I had a rare and pleasant movie experience tonight!
Turner Classic Movies is running Sean Connery movies tonight. The latest one was "Robin an Marian" (1976). Of course, having never seen it, I was expecting another rehash of Errol Flynn and little fluffy gay guys running around in bright green tights: but I can say that I was pleasantly disappointed!
As we all know Sean Connery, born 1930, made his mark in films during his 30's in the 1960's doing James Bond. Unfortunately, the scripts were horrible, the acting was hackney, and he wore a nasty 'rug' on his head during those films. But fortunately for his future ... and ours ... those roles propelled him into the beginnings of stardom. During the mid 1970's he abandoned the mainstream and grew into more serious roles worthy of major note. He also grew his trademark beard and threw the 'rug' in the garbage.
So back to Sherwood Forest: the film is set as a comeback of Robin Hood to Nottingham and Sherwood as an aged Robin returning home after spending two decades in the Crusades. Disillusioned, tired, and old; just looking to come home. 'King' John is still ruling the roost and Marian has joined a nunnery as an implied rebuke to Robin's deserting her. Of course, the storyline is obvious: Robin Hood (Sean Connery) fights with the Sheriff of Nottingham (Robert Shaw) to win back Maid Marian (Audrey Hepburn) and live happily ever after. The standard Sherwood Forest gang is there in support as expected.
My concern was that this would just be a regular Hollywood 'men-in- tights' rendition: spandex tights, overdone makeup, hokey swordplay, awful dialog, and cheesy punchlines. Much to my relief it wasn't!
DIALOGUE: Not the best but acceptable. One redeeming factor was that the script writers spared us a load of 'thee' and 'thou's of the expected old English verbiage. Down to earth without verbosity.
SCREENPLAY: Actually very well written. The continuity was well laid out without any logic gaps or leaps of faith. Believable.
STAGE AND PROPS: Excellent is the only word for it! Everything was totally believable as to being period and authentic. Houses, saddles, swords, kitchenware, housewares, 'honey' pits, forest paths, weapons of combat, and the arena of battle were completely true. This really surprised me!
MAKEUP: So well done you couldn't notice it. Ms. Hepburn couldn't pass up her essential eye makeup but thankfully she left the curling iron, lipstick, and nail polish at home. When Robin mussed up her hair: it stayed mussed. Rather than paint thick gooey layers of paint on the actors to represent the realistic lack of showers the director must have just had the actor roll on the ground for a bit; a relief from modern makeup attempts.
COSTUMES: All period and extremely realistic: right down to Robin's 'under'clothes. No tights to be seen ... except for on one of King John's 'favorite' boys as he heads off to France. Of note is that Robin wears Saracen armor in the final battle scene: an aspect other directors would miss.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: This was my major disappointment. The whole film was done in subtle sepia with all exterior shots slightly blurred. It was 'fad' for this era in English film-making to use the "Fairies in the Glen" effect. Just not my choice: makes the film look cheap. Though, thanks to the director, the compositions were well considered and effective.
ROLES: Sean Connery was absolutely stellar, Hepburn generally less so but still very good. Robert Shaw also gave Connery a run for his money; well played without the stereotype slimy sheriff thing. The rest of the cast performed adequately.
Probably the best part of the movie was the final fight scene between Robin and the sheriff. Better than classic swordplay with broadswords weighing 30+ lbs. (no superheroes on that battleground!!!)
Of course we all know how it is supposed to end up ... but don't leave before the final act! It doesn't end the way you expect. TRUST ME!
Overall: a tour d force for Sean Connery! One of his best. No wonder he rates as one of the top 5 actors of the 20th Century in my book.
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