Director Richard Lester delivers his most melancholic, romantic film, with a tone not unlike his earlier Petulia. It emerges as not only one of the most imaginative, original takes on the legend of Robin Hood, but also perhaps the most realistic. Lester looks at aging Robin (Sean Connery) and Little John (Nicol Williamson) as they return from years fighting abroad in the Crusades, a taste of ashes in their mouths after the pointless death of their beloved, though unreasonable master, King Richard the Lion-Hearted (Richard Harris, in a brief, pivotal role). In the meantime, Maid Marian (Audrey Hepburn) has retreated to a convent, becoming an abbess rather than submit to the violently primitive world around her without her man. The new regime has ordered the exile of all prominent members of the Catholic faith, meaning Marian’s arrest, and Lester delivers many amusing comic bits as Robin and Little John finally manage to kidnap Marian from the nunnery and whisk her away to Sherwood Forest. But the Sheriff of Nottingham (Robert Shaw) is still an authoritarian force to be reckoned with and has no intention of letting Robin and Marian off the hook. Co-starring Denholm Elliot, Kenneth Haigh, Ronnie Barker and Ian Holm.
“A poem of great emotional power.” – Guillermo del Toro
“[Connery and Hepburn] glow. They really do seem in love. And they project as marvelously complex, fond, tender people.” – Roger Ebert
“The atmosphere is one of melancholy as Lester penetrates through the gauze of fantasy to find the human heart, and softly finds it beating.” – Ian Nathan, Empire Magazine
Marc Edward Heuck discusses our Richard Lester Film Festival on the New Beverly blog.
Chris D explores Richard Lester’s diverse career on the New Beverly blog.
