ROBIN HOOD, PRINCE OF THIEVES

US, 1991, 144 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Alan Rickman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Christian Slater, Geraldine Mc Ewan, Brian Blessed, Michael Wincott, Jack Wild, Sean Connery.
Directed by Kevin Reynolds.

Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves is one of the most successful movies of 1991. It capitalised on the popularity of Kevin Costner in such films as No Way Out, The Untouchables, Bull Durham and Field of Dreams. However, he won the Oscar as best director and producer for his Dances With Wolves. He capitalised on his popularity in 1991 by following it with JFK.

Costner is quite mild as Robin Hood, especially in contrast with Errol Flynn and the popular American heroes. (He also pales in comparison with Patrick Bergen, who starred in the John Irvin movie at the same time.)

He also sounds particularly American. However, the supporting cast is quite strong, with Alan Rickman (Die Hard, Quigley, Truly Madly Deeply) giving an over the top and off the wall performance as the Sheriff of Nottingham. British actress Geraldine Mc Keown is his adviser witch. However, second billing is given to Morgan Freeman (Driving Miss Daisy) who portrays a Muslim prince who accompanies Robin Hood back to England. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Colour of Money, The Abyss, Class Action) is very good as a strong-minded Marian.

The film was made on location in England and re-creates the atmosphere of the period. Audiences familiar with the Robin Hood story were not disappointed. The screenplay was by Penn Denham (writer/director of The Kiss). Not the definitive Robin Hood story - but a popular entertainment.

1. The popularity of the film, of Kevin Costner? The Robin Hood themes of the '90s - audience response from recession times? The popularity of Kevin Costner himself?

2. The American-British? co-production, cast, the mid-Atlantic style?

3. British locations, the atmosphere of Palestine, the sea, England, Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, life in the forest, in the towns? The musical score - and the final song?

4. Audiences and their knowledge of the Robin Hood traditions, memories of Errol Flynn and other stars? The themes of robbing the rich to help the poor? Stories of this period of mediaeval history (Ivanhoe and other popular stories and films)?

5. The opening with the Crusades, Palestine, the prisons, the prisoners suffering? The torture, Robin Hood and his giving of himself, the attack on the jailers? Azim and his help? The execution, the escape, the fight - and Azim's indebtedness to Robin Hood?

6. The voyage, the arrival in England, kissing the ground? Azim and his pledge to help Robin? Their travelling, Azim and his reaction to England, its landscapes, weather? His hopes?

7. Robin's father, the background of his marriage, his mistress and his son? The castle? Robin's antagonism towards him, going to the Crusades? His father's sword? The clash with the Sheriff of Nottingham, his defiance, the sheriff and his men (looking like the Ku Klux Klan)? The confrontation, the fight, his father being hanged? Robin discovering the truth?

8. The encounter with Marian? Her story, in the castle, her maid? Duncan caring for her? Robin's arrival, the clash, the fight - and her revealing the truth? Their memories from their childhood? Talk, attraction, plans, vengeance?

9. Costner as Robin Hood: at the Crusades, his relationship with his father, with Azim? The encounter with Marian? His stances, falling foul of the Sheriff of Nottingham? The exile? Going to the forest, the encounter with Little John and the fight, his almost drowning? Will Scarlett? Friar Tuck and the kegs of beer, Tuck's attack and fight, keeping him in the forest? His going to the forest, his getting the loyalty of those in the forest, his emerging as leader? Exercise of leadership, training?

10. The Sheriff of Nottingham and his personality, ruthless, erratic? His relationship with the witch? Her advice, superstitions? Money, women? His statue? His relationship with Guy of Gisborne? The nobles, treachery to King Richard? The murders, the avarice for the land? His personal style, appearance, his contemporary vocabulary - anachronistic? His performance? Carrying on? Guy's losing Robin Hood - and his killing him? His hold over the bishop? The scribe and his getting information? The build-up to the confrontation, his taking of Marian, the proposal of marriage, luring Robin Hood into Nottingham?

11. Social themes, the people and the oppression, Saxons and Normans, life in the forest, people in the city, ready to join the rebellion? Little John and his wife, the children? Much and the pursuit by Guy of Gisborne? The style of the people in the forest, the merry celebrations, the sequence of the birth, the following dance? The attacks, the two fighters and their discussion about left and right? The dray, their ability to disappear after attacking the sheriff's men in the forest? The battles?

12. Marian and her maid, travelling to Robin Hood, their treatment by the men, Marian's glimpse of Robin swimming, their talk, sharing, the celebrations, the return - and her being taken?

13. Marian and her capture, the fight, going to the sheriff, her resisting his proposals?

14. Duncan, the attack on the castle? The sheriff's men following him, the confrontation in the forest, the fight, the captives - and the preparation for the hanging?

15. Will Scarlett, his antagonism towards Robin, Robin's bewilderment? The betrayal, the return with the information? The young boy seeing him and calling him a traitor? Will Scarlett over the keg of dynamite? His rescue, fighting with Robin Hood's supporters?

16. Robin Hood's plan for the capture of Marian, the model, their studying it? The group entering Nottingham, his spreading himself with dung, Azim disguised as a leper? The various ruses to get in? The keg of dynamite, the fight? The hanging, the behaviour of the sheriff? The men about the die - the nooses? The confusion, Robin Hood saving them? Azim and Robin Hood catapulted into the castle? The fight with the Sheriff of Nottingham, battering the statue with the door, Robin Hood swinging on the curtains? The fight, the tradition of the final confrontation, Robin Hood winning, the sheriff dying?

17. Mortianne, the witch, mediaeval witchcraft and superstition? Her appearance, her reading the entrails and other practices? Her advice and prophecies for the sheriff? Her fear of the painted man? The build-up to the marriage, the sheriff desperate? Azim's arrival, her fear, her being impaled, her final rush and death?

18. The portrait of Azim: the Muslim, in the prison, the pledge, the escape, watching over Robin Hood? Not understanding the English? The clash with Friar Tuck? His helping with the birth of the child? The gunpowder, the fight? The destruction of the witch?

19. The portrait of the church: Friar Tuck, his life, work, the kegs of beer? Supporting the sheriff? The fights and his becoming part of the band of Sherwood Forest? The contrast with the bishop, his greed, wealth, in collusion with the sheriff? His wanting to escape with the jewels? Performing the marriage - after betraying Marian with the message? Friar Tuck fighting with him and his death?

20. King Richard (and the surprise guest spot for Sean Connery)? The background of England, the monarchy, the restoration of order?

21. The popular action themes? The social themes? The stuff of legend?