Sunday 11 May 2008
ROBIN AND MARIAM - LOVE IS THE GREATEST ADVENTURE AT ALL
( "I love you. More than all you know. I love you more than children. More than fields I've planted with my hands. I love you more than morning prayers or peace or food to eat. I love you more than sunlight, more than flesh or joy, or one more day. I love you...more than God." - Can you say more ? A strange film that hold me hostage from the first time I saw it. Yes love moves in the most misterious ways)
Robin and Marian is a 1976 film starring Sean Connery as Robin Hood, Audrey Hepburn as Maid Marian, Nicol Williamson as Little John, Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham and Richard Harris as King Richard. It also features comedian Ronnie Barker in a rare film role as Friar Tuck.Director Richard Lester made Robin and Marian amid a series of period pieces, including The Three Musketeers. The screenplay was written by James Goldman. The original music score was composed by John Barry.
Plot
An aging Robin Hood (Connery) is a trusted captain fighting for Richard the Lion-Heart (Harris) in France, the Crusades long over. When he is ordered to take a castle that is rumored to hold a great treasure, he refuses since it is held by a single old man, sheltering harmless women and children. Richard is furious and orders Robin's execution, but before it can take place, the king is fatally wounded by an arrow from the old man. Richard then orders the massacre of the residents.
When Richard dies, Robin and Little John (Williamson) return to England and are reunited with old friends Will Scarlett (Denholm Elliott) and Friar Tuck (Barker) in Sherwood Forest. When Robin casually inquires about Maid Marian (Hepburn), they tell him she has become a nun. When he goes to see her, she finds him as impossible as ever. He learns that his old nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham (Shaw), has ordered her arrest. She goes willingly, but Robin objects and rescues her against her will.
The Sheriff and Robin gather their men for a final showdown, but agree to a personal duel to settle the matter. Robin kills his enemy, but is badly wounded. The Sheriff's men then attack, scattering the ragtag band. Little John and Marian help him back to the nunnery, where he optimistically believes that he will recover and return to his adventurous ways. John stands guard outside while Marian prepares medicine for Robin. He drinks it and notes that the pain has gone away. However, when his legs go numb, he cries out for Little John, realising that he has been poisoned.
He then sees that Marian acted out of love, seeing that he would never be the same man again if he lived. She tells him:
"I love you. More than all you know. I love you more than children. More than fields I've planted with my hands. I love you more than morning prayers or peace or food to eat. I love you more than sunlight, more than flesh or joy, or one more day. I love you...more than God."
Little John kicks the door in and weeps at Robin's bedside as Robin consoles him. Robin picks up a bow and tells Little John to bury them where the arrow lands. He shoots it from his deathbed out an open window.
Style and content
The film is marked by a sense of autumnal melancholy, with almost sepia toned photography and aging actors. Whereas films about Robin Hood are usually action adventures, marked by swashbuckling fights, Robin and Marian scarcely has any action at all (two or three swordfights aside), and is a character piece, examining the relationship between two lovers who had been separated for many years.
Cast
Sean Connery as Robin Hood. Connery's son, Jason Connery, also portrayed Robin Hood, in the TV series Robin of Sherwood. Sean Connery later played King Richard in an uncredited cameo role in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Audrey Hepburn as Lady Marian. This was Audrey Hepburn's first film in nine years.
Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Nicol Williamson as Little John
Richard Harris as Richard the Lionheart
Denholm Elliott as Will Scarlet
Ronnie Barker as Friar Tuck
Kenneth Haigh as Sir Ranulf
Ian Holm as King John
External links
Robin and Marian at the Internet Movie Database
Robin and Marian at Allmovie
Robin and Marian at Rotten Tomatoes
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_and_Marian"
The film is marked by a sense of autumnal melancholy, with almost sepia toned photography and aging actors. Whereas films about Robin Hood are usually action adventures, marked by swashbuckling fights, Robin and Marian scarcely has any action at all (two or three swordfights aside), and is a character piece, examining the relationship between two lovers who had been separated for many years.
Cast
Sean Connery as Robin Hood. Connery's son, Jason Connery, also portrayed Robin Hood, in the TV series Robin of Sherwood. Sean Connery later played King Richard in an uncredited cameo role in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Audrey Hepburn as Lady Marian. This was Audrey Hepburn's first film in nine years.
Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Nicol Williamson as Little John
Richard Harris as Richard the Lionheart
Denholm Elliott as Will Scarlet
Ronnie Barker as Friar Tuck
Kenneth Haigh as Sir Ranulf
Ian Holm as King John
External links
Robin and Marian at the Internet Movie Database
Robin and Marian at Allmovie
Robin and Marian at Rotten Tomatoes
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_and_Marian"