Wednesday, July 18, 2007

We're All Wheeling Men And Knights Living In A Small Press Paradise

Robin of Sherwood, retitled Robin Hood in the US, was an acclaimed 1980s British television series, based on the legend of Robin Hood. It was made by HTV in association with Goldcrest, and ran from 1984 to 1986 on the ITV network. The show starred first Michael Praed then Jason Connery as two different incarnations of the title character, and was created by Richard Carpenter. Unlike previous adaptations of the Robin Hood legend, Robin of Sherwood combined a gritty, authentic production design with elements of real-life history and pagan myth.
Contents
[hide]
1 Overview
2 Cast and characters
3 Crew
4 Music
5 Episodes
5.1 Series 1
5.2 Series 2
5.3 Series 3
6 Places of action
6.1 Villages
6.1.1 Castles and cities
6.1.2 Abbeys
7 DVD releases
8 References
9 Bibliography
10 See also
11 External links
[edit]Overview

There were three series, comprising a two-hour opening episode and 24 hour-long episodes, although the pilot is sometimes screened as two one-hour episodes. It was shot on film, and almost entirely on location, mostly in the north and west of England; HTV West in Bristol was the base of operations.
Together with Richard Lester's offbeat 1976 film Robin and Marian, Robin of Sherwood is one of the most influential treatments of the core Robin Hood legend since The Adventures of Robin Hood, featuring a realistic period setting and, somewhat contradictorily, introducing the character of a Saracen outlaw.
Michael Praed played Robin Hood (or Robin of Loxley) in the first two seasons. His "Merry Men" consisted of Will Scarlet (played by Ray Winstone), who used to be known as Will Scathlock, before changing his name when his wife, Elena, was raped and trampled to death with horses by some Brabancon mercenaries; Little John (played by Clive Mantle); Friar Tuck (played by Phil Rose); Robin's adopted brother Much (played by Peter Llewellyn Williams); the Saracen Nasir (played by Mark Ryan); and Lady Marion (played by Judi Trott). As in the legend, Robin is opposed by the Sheriff of Nottingham (Nickolas Grace) and Sir Guy of Gisburne (Robert Addie), as well as the Sheriff's brother Abbot Hugo (Philip Jackson) (representing all the greedy abbots in the legends). Robin is assisted by Herne The Hunter (John Abineri), who sometimes appears as a forest spirit representing the powers of light and goodness, and sometimes as a mortal man.


Robert of Huntingdon (Jason Connery) and his "Merry Men", in the final episode "The Time of The Wolf" (closing shot)
At the end of the second season, Robin of Loxley is killed and Robert of Huntingdon (played by Jason Connery, whose father Sean Connery had played Robin in Robin and Marian) replaces him as Robin Hood. During the course of the season, the new Robin discovers that he is the half-brother of his nemesis Guy of Gisburne (an idea suggested to Carpenter by the fact that both actors had blond hair).
The series came to an end when Goldcrest was forced to pull out of the venture due to a downturn in the fortunes of their film arm. Goldcrest had been responsible for critical and commercial hits such as Chariots of Fire (1981) and Gandhi (1982) earlier in the eighties, but had hit a lean spell with such films as Revolution (1985) and Absolute Beginners (1986). As the series was expensive to make, HTV could not afford to produce it alone and no more episodes were made.
There is little likelihood of the series returning with Richard Carpenter having announced, via the show's official fan club, that he was not intending to write any further episodes [1].
[edit]Cast and characters

Robin of Loxley - Michael Praed
Robert of Huntingdon - Jason Connery
The Sheriff of Nottingham - Nickolas Grace
Lady Marion of Leaford - Judi Trott
Much - Peter Llewellyn Williams
Will Scarlet - Ray Winstone
Little John - Clive Mantle
Guy of Gisburne - Robert Addie
Friar Tuck - Phil Rose
Nasir - Mark Ryan
Abbot Hugo de Rainault- Philip Jackson
Prince John - Phil Davis
The Old Prisoner - Stuart Linden
Arthur the Rat - himself
Herne the Hunter - John Abineri
Edward of Wickham - Jeremy Bulloch
Baron Simon de Belleme - Anthony Valentine
Gulnar - Richard O'Brien
Meg - Claire Toeman
[edit]Crew

Directed by: Ian Sharp, Robert Young, Ben Bolt, James Allen, Gerry Mill, Sid Robertson and Alex Kirby
Produced by: Paul Knight, Esta Charkham and Patrick Dromgoole
Written by: Richard Carpenter, Anthony Horowitz, Andrew McCulloch and John Flanagan
Series created by: Richard Carpenter
Cinematography by: Roger Pearce, Howard Rockliffe, Gary Breckon and Bob Edwards
Music composed by: Clannad
Production design by: John Biggs and Ken Sharp
Costume design by: Lynette Cummin
Casting by: Esta Charkham and Beth Charkham
Stunt co-ordination by: Terry Walsh
Horse Master: Steve Dent
[edit]Music



Legend is considered as one of Clannad's greatest albums.
Main article: Legend (Robin of Sherwood soundtrack)
The award-winning music for Robin of Sherwood was composed and performed by Clannad, the Irish folk group. The show's original soundtrack, Legend, was released in 1984 and won the BAFTA award for Best Original Television Music.[1]
While not all of the show's music is found on the Legend album, some additional pieces can be found on Clannad's albums Macalla (released 1986) and Clannad: Live in Concert, 1996 (released 2005). In November 2003, Clannad revealed on their official web site that "there were several other pieces of music recorded for the 3rd series of Robin of Sherwood that were not included on the Legend album. Unfortunately no-one has been able to locate the master tapes of this music. The search is continuing and hopefully one day these recordings will be able to be released."[2]
[edit]Episodes

Episode title Original Air Date (UK) Guest cast
[edit]Series 1
Robin Hood and the Sorcerer, part 1 28 April 1984 Mark Audley (as Dickon), Paul Duggan (as Tom)
Robin Hood and the Sorcerer, part 2 - NB both parts originally broadcast in UK as one single feature-length episode. 28 April 1984 Mark Audley (as Dickon), Paul Duggan (as Tom)
The Witch Of Elsdon 5 May 1984 Angharad Rees (as Jennet of Elsdon), Cornelius Garrett (as Thomas of Elsdon)
Seven Poor Knights From Acre 12 May 1984 Yves Beneyton (as Reynald de Villaret), Duncan Preston (as Heinrich von Erlichshausen), Simon Rouse (as Siward)
Alan A Dale 19 May 1984 Peter Hutchinson (as Alan a Dale), Stephanie Tague (as Mildred)
The King's Fool 26 May 1984 John Rhys Davies (as King Richard), Gary Waldhorn (as Hubert Walter)
[edit]Series 2
The Prophecy 9 March 1985 George Baker (as Richard of Leaford), Simon Dutton (as Mark), John Nettles (as De Leon)
The Children Of Israel 16 March 1985 David de Keyser (as Joshua de Talmont), Katharine Levy (as Sarah de Talmont)
Lord Of The Trees 23 March 1985 Oliver Tobias (as Bertrand de Nivelle)
The Enchantment 30 March 1985 Gemma Craven (as Lilith)
The Swords Of Wayland, part 1 6 April 1985 Rula Lenska (as Morgwyn of Ravenscar), Dallas Adams (as Peter Verdelet), Norman Bowler (as Adam the miller)
The Swords Of Wayland, part 2 - NB both parts originally broadcast in UK as one single feature-length episode. 6 April 1985 Rula Lenska (as Morgwyn of Ravenscar), Dallas Adams (as Peter Verdelet), Anthony Steel (as Earl Godwin)
The Greatest Enemy 13 April 1985 Robert Daws (as Hubert de Giscard)
[edit]Series 3
Herne’s Son, part 1 5 April 1986 George Baker (as Richard of Leaford), Michael Craig (as Earl of Huntingdon), Oliver Cotton (as Lord Owen of Clun), Richard O'Brien (as Gulnar), Daniel Peacock (as Sergeant Sparrow)
Herne’s Son, part 2 12 April 1986 George Baker (as Richard of Leaford), Michael Craig (as Earl of Huntingdon), Oliver Cotton (as Lord Owen of Clun), Richard O'Brien (as Gulnar), Daniel Peacock (as Sergeant Sparrow)
The Power of Albion 19 April 1986 George Baker (as Richard of Leaford)
The Inheritance 26 April 1986 Cathryn Harrison (as Isadora), Cyril Cusack (as Agrivaine), Jeremy Sinden (as Mortimer)
The Cross of St. Ciricus 3 May 1986 Dorothy Tutin (as Lady Margaret)
The Sheriff of Nottingham 10 May 1986 Lewis Collins (as Philip Mark), Valentine Pelka (as Sarak), Robert Daws (as Hubert de Giscard), Maureen Bennett (as Alison)
Cromm Cruac 17 May 1986 John Horsley (as Abbot), Richard O'Brien (as Gulnar), Claire Parker (as Elena), Ian Redford (as Tom the Miller)
The Betrayal 24 May 1986 Matt Frewer (as Roger de Carnac), Ian Redford (as Tom)
Adam Bell 31 May 1986 Bryan Marshall (as Adam Bell), Patrick Travis (as Matthew), Amanda Hillwood (as Lady Isabel), Charlie Condou (as Martin)
The Pretender 7 June 1986 Reece Dinsdale (as Arthur), Patricia Hodge (as Queen Hadwisa)
Rutterkin 14 June 1986 Michael Craig (as Earl of Huntingdon), Ian Ogilvy (as Lord Edgar), Annabel Lee (as Mad Mab)
The Time of the Wolf, part 1 21 June 1986 Richard O'Brien (as Gulnar), John Harding (as William Brewer), Maureen Bennett (as Alison)
The Time of the Wolf, part 2 28 June 1986 Richard O'Brien (as Gulnar), John Harding (as William Brewer), Maureen Bennett (as Alison)
In repeats, episodes have frequently been broadcast out of order, and alternative orders have been suggested. Those which can be placed in a definite order are: Robin Hood and the Sorcerer - the story begins and the gang is formed. The Witch of Elsdon - James and Martin join the gang. Seven Poor Knights from Acre - James is killed. The King's Fool. The Prophecy - the Sheriff is absent; King Richard dies. The Children of Israel - the Sheriff returns. The Greatest Enemy - the first Robin is killed. Herne's Son - the gang is re-formed. The Power of Albion - Gisburne and the Sheriff discover the second Robin's identity. The Time of the Wolf.
In Season 1, Alan A Dale does fit where it is placed, but would fit equally well after The King's Fool. In Season 2, The Lord of the Trees appears to take place before The Children of Israel (the Sheriff is still absent), and The Swords of Wayland before The Prophecy (Marion still thinks her father is dead); The Enchantment probably belongs immediately before The Greatest Enemy (Herne prophesies that the events of that episode will happen "soon"). In Season 3, the order of the episodes between The Power of Albion and The Time of the Wolf is a little less certain. See the articles on individual episodes for details; but the only change suggested in the chronology at www.robinofsherwood.org is to move The Sheriff of Nottingham to after Rutterkin.
[edit]Places of action

[edit]Villages
Loxley - burned village, childhood home of the first Robin.
Wickham - village where Meg, girlfriend of Little John lived
Cromm Cruac - village-phantom, created by Gulnar
Elsdon
Hathersage
Uffcombe - village attacked by Hounds of Lucifer
[edit]Castles and cities
Nottingham
Castle of Belleme
Castle of Lord Owen (Clun Castle)
Castle of Gwydion
Castle of Huntingdon, childhood home of the second Robin.
Leaford
Caerleon
Newark
[edit]Abbeys
Warren
Thornton
Ravenscar
Croxden
Kirklees
Grimstone
Halstead
[edit]DVD releases

"Series 1 - Part 1 - Episodes 1 To 3 DVD."
"Series 1 - Part 2 - Episodes 4 To 6 DVD."
"Series 2 - Part 1 - Episodes 1 To 4 DVD."
"Series 2 - Part 2 - Episodes 5 To 7 DVD."
"The Complete Series 1 DVD." ASIN B00005Q3VG, ASIN B000L21290
"The Complete Series 2 DVD." ASIN B000066NSI
"Series 3 - Part 1 - Episodes 1 To 6 DVD." ASIN B00006L9YS
"Series 3 - Part 2 - Episodes 7 To 13 DVD." ASIN B00006SKVF
"Complete DVD."
"The Complete Series (NTSC)"
[edit]References

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