The Legend of Robin Hood (1975) User Reviews

This is the definitive Robin Hood!

[TheEdge-4 · 7/10 · 1 September 2007]

I have recently been enjoying this on DVD, not having seen it since it was first shown on BBC 1 when I was 12 (you do the math). I was pleasantly surprised at how well it stands up after all this time. It may look a little dated (as much as anything set in the 12th Century can look dated) but what it loses in technical quality compared to the polished productions of today, it more than makes up with how well it treats its subject. As a legend and with no definitive source material, who is to say what is the correct version. But this is probably the closest to what is generally accepted to be the story of Robin Hood, eschewing the mysticism that made the later Michael Praed/Jason Connery version an interesting interpretation. Whatever else, it is certainly better than the most recent BBC version which managed the feat of making the story seem silly and boring at the same time (especially with Keith Allen as a low rent Alan Rickman wannabe).

Martin Potter is good as Robin (although I must have missed the scene which explains how he suddenly adopts the name Robin Hood) and it is a mystery how he never became any better known after this. Diane Keen makes a beautiful and feisty Marion and it was interesting to see Paul Darrow as The Sheriff of Nottingham several years before his star-making turn as Avon in "Blake's Seven". Thankfully Darrow resists the temptation to ham it up in the way that Alan Rickman did in the role years later which unbalanced "Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves" (even though it was entertaining). I have to disagree, however, with those posters who complained that Michael J. Jackson's King Richard was a camp interpretation. It is nothing of the kind and Jackson brings great dignity to the part which is usually only a cameo walk-on appearance.

However, where I would agree with other comments already made on here is about the theme music to this series by Stanley Myers. Like them, I too remembered this theme long after my other memories of this series had faded and it is good to hear it once again.

Accept no substitutes, this is the real deal and now it is on DVD, hopefully others will get to discover what a hidden gem this series is.

A Nice Nostalgia Trip

[eclarkdog · 8/10 · 5 January 2009]

Ah...to view things through the eyes of a child again. With that said, I saw this adaption of the Robin Hood legend almost 30 years ago in school. My 5th grade teacher showed the class several of the "Once Upon a Classic" series like this one. I also remember Lorna Doone and A Secret Garden. Just snippets of scenes still played in my mind, but I had completely forgotten about this version. Anyway, I very much enjoyed this time in class and not just as a break from the dreaded multiplication tables. I came across it by accident online. It didn't strike a note of familiarity until the first scene with Prince John and then it started to come back quickly. The actor who plays John is somewhat unusual looking.

One will immediately be struck with the low production value which is prevalent in the 70s with British TV. However, this is quickly forgotten due to a fine story and very good acting - something the Brits seem to always accomplish. What's interesting about Robin Hood, who is arguably one of the most popular fictional characters in Western literature is that there's really not much Hood literature. If I'm correct, he first appeared as a side character in "Ivanhoe" and really never had is own book - at least until modern times. Much of his story is just legend and folklore with snippets and different versions. This adaptation remains very true to the classical version of what we know as Robin Hood and not some of the glorified films we've seen of late. Therefore, don't expect everything to be all merry.

In fact, what surprised me most in watching it so many years later was that it was actually rather dark. Although tame by today's standards, there are actually a couple of rather gritty scenes.

LORH is not perfect by any means. It actually starts rather shaky. The early combat scenes were actually laughable.However, it grows stronger with each episode even the combat. It almost seemed to me that the later episodes may had different directors. Definitely stick through the first episode or two and you will be rewarded. The drama and action is really revved up in the second half. Several things sorely missing early on like music or used more later on and the last couple of episodes will keep you glued.

Production value may be a flaw but it is what it is and in a way adds a certain charm. I really think the one major flaw is in the editing. There are several scenes that appear truncated or that do not flow well into the next. The ending is certainly an example. I would even go so far to say that there are some "huh" moments. Surely there was some footage left out in places. There are a couple of actors that are a bit questionable like King Richard, who actually has a larger role than normal. However, the overall cast is very strong and main actor at least looks the part.

Most of the cast is not well known, at least in the US, with some having their peak careers, if that, behind them. Surprisingly, the promising young Martin Potter (Robin Hood) virtually disappeared after this - even his career was primarily behind him at this point. I think the actor who played Will Scarlet had a fairly strong career and looks familiar.

I'm sure many of you who come here have experienced this series years ago. If you haven't seen this though it definitely worth it. I'd love to get my hands on all the "Once Upon A Classic" series. Maybe one day...

Excellent telling of the Robin Hood legend

[kirbyskay2012 · 8/10 · 26 May 2013]

I remember watching this series on PBS in the late 1970s. Having always been a Robin Hood fan, I have collected as many of the various versions of the story of the ultimate hero as I have been able to find, and truly wish that this version was available on DVD. Maybe if enough fans of this version would write directly to PBS, they might make a DVD available.

Lead Martin Potter and the rest of the cast were well chosen and all did very well in their respective roles. The production values seemed at times very cheap, but the story and the acting kept me from being distracted.

Most of all I remember the series host American actor Bill Bixby who recounted at the end of the story that a small gravestone was found in England that said (to the best of my recollection):

"Here, beneath this little stone Lies Robert, Earl of Huntington. No archer was as he so good, and people called him Robin Hood." (or something very like this). If this is just my imagination, I hope someone else writes a review correcting my assumption, but this is how I remember it!

I haven't heard of any other report to corroborate this but, if true, it certainly points to the existence of an actual hero, not just the exaggerated legend of today that talks about a compilation of various heroes whose deeds make up the Robin Hood legend.

In any event, I highly recommend this to anyone who can find the series nowadays in some watchable media format. It's well worth watching!

Simply the best film treatment of the Robin Hood legend to date!

[clavallie · 9/10 · 10 June 2001]

It is a crime that this series is not available on DVD or VHS. It is simply the best treatment of the Robin Hood legend that has yet been put on film. The acting was superior, costuming very good, and it both sought and succeeded in telling a very credible tale of Robin of Locksley. This is the only Robin Hood film adaptation that I can recommend besides "Robin and Marion", and I think this a better dramatic work.

This should be on DVD!

[edemaitre · 9/10 · 28 February 2007]

I also have found, if vague, memories of watching this on PBS in New York in the early 1980s. These versions of Robin Hood and King Arthur, among other legends, were free of the cheesiness and camp of sword-and-sorcery movies of that time and foreshadowed the low-magic, human-scale dramatic (but not melodramatic) approach of TV and movies such as the more recent "Cadfael" and "King Arthur."

I, for one, would love to see these available on DVD in the U.S., and I'd be happy to sign any petitions, but I don't know how many people are aware of this version of "Robin Hood." The reasonably well-done version of a few years later with Michael Praed and Jason Connery (plus more New Age trappings) is better known.

The Earl of Huntington would be a better title.

[mart-45 · 9/10 · 8 May 2007]

There is something very likable about this series - as well as the usual cheesiness and tackiness which can be associated with a 70s TV series with no big budget.

Martin Potter is immensely good, probably one of the best Robin Hoods on film. He looks a bit like Erroll Flynn, but the series is free of frivolously joyous light-heartiness that often pesters other versions. These were difficult times for England, there was feud between the Saxons and the Normans and Robin Hood was in between these two. Instead of prancing around in tights, we get a very serious, yet passionate version that dedicates more time to the actual political situation of the late 12th century than merrymaking and wooing in the woods.

There are other well cast actors, such as the Sheriff and Lady Marian. Then there are horrible, terrible miscasts, such as Richard the Lionhearted. He's played by Michael Jackson (yeah, don't get your hopes high), who looks and acts like a drag queen and speaks with a high pitched voice of a Swedish tourist who is shocked at the sight of a restaurant bill. He even manages to remain virginally effeminate during a broadsword fight scene, beating Robin. Unfortunately, I watched The Lion In Winter just the other night, so the stellar performance by the young Anthony Hopkins has set the standard of all the coming King Richards for me.

The best part of the series are the outdoor scenes, shot as still customary in 1975, on 16 mm as opposed to the video images from a TV studio for the interior scenes. There's a great deal of authenticity once there's no more cheap cardboard pillars and walls around the actors. The interiors are a disgrace if you are looking for "the real thing", they are as fake as can be. The costumes are very good and much more authentic then in any other version, but regrettably the accessories such as jewelry and crowns are incredibly poor, right out of a school play.

Another superior thing is the musical score: the main theme has lingered in my memory since I first saw the series in my childhood, and remained even as all the other images of this series had faded.

The story isn't so much the familiar one, but rather follows the development of Robin as the Earl of Huntington. There's a lot of grim political intrigue and fighting for principles and less half-naked men in the woods. It's definitely well written and holds the viewers attention steadily.

Technically speaking, the series are extremely outdated, but then again, that may very well be its major charm. I still wish that there were more money to build better sets and buy better jewelry. Maybe one didn't notice these things in 1975, but the DVD transfer is so sharp you tend to get a little annoyed seeing the Crown of England wobble.

Would Love To Own This On DVD

[webmouse · 9/10 · 11 November 2007]

This is one of the best versions of "Robin Hood" I have ever seen and I would love to have it on DVD. It is a complete story as a mini-series, instead of on-going escapades that must always leave the full cast in place at the end of each episode. This is not the cheeriest version of the story but it is indeed one of the most accurate to traditional legends.

The merry men are remarkably well-cast. The villains are believable -- not strictly evil, but power hungry. David Dixon really shines as Prince John, as a weak-willed young man easily led into the plans of stronger men. I really look forward to seeing this one come out again.

So I didn't imagine seeing this?

[medievalmike · 9/10 · 12 April 2006]

I saw this on WTTG Channel 5 in Washington early Saturday mornings in the early '80s. Then it resurfaced on A&E about ten years later. Yes, that was the same actor who played Ford Prefect on TV playing Prince John. Then it disappeared again. The other poster was absolutely right. WHEN WILL WE SEE THIS ON DVD??????!!!!!!! (I'm not allowed to shout in the summary,or I would have).

There was also a King Arthur series made in the UK in the 1970s to which the same thing happened. That one had also appeared on "Once Upon a Classic" on PBS; which was a show like "Masterpeice Theater," but for kids, hosted by Bill Bixby. Another show on "Once Upon a Classic" to appear on Channel 5 in the early '80s was "The Prince and the Pauper," but I don't remember that ever being on A&E. A similar miniseries that appeared on A&E in the early '80s was a live-action, taped (not filmed) version of "Ivanhoe" which I don't remember seeing before or since.

Nearly perfect!

[fidraisle-1 · 9/10 · 5 January 2021]

It's on YouTube (and yes, you can get it on DVD if you look hard enough). My husband (a wise man when it comes to historical films, and in particularly medieval films) tempered his recommendation with "I don't know if you'll like it..." I'm a historian and I study medieval history, particularly the garments. I steeled myself. I can only say that I am shocked, it's.....it's...right. Someone actualy went out, researched the period, had clothing made (mostly right, one or two are not as good as they could be, but are far and away better than the average. I'm stunned, propery hair styling proper clothing, proper behaviour....Yes, this is GOOD. And very, very good.

Robin is to the greenwood gone

[timsmith37 · 8/10 · 24 November 2014]

This seventies BBC version with Martin Potter and Diane Keen remains one of my favourite adaptations of the Robin Hood legend, but its not without its failings.

Despite the evident attention to historical detail in the matter of costumes and props, there are some jarring anachronisms in the script, such as a Saxon thegn called Kenneth (Gaelic), a Norman henchman called Alaric (Visigothic) and a merry man called Brett (Tuolumne County).

The production is very much of its time. There is a very Seventies cynical edge and lots of speechifying; the script is not frightened of serving up dollops of history and at times borders on the lumberingly expositional. But while the production suffers as a result of the disastrous decision made by the BBC to video all interiors on cardboard sets at Television Centre, the location photography is rather charming - seldom has the greenwood looked greener.

British B movie beefcake Potter is a handsome if far from merry Robin, Keen of course is luminous as Marion, while David "Ford Prefect" Dixon and Paul "Ker Avon" Darrow, as respectively Prince John and the Sheriff, exercise more restraint than one might have thought them capable. Some of the supporting players are pure repertory ham (an old crone is straight out of Blackadder), but William Marlowe and Miles Anderson add Shakespearean heft in their roles as Guy of Gisborne and Will Scarlet.

Tony Caunter had yet to acquire the girth one associates with Friar Tuck, but Conrad Asquith is a booming Little John; Much is played by Johnny Speight's boy Richard and Stephen Whittaker completes the meiny as the hitherto unrecorded outlaw Ralph Gammon. David Ryall enjoys himself as a corrupt abbot.

The action sequences are lame by today's slick, and often graphic, standards, but the climactic broadsword duel between Potter and Marlowe has an earthy vigour. Seldom have you seen two actors looking quite so completely knackered.