PRINCIPAL CAST: Sean Connery (Robin Hood), Audrey Hepburn (Lady Marian), Robert Shaw (Sheriff of Nottingham).

Director/Producer: Michael Stringer.

SYNOPSIS:

This is a quite interesting variation to the standard mythical theme - think of `Robin Hood and his Merry Men’ and their adventures with and battles against the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham and Prince John - then turn the clock forward 20 years! In this movie we see a much less athletic Robin (with the loyal Little John at his side) returning to England after serving as a captain in Richard the Lionheart’s Palestinian Crusade of 1129 - he is battle scarred, cynical about and tired of the unnecessary barbarity he witnessed under Richard’s command, and happy to return home hoping to catch up with the Lady Marian, his sweetheart of earlier times.

Times have changed though - Marian gave up waiting and through circumstances has become Mother Janet, an Abbess. But she’s in a spot of bother, and Robin (against her wishes) comes to her aid. As a result of this, Robin believes that he can once again be the champion of the poor and downtrodden, and Marian once again feels the mortal urges she once had for him. The upshot is that we see the return to the outlaw days of 20 years previous where Robin accumulates refugees of tyranny to his enclave in Sherwood Forest, with Lady Marian back at his side. This idyllic situation lasts a very short time though, as the Sheriff is given a superior force to overrun the outlaws, and has learnt a few tricks over time - he leaves his force encamped outside the forest waiting for Robin Hood to attack, rather than fight in hostile territory.

Robin, seemingly deluded by his previous victories, decides to meet his foe in the open field against all advice (including Marian’s), but manages to get agreement upon a one-on-one battle against he and the Sheriff to settle the dispute. In the ensuing (victorious) battle Robin is severely injured and Marian (who had decided to leave him because of his recklessness, but relented) decides to put the pair of them out of their misery through poison.

A strange ending, and goodness knows how close it goes to the endearing legend of Robin Hood; but as this film is promoted as a romance rather than adventure, it is barely satisfying. The storyline has plenty of holes, no less than Robin’s departure from the battlefield to leave his `troops’ without command against the Sheriff’s forces - did they survive or not? (it is suggested they lost). And Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham appears to be much younger than Robin’s earlier adversary. It is incredible to actually see Connery willing to portray an action hero past his use-by date (considering the movie was made in 1976), and in his role he certainly looked the part of a warrior `one battle past a victory’! Audrey Hepburn in her return to the screen from a nine year absence is convincing as a nun, but less so as a woman rediscovering her femininity and sense of adventure (she looks neither old enough nor well enough). A very good performance from Nicol Williamson as Little John and Ronnie Barker has an interesting minor role as Friar Tuck.

EXTRAS

No notable features appeared on this DVD, apart from theatrical trailers for the movie and `The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad’.

OVERALL

Because I wasn’t expecting to see a return to the athletic exploits of the immortal “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938, starring Errol Flynn) I was quite satisfied with the premise of a `Return To.’ movie 20 years on (historically, though, who knows how close it is?). Acting on the whole is very competent and believable, the sets and scenes attractive, the setting far more believable than earlier renditions of the Robin Hood theme, and the storyline largely credible. It’s neither action nor romance, but an interesting amalgam of both. Quite entertaining.