Robin and Marian
1976
**
Director: Richard Lester
Cast: Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn, Robert Shaw, Nicol Williamson, Ronnie Barkin, Richard Harris, Denholm Elliott, Ian Holm
The aging Robin Hood returns to Sherwood Forest after 20 years in the Crusades and finds it hard to get back to his old ways. This revisionist take on the legend boldly blends goofy comedy, sweet romance, historical drama and brutal violence, but it never gets the tone right. Richard Lester aims to tell a melancholic story about aging, but his characters don't seem to be on the same page and the resulting film is all over the shop. One moment Robin is recounting his traumatic war experiences, the next he's shooting someone in the back.
Maid Marian, in turn, is torn between her vow to God and her love for Robin, and ends up betraying both. The Sheriff of Nottingham seems permanently uninterested in any of this, and is almost reluctant to take part in the inevitable climactic duel. On a positive note, Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn give warm performances.
