Robin and Marian

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 (A Hard Day's Night, Superman II) made Robin and Marian in the midst of a series of period pieces, including The Three Musketeers. The screenplay was written by James Goldman.

Plot

An aging Robin Hood (Sean Connery) is a trusted captain fighting for Richard the Lion-Heart (Richard Harris) in the Crusades. 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 shot by an arrow from the old man.

When Richard dies, Robin and Little John (Nicol Williamson) return to England and are reunited with old friends Will Scarlett (Denholm Elliott) and Friar Tuck (Ronnie Barker) in Sherwood Forest. When he casually inquires about Maid Marian (Audrey 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 (Robert 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, realizing that he has been poisoned.

He then sees that Marian acted out of love, that he would never be the same man again, never have another glorious day like that day. Her monologue is tear-jerking:

"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 stands at Robin's bedside as Robin consoles him. Robin picks up a bow and tells Little John to bury him 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 (e.g. Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves), Robin and Marian scarcely has any action at all (two or three spectacular - and realistic - swordfights aside), and is a character piece, examining the relationship between two lovers who had been separated for many years.

Trivia

• This was Audrey Hepburn's first film in nine years; she had taken a break to raise her family after she starred in Wait Until Dark. Her sons encouraged her to do the film because they were fans of Sean Connery.
• This was the second time Robert Shaw played an enemy of Sean Connery, the first being in the Bond film From Russia With Love.
• Connery would later go on to play King Richard in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
• Connery's son, Jason Connery, would later also play Robin Hood in the TV series Robin of Sherwood.

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