Robin of Sherwood
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| Robin Of Sherwood | |
|---|---|
 Main title caption |
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| Format | Drama |
| Created by | Richard Carpenter |
| Starring | Michael Praed Jason Connery Judi Trott Nickolas Grace Robert Addie Ray Winstone Clive Mantle Phil Rose Mark Ryan Peter Llewellyn Williams John Abineri Philip Jackson |
| Country of origin | UK |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 1 Hour |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ITV |
| Original run | 1984 – 1986 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
Robin of Sherwood, retitled Robin Hood in the US, was an acclaimed 1980s British television series, based on the legend of Robin Hood. It was made by HTV in association with Goldcrest, and ran from 1984 to 1986 on the ITV network. The show starred first Michael Praed then Jason Connery as two different incarnations of the title character, and was created by Richard Carpenter. Unlike previous adaptations of the Robin Hood legend, Robin of Sherwood combined a gritty, authentic production design with elements of real-life history and pagan myth.
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[edit] Overview
There were three series, comprising a two-hour opening episode and 24 hour-long episodes, although the pilot is sometimes screened as two one-hour episodes. It was shot on film, and almost entirely on location, mostly in the north and west of England; HTV West in Bristol was the base of operations.
Together with Richard Lester's offbeat 1976 film Robin and Marian, Robin of Sherwood is one of the most influential treatments of the core Robin Hood legend since The Adventures of Robin Hood, featuring a realistic period setting and, somewhat contradictorily, introducing the character of a Saracen outlaw.
Michael Praed played Robin Hood (or Robin of Loxley) in the first two seasons. His "Merry Men" consisted of Will Scarlet (played by Ray Winstone), who used to be known as Will Scathlock, before changing his name when his wife, Elena, was raped and trampled to death with horses by some Brabancon mercenaries; Little John (played by Clive Mantle); Friar Tuck (played by Phil Rose); Robin's adopted brother Much (played by Peter Llewellyn Williams); the Saracen Nasir (played by Mark Ryan); and Lady Marion (played by Judi Trott). As in the legend, Robin is opposed by the Sheriff of Nottingham (Nickolas Grace) and Sir Guy of Gisburne (Robert Addie), as well as the Sheriff's brother Abbot Hugo (Philip Jackson) (representing all the greedy abbots in the legends). Robin is assisted by Herne The Hunter (John Abineri), who sometimes appears as a forest spirit representing the powers of light and goodness, and sometimes as a mortal man.
At the end of the second season, Robin of Loxley is killed and Robert of Huntingdon (played by Jason Connery, whose father Sean Connery had played Robin in Robin and Marian) replaces him as Robin Hood. During the course of the season, the new Robin discovers that he is the half-brother of his nemesis Guy of Gisburne (an idea suggested to Carpenter by the fact that both actors had blond hair). However, due to the show's cancellation at the end of the third season this particular story arc was never resolved.
The series came to an end when Goldcrest was forced to pull out of the venture due to a downturn in the fortunes of their film arm. Goldcrest had been responsible for critical and commercial hits such as Chariots of Fire (1981) and Gandhi (1982) earlier in the eighties, but had hit a lean spell with such films as Revolution (1985) and Absolute Beginners (1986). As the series was expensive to make, HTV could not afford to produce it alone and no more episodes were made.
There is little likelihood of the series returning, with Richard Carpenter having said he has no interest in writing further episodes.[1] Also, most of the actors and actresses have aged greatly since the series was first screened, meaning it would not be plausible for them to return.
[edit] Cast and characters
[edit] Heroes
- Robin of Loxley - Michael Praed
- Robert of Huntingdon - Jason Connery
- Lady Marion of Leaford - Judi Trott
- Much - Peter Llewellyn Williams
- Will Scarlet - Ray Winstone
- Little John - Clive Mantle
- Friar Tuck - Phil Rose
- Nasir - Mark Ryan
[edit] Enemies
- Guy of Gisburne - Robert Addie
- The Sheriff of Nottingham - Nickolas Grace
- Abbot Hugo de Rainault - Philip Jackson
- Baron Simon de Belleme - Anthony Valentine
- Prince/King John - Phil Davis
- Gulnar - Richard O'Brien
[edit] Others
- Herne the Hunter - John Abineri
- The Old Prisoner - Stuart Linden
- Arthur the Rat - himself
- Martin - Martin West
- James - Steven Osbourne
- Edward of Wickham - Jeremy Bulloch
- Richard of Leaford - George Baker
- Meg - Claire Toeman
[edit] Crew
- Directed by: Ian Sharp, Robert Young, Ben Bolt, James Allen, Gerry Mill, Sid Roberson and Alex Kirby
- Produced by: Paul Knight, Esta Charkham and Patrick Dromgoole
- Written by: Richard Carpenter, Anthony Horowitz, Andrew McCulloch and John Flanagan
- Series created by: Richard Carpenter
- Cinematography by: Roger Pearce, Howard Rockliffe, Gary Breckon and Bob Edwards
- Music composed by: Clannad
- Production design by: John Biggs and Ken Sharp
- Costume design by: Lynette Cummin
- Casting by: Esta Charkham and Beth Charkham
- Special effects by: Ken Lailey
- Stunt co-ordination by: Terry Walsh
- Horse Master: Steve Dent
[edit] Music
The award-winning music for Robin of Sherwood was composed and performed by Clannad, the Irish folk group. The show's original soundtrack, Legend, was released in 1984 and won the BAFTA award for Best Original Television Music.[1]
While not all of the show's music is found on the Legend album, some additional pieces can be found on Clannad's albums Macalla (released 1986) and Clannad: Live in Concert, 1996 (released 2005). In November 2003, Clannad revealed on their official web site that "there were several other pieces of music recorded for the 3rd series of Robin of Sherwood that were not included on the Legend album. Unfortunately no-one has been able to locate the master tapes of this music. The search is continuing and hopefully one day these recordings will be able to be released."[2]
[edit] Episodes
| Episode title | Original Air Date (UK) | Guest cast | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
[edit] Series 1 |
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| Robin Hood and the Sorcerer, part 1 | 28 April 1984 | Mark Audley (as Dickon), Paul Duggan (as Tom) | ||
| Robin Hood and the Sorcerer, part 2 - NB both parts originally broadcast in UK as one single feature-length episode. | 28 April 1984 | Mark Audley (as Dickon), Paul Duggan (as Tom) | ||
| The Witch Of Elsdon | 5 May 1984 | Angharad Rees (as Jennet of Elsdon), Cornelius Garrett (as Thomas of Elsdon) | ||
| Seven Poor Knights From Acre | 12 May 1984 | Yves Beneyton (as Reynald de Villaret), Duncan Preston (as Heinrich von Erlichshausen), Simon Rouse (as Siward) | ||
| Alan A Dale | 19 May 1984 | Peter Hutchinson (as Alan a Dale), Stephanie Tague (as Mildred) | ||
| The King's Fool | 26 May 1984 | John Rhys Davies (as King Richard), Gary Waldhorn (as Hubert Walter) | ||
[edit] Series 2 |
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| The Prophecy | 9 March 1985 | George Baker (as Richard of Leaford), Simon Dutton (as Mark), John Nettles (as De Leon), | ||
| The Children Of Israel | 16 March 1985 | David de Keyser (as Joshua de Talmont), Katharine Levy (as Sarah de Talmont) | ||
| Lord Of The Trees | 23 March 1985 | Oliver Tobias (as Bertrand de Nivelle) | ||
| The Enchantment | 30 March 1985 | Gemma Craven (as Lilith) | ||
| The Swords Of Wayland, part 1 | 6 April 1985 | Rula Lenska (as Morgwyn of Ravenscar), Dallas Adams (as Peter Verdelet), Norman Bowler (as Adam the miller) | ||
| The Swords Of Wayland, part 2 - NB both parts originally broadcast in UK as one single feature-length episode. | 6 April 1985 | Rula Lenska (as Morgwyn of Ravenscar), Dallas Adams (as Peter Verdelet), Anthony Steel (as Earl Godwin) | ||
| The Greatest Enemy | 13 April 1985 | Robert Daws (as Hubert de Giscard) | ||
[edit] Series 3 |
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| Herne’s Son, part 1 | 5 April 1986 | George Baker (as Richard of Leaford), Michael Craig (as Earl of Huntingdon), Oliver Cotton (as Lord Owen of Clun), Richard O'Brien (as Gulnar), Daniel Peacock (as Sergeant Sparrow) | ||
| Herne’s Son, part 2 | 12 April 1986 | George Baker (as Richard of Leaford), Michael Craig (as Earl of Huntingdon), Oliver Cotton (as Lord Owen of Clun), Richard O'Brien (as Gulnar), Daniel Peacock (as Sergeant Sparrow), Wayne Michaels (as Man Guarding Signal Fire) | ||
| The Power of Albion | 19 April 1986 | George Baker (as Richard of Leaford), Max Faulkner (as Oliver) | ||
| The Inheritance | 26 April 1986 | Cathryn Harrison (as Isadora), Cyril Cusack (as Agrivaine), Jeremy Sinden (as Mortimer), Derrick O'Connor (as Raven), James Woodard (as King Arthur), Hywel Bennett (as voice of King Arthur) | ||
| The Cross of St. Ciricus | 3 May 1986 | Dorothy Tutin (as Lady Margaret), Brendan Price (as Abbot Martin) | ||
| The Sheriff of Nottingham | 10 May 1986 | Lewis Collins (as Philip Mark), Valentine Pelka (as Sarak), Robert Daws (as Hubert de Giscard), Maureen Bennett (as Alison) | ||
| Cromm Cruac | 17 May 1986 | John Horsley (as Abbot), Richard O'Brien (as Gulnar), Claire Parker (as Elena), Ian Redford (as Tom the Miller), Graham Weston (as William the Blacksmith) | ||
| The Betrayal | 24 May 1986 | Matt Frewer (as Roger de Carnac), Ian Redford (as Tom the Villager) | ||
| Adam Bell | 31 May 1986 | Bryan Marshall (as Adam Bell), Patrick Travis (as Matthew), Amanda Hillwood (as Lady Isabel), Charlie Condou (as Martin), Leo Dolan as (Moth) Alan Roberts and Chris Chivers as Outlaws. | ||
| The Pretender | 7 June 1986 | Reece Dinsdale (as Arthur), Patricia Hodge (as Queen Hadwisa), William Russell (as The Duke of Gloucester) | ||
| Rutterkin | 14 June 1986 | Michael Craig (as Earl of Huntingdon), Ian Ogilvy (as Lord Edgar), Annabel Lee (as Mad Mab) | ||
| The Time of the Wolf, part 1 | 21 June 1986 | Richard O'Brien (as Gulnar), John Harding (as William Brewer), Maureen Bennett (as Alison), Iain Armstrong (as Villager) | ||
| The Time of the Wolf, part 2 | 28 June 1986 | Richard O'Brien (as Gulnar), John Harding (as William Brewer), Maureen Bennett (as Alison), Iain Armstrong (as Villager) | ||
In repeats, episodes have frequently been broadcast out of order, and alternative orders have been suggested. Those which can be placed in a definite order are: Robin Hood and the Sorcerer - the story begins and the gang is formed. The Witch of Elsdon - James and Martin join the gang. Seven Poor Knights from Acre - James is killed. The King's Fool. The Prophecy - the Sheriff is absent; King Richard dies. The Children of Israel - the Sheriff returns. The Greatest Enemy - the first Robin is killed. Herne's Son - the gang is re-formed. The Power of Albion - Gisburne and the Sheriff discover the second Robin's identity. The Time of the Wolf.
In Season 1, Alan A Dale does fit where it is placed, but would fit equally well after The King's Fool. In Season 2, The Lord of the Trees appears to take place before The Children of Israel (the Sheriff is still absent), and The Swords of Wayland before The Prophecy (Marion still thinks her father is dead); The Enchantment probably belongs immediately before The Greatest Enemy (Herne prophesies that the events of that episode will happen "soon"). In Season 3, the order of the episodes between The Power of Albion and The Time of the Wolf is a little less certain. See the articles on individual episodes for details; but the only change suggested in the chronology at www.robinofsherwood.org is to move The Sheriff of Nottingham to after Rutterkin.
[edit] Places of action
[edit] Villages
- Loxley - burned village, childhood home of the first Robin.
- Wickham - village where Meg, lover of Little John lived. An important setting in the series.
- Cromm Cruac - village-phantom, created by Gulnar. (Seen only in the episode Cromm Cruac)
- Elsdon - (Mentioned in the episode Witch of Elsdon)
- Hathersage - Home of Little John. (Never seen, only mentioned.)
- Uffcombe - village attacked by Hounds of Lucifer
[edit] Castles and cities
- Nottingham
- Castle of Belleme
- Castle of Lord Owen (Clun Castle)
- Castle of Gwydion
- Castle of Huntingdon, childhood home of the second Robin.
- Leaford
- Caerleon
- Newark
[edit] Abbeys
[edit] DVD releases
- "Series 1 - Part 1 - Episodes 1 To 3 DVD."
- "Series 1 - Part 2 - Episodes 4 To 6 DVD."
- "Series 2 - Part 1 - Episodes 1 To 4 DVD."
- "Series 2 - Part 2 - Episodes 5 To 7 DVD."
- "The Complete Series 1 DVD." ASIN B00005Q3VG, ASIN B000L21290
- "The Complete Series 2 DVD." ASIN B000066NSI
- "Series 3 - Part 1 - Episodes 1 To 6 DVD." ASIN B00006L9YS
- "Series 3 - Part 2 - Episodes 7 To 13 DVD." ASIN B00006SKVF
- "Complete DVD."
- "The Complete Series (NTSC)"
In the US and Canada, the first and second series have been released by Acorn Media in a five DVD set. A second set, containing the complete third season was released on October 9th, 2007
[edit] References
- ^ Wright, Allen W. (February 1998). Richard Carpenter. Interviews in Sherwood. Retrieved on 2008-01-02.
[edit] Bibliography
- Carpenter, Richard (1984). Robin of Sherwood. Puffin Books. ISBN 0-14-031690-6. Novelization of the first series by series creator Richard Carpenter.
- May, Robin (1985). Robin of Sherwood: The Hounds of Lucifer. Puffin Books. ISBN 0-14-031869-0. Novelizes the second series, but begins with The Swords of Wayland two-parter which actually came towards the end of the second series, not the beginning; it was intended to be shown first, but deferred to show its feature-length episode on the British Bank Holiday weekend).
- Horowitz, Anthony; Carpenter, Richard (1986). Robin of Sherwood: The Hooded Man. Puffin Books. ISBN 0-14-032058-X. Novelizes Herne's Son Parts 1 and 2 and The Power of Albion from the beginning of Series Three, showing how Robert of Huntingdon became 'Robin'.
- Carpenter, Richard (1988). Robin of Sherwood: The Time of the Wolf. Puffin Books. ISBN 0-14-032660-X. The final episodes of Series Three (The Cross of St Ciricus, Rutterkin, and The Time of the Wolf Parts 1 & 2).
- Carpenter, Richard (1990). The Complete Adventures of Robin of Sherwood. Puffin Books. ISBN 0-14-034450-0. Novelizations of Series One, Two, plus the beginning and end of Series Three.
- (1986) Robin of Sherwood Annual 1. Egmont Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7235-6758-1.
- Nicholson, Russ; Staplehurst, Graham (1987). Robin of Sherwood Game Books: The King's Demon No. 1. Puffin Books. ISBN 0-14-032294-9.
- Nicholson, Russ; Mason, Paul (1987). Robin of Sherwood Game Books: Sword of the Templar No. 2. Puffin Books. ISBN 0-14-032295-7.
[edit] See also
- Legend (Robin of Sherwood soundtrack)
- Clannad
- Herne the Hunter
- Richard Carpenter (screenwriter)
- Robin Hood
- Sherwood Forest
[edit] External links
- Robin of Sherwood at the Internet Movie Database
- Spirit of Sherwood official fanclub
- Retrospective: Robin of Sherwood
- Clive Banks - Robin of Sherwood Episode Guide
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