt double: Mr. Costner
Simon Crane	....	stunts
David Cronnelly	....	stunts
Graeme Crowther	....	stunts
Clive Curtis	....	stunts
Perry Davey	....	stunts
Tom Delmar	....	stunts
Wayne Docksey	....	stunts
Sadie Eden	....	stunts (as Sadie Eddon)
Dorothy Ford	....	stunts
Elaine Ford	....	stunts
Terry Forrestal	....	stunts
Nick Gillard	....	stunts
Reg Harding	....	stunts
Paul Heasman	....	stunts
Frank Henson	....	stunts
Mark Henson	....	stunts (as Franklin Henson)
Nick Hobbs	....	stunts
Dave Holland	....	stunts
Sy Hollands	....	stunts
Billy Horrigan	....	stunts
Arthur Howell	....	stunts
Paul Jennings	....	stunts
Vincent Keane	....	stunts (as Ginger Keane)
Phil Lonergan	....	stunts
Tom Lucy	....	stunts
Glenn Marks	....	stunts
Tina Maskell	....	stunts
Sean McCabe	....	stunts
Bronco McLoughlin	....	stunts
Lex Milloy	....	stunts
Chrissy Monk	....	stunts
Valentino Musetti	....	stunts
Gerard Naprous	....	stunts
Mark Anthony Newman	....	stunts
Robert Patton	....	stunt performer
Mike Potter	....	stunts
Dinny Powell	....	stunts
Eddie Powell	....	stunts
Nick Powell	....	stunts
Terry Richards	....	stunts
Billy Riley Jr.	....	stunts
Doug Robinson	....	stunts
Denise Ryan	....	stunts
Stuart St. Paul	....	stunts
Roy Street	....	stunts
Rocky Taylor	....	stunts
Tip Tipping	....	stunts
Derek Ware	....	stunts
Bill Weston	....	stunts
Paul Weston	....	stunt coordinator
Jason White	....	stunt performer
Steve Whyment	....	stunts
Nick Wilkinson	....	stunts
Rod Woodruff	....	stunts
Craig Appel	....	equestrian (uncredited)
Gary Robert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lee Sheward	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Brewster	....	camera operator: second unit
Bob Bridges	....	assistant camera
Gary Cross	....	gaffer: second unit
Mike Frift	....	camera operator
W.C. 'Chunky' Huse	....	key grip
Wayne Leach	....	electrician
Alan Martin	....	gaffer
Jason Martin	....	best boy
David Tondeur	....	assistant camera
John Ward	....	Steadicam operator
Carlos Melville	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elvis Davis	....	set costumer
Robyn Elliott	....	set costumer (as Robyn Elliot)
Michael McGarrigle	....	wardrobe assistant
Dominic Young	....	costume workroom assistant

Editorial Department
Joss Agnew	....	second assistant editor
Brent Eldridge	....	digital color correction
Peter Hollywood	....	editor: special sequences
Michael Kelly	....	editor: additional sequences
Carole A. Kenneally	....	assistant editor
Alexandra Leviloff	....	second assistant editor
Jonathan Lucas	....	first assistant editor
Robert C. Lusted	....	assistant editor (as Bob Lusted)
Marcus Manton	....	additional editor
Bob Putynkowski	....	color timer
Gladys Vega	....	assistant editor
Glenn Richard Côté	....	assistant to editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Chris Boardman	....	orchestrator
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist
Christopher Brooks	....	music editor
Harvey Cohen	....	orchestrator
Don Davis	....	orchestrator
Richard Davis	....	orchestrator
Robert Fernandez	....	music engineer
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
J.J. George	....	assistant music editor
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator
Elliot Kaplan	....	orchestrator
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music mixer
Albert Lloyd Olson	....	orchestrator
Eric Reasoner	....	music editor
Lolita Ritmanis	....	orchestrator
William Ross	....	orchestrator
Patrick Russ	....	orchestrator
Jonathan Sacks	....	orchestrator
Brad Warnaar	....	orchestrator
Mark Watters	....	orchestrator
Bryan Adams	....	musician: rhythm guitar (uncredited)
Bruce Babcock	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Mickey Curry	....	musician: drums & percussions (uncredited)
Michael Kamen	....	conductor (uncredited)
Michael Kamen	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Larry Klein	....	musician: bass guitar (uncredited)
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music producer (uncredited)
Bill Payne	....	musician: keyboards (uncredited)
Keith Scott	....	musician: lead guitar (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Brian Hathaway	....	transportation coordinator
Mark White	....	transportation

Other crew
Stuart Baird	....	project consultant
Mark Bunce	....	chef
David Chorley	....	chef
Caroline Cornish-Trestrail	....	production staff
Kevin Costner	....	production consultant
Gabe Cronnelly	....	archery coach
Susan d'Arcy	....	unit publicist
Reg Dent	....	horse supplier
Steve Dent	....	assistant horse master
Steve Dent	....	horse supplier
Sara Desmond	....	production runner
Wayne Docksey	....	animal master: Animal Acting
Michelle Fox	....	production associate
Ira Friedlander	....	production accountant
Rowley Irlam	....	rider
Sheldon Katz	....	production controller
David Kerney	....	production accountant
Samantha C. Kirkeby	....	script supervisor
John Lees	....	fitness coach
Neil Ravan	....	location manager
Tony Smart	....	horse master
Alan Sutton	....	fire officer
Kathleen Switzer	....	assistant: Kevin Reynolds (as Kathleen A. Switzer)
Mark Thomason	....	photo double
Mark Thomason	....	stand-in
Terry Walsh	....	sword master
Andrew A Wilkinson	....	sword master
Andrew Jack	....	dialect coach: Michael McShane (uncredited)
Craig Stevenson	....	assistant sword master (uncredited)
Pam Weaver	....	animal handler (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros.
• Morgan Creek Productions

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Concorde Filmverleih (1991) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (1991) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• TriPictures (1991) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1991) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1991) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Warner Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Argentina Video Home (1992) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1994) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Sandrews (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sandrews (2003) (Sweden) (DVD) (extended edition)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (extended edition)
• Argentina Video Home (2010) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (extended edition)
• Finnkino (1991) (Finland) (theatrical) (VHS)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (1999) (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2007) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray 2010)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1996) (Finland) (TV)
• Nelonen (2003) (2004) (2008) (2009) (Finland) (TV)
• AMLF (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• CNR Film & Video (1992) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• CNR Video (1992) (Belgium) (VHS) (retail)
• Hollydan Works (2007) (Yugoslavia) (DVD)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Varus Video (Russia) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (????) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Matte World Digital
• ReelEye Company (special effects contact lenses)

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• Almost Human  animals provided by
• Animal Acting Agency Ltd.  animals provided by
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Completion Bond Company  completion bond
• DDA Public Relations (DDA)  publicity
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Matte World Digital  opening matte painting effects
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording
• Morgan Creek Records  soundtrack published by
• Optical Film Effects  matte effects
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Precision Film Cutting  negative cutting
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Seiniger Advertising  titles

Also Known As:

Runtime:

143 min | USA:155 min (extended edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M (extended version) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (cut) | USA:PG-13 | New Zealand:PG | Iceland:10 (theatrical rating) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Canada:PA (Ontario - 2006) | South Korea:12 | Germany:12 (f) | South Africa:PG | UK:12 (re-rating) (2009) (uncut) | Sweden:11 (heavily cut) | Portugal:M/12 | Peru:PT | Netherlands:12 | Netherlands:AL (video rating) (1992)

Filming Locations:

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK

Company:

Warner Bros.

Trivia:

The shot of Robin shooting the flaming arrow was shot at 300 frames per second (normal speed is 24fps).

Goofs:

Continuity: When John Little and Robin first meet at the river, John is seen from the back, holding the staff away from him. "Do you lead this rabble?". In the next shot where John replies "Yes I do, Mate.", the staff is leaned against his shoulder. But in the next shot, the staff is being held away from him again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Prisoner:Show them the courage of Allah!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in George and the Dragon (2004)

Soundtrack:

(EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU

Exhilarating Adventure

I have seen Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves so many times and yet it still thrills me the 100th time as much as it did the first. I just can't ever get enough of this near perfect adventure film.

I've always cherished films set in medieval times. There's just something about the plights of the oppressed class and the simple heroics of the man who steps forward to fight for honor and better lives for the dismal. Then there are the luxuriant castles, the dashing sword fights, the extravagant costumes, the tragically beautiful princess he's destined to fall in love with, and the evil power-hungry villain who will stop at nothing to be King.

OK, it's a bit of a cliché, but this formula makes for the perfect escapist film and one thrilling and emotional ride. No, it isn't original, but it's just got everything you'd ever want from a film.

The story of Robin Hood has been done so many times, and (unlike most of his other roles) Kevin Costner is not only believable, but actually quite good this time (well, except for the accent, but nobody's perfect).

Alan Rickman is just flawlessly devious as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Nobody could have done it better, and he also had the best lines ("Because it's dull, it'll hurt more!")

This was sadly Kevin Costner's last great film, as he went on to star in such duds as Waterworld and the dismal The Postman. Christian Slater, Morgan Freeman, Sean Connery, and especially Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio give their all, creating a truly emotional and powerful film. I don't understand why the ratings are so low.

The ending is just beautiful. I boo at the sheriff, cheer for Robin, and cry during Robin and Marian's post-sword fight embrace every time, and you will too if you ignore the cynics and give this adventure a chance.

9/10