PRINCESS OF THIEVES

US, 2001, 88 minutes, Colour.
Keira Knightley, Stuart Wilson, Jonathan Hyde, Stephen Moyer, Malcolm Mc Dowell, Del Synnott.
Directed by Peter Hewitt.

Princess of Thieves is a film for the Disney Channel. It is a make-believe story that Robin Hood and Maid Marian had a child, a daughter (and the Sheriff of Nottingham not killing her because he thought she would be no threat – he was very mistaken).

The film opens with the birth of the daughter, has a collage of her in her room, gradually showing her growing up and becoming Keira Knightley. Keira Knightley was a vivacious young actress – and this was before Bend It Like Beckham and Pirates of the Caribbean. Stuart Wilson plays the older Robin Hood, Jonathan Hyde hams it up as Prince John – as does Malcolm Mc Dowell as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Stephen Moyer (later of True Blood) is Prince Philip, the illegitimate son of Richard the Lionheart, who is claiming the British throne.

The film was directed by Peter Hewitt, British-born director of a range of films including Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, Thunderpants, Garfield.

In 1946, Hollywood imagined that Robin Hood had a son. He was played by Cornel Wilde as The Bandit of Sherwood Forest. This is a variation on the theme – Robin Hood returning from the Crusades with Will Scarlett, his daughter Gwyn looked after by Friar Tuck, their going on a mission to help Philip claim the throne, are betrayed by the Sheriff of Nottingham, Prince John and their henchmen. There is a climax in the Tower of London, intercut with the coronation of King John.
The film, including its history, are entirely make-believe.

1. A film for the Disney Channel? The target audience? Young audience? Families?

2. The settings, Nottingham, Sherwood Forest, the town of Harrich, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey? The sets and decor, costumes? Action sequences? Musical score?

3. The title, the make-believe about Robin and Marian’s daughter? The role of the Sheriff of Nottingham? The reality of the Crusades, Robin of Locksley with Richard the Lionheart? Richard the Lionheart’s death? John and his claim to the throne, his tyranny? His henchmen? The story of Philip, illegitimate, coming to England, not wanting the throne, rising to the occasion? Fact and fiction?

4. The picture of Gwyn, her birth, the young girl, her absent father, her friendship with Froderick? Her skill at archery? Friar Tuck looking after her? Complaining about her father? His return? His not noticing her, her being hurt? Her wanting to go on the mission with him? His refusal, the argument? Her cutting her hair, getting the horse, going to Harridge? Stealing the food, giving it to the poor? Pursued by the soldiers? Froderick following her and saving her? In the forest, encountering her father? Rescuing Froderick? The Sheriff of Nottingham, fleeing into the forest? The encounter with Philip, his explaining he was Philip’s assistant? Their travels together, friendship? Their going to the archery contest? Gwyn and her winning arrow? At the dinner, being discovered? The flight, Friar Tuck and the people helping? The taking of the sheriff, his tricking Froderick and escaping? The mission to go to London, to rescue Robin Hood and Will Scarlett? The truth about Philip? The betrayal to the sheriff? The pursuit? The action in the Tower of London, rescuing Robin Hood, the confrontation with the sheriff? Gwyn and her saving her father? The truth about Philip, her love for him, her being a commoner, urging him to become king, unable to become queen? A fable about the daughter of Robin Hood?

5. The story of Robin Hood, audience familiarity, the Crusades, his return, not responding to his daughter’s requests? His going on the mission, his rescuing his daughter? Being caught, on the rack? In the Tower of London? The rescue, the fight? The confrontation with the sheriff? Will Scarlett, his constant friend, support?

6. Sherwood Forest, Friar Tuck, the people who had been oppressed, their gathering together, fighting for Robin Hood and for Philip?

7. Philip, Richard as his father, travelling with Conrad? The betrayal by the countess? In the pay of John? His escape, getting to England, caught with Conrad, the disguise? The death of Conrad, going into the forest? The encounters with Gwyn, in love with her? His explanation to Philip? His rising to the occasion, the attack on the Tower of London? His claim to the throne?

8. Prince John, the hammy performance, his claims to the throne? Using the sheriff, coming in disguise and testing him? The attack on Robin Hood? Wanting Philip dead? His going to London, the coronation, the confrontation with Philip?

9. The Sheriff of Nottingham, hamming it up? His loyalty to John, going to Harrich the death of Philip? The archery contest, the banquet, discovering the truth, captured in the forest and escaping? The final confrontation with Gwyn?

10. The popular ingredients of a Robin Hood story – for the family audience?