Sherwood Forester

Issue 7 - October 2004

Steve Winders examines actors’ links between ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’ and other film and television versions of the legend.

Steve Winders examines actors’ links between ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’ and other film and television versions of the legend.

Running to 143 episodes, ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’ employed a huge number of actors over the four series, so it is perhaps not surprising that several of them featured in other television and film versions of the ‘Robin Hood’ legend. What is more surprising is the number of regular characters from the series who have appeared in other versions and the number of leading characters from other versions who have appeared in the series.

I will start at the top with Robin Hood himself. Richard Greene reprised his role from the series in a 1960 ‘Hammer’ film ‘Sword of Sherwood Forest’. This film avoided using any other leading actors from the series, thus avoiding having to pay royalties to ‘Sapphire Productions’, but it nevertheless managed to include four other actors who had played minor roles in the series. Two of them played important roles in the film. These were Nigel Green, who played Little John and Richard Pasco, who played the Earl of Newark, one of the leading villains. Nigel Green had played a small part in the episode “The Impostors” in the second series. Richard Pasco appeared in two roles in the second series, as De Vere in the episode “Hubert” and as Rufus in “Outlaw Money” and made one appearance in the third series, as Sir Laurence in “The Quickness of the Hand”. The two other actors who appeared in the film were Desmond Llewellyn, who played the wounded fugitive rescued by Robin who sets the plot of the film in motion and Brian Rawlinson, who played a falconer. Llewellyn had played a character called ‘Two Fingers’ in an episode of the third series called “Little Mother” and Rawlinson played a character called 'Martin' in the episode “The Debt”, in the fourth series. The film was directed by Terence Fisher, who had directed ten episodes of the series and two of its producers were Richard Greene and Sidney Cole, who had been associate producer of the series.

Apart from Richard Greene, the series also featured two other actors who played Robin Hood in other productions! The first was Patrick Troughton, who had played television’s very first Robin in a B.B.C. serial in 1953. Troughton played many parts in the second, third and fourth series of ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’. The other actor to play Robin was Ronald Howard, who played Will Scarlett in two episodes of the first series. He played Robin in an episode of the 1962 British television series ‘Richard the Lionheart’, produced by the Danziger Brothers.  

As well as ‘The Sword of Sherwood Forest’ and ‘A Challenge For Robin Hood’, Hammer also produced ‘Men of Sherwood Forest’ in 1954, starring Don Taylor as Robin. In this film were Douglas Wilmer as Sir Nigel Saltire and Leonard Sachs as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Wilmer later played Sir Germaine in Friar Tuck's introductory episode and Sachs played the dishonest miser in “Outlaw Money” in the second series. Finally, ‘Men of Sherwood Forest’ also included Bernard Bresslaw in a small role as one of the outlaws. He played Sir Dunstan’s captain in “The Black Patch”, an episode of the second series.

The 1945 Hollywood film ‘The Bandit of Sherwood Forest’, starring Cornel Wilde, was about the son of Robin Hood. It featured Jill Esmond as Queen Eleanor, a role she would again play in two episodes of ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’. A British film of 1959 was called ‘Son of Robin Hood’, although it was actually about his daughter! Starring June Laverick, the film included Humphrey Lestocq as Blunt. Lestocq appeared in two episodes of the final series, as Sir Gerald in “A Touch of Fever” and as Lord Orford in “Hostage For a Hangman”.

For our final link we must go right back to Warner Brothers’ classic 1938 film ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’, starring Errol Flynn as Robin. This film included Ian Hunter as King Richard. Hunter later played Sir Richard of the Lea, a friend of Robin in six episodes of the series.   

Steve Winders

Duncan of Stoneykirk - the name resonates chaos in Sherwood Forest, and for Will and Derwent, who are returning from a scouting trip, a feeling of dread at the prospect of the unwanted guest who has once again made his presence felt in Sherwood Forest.

It’s all in the timing when executing humor, and Will Scarlet has great timing – when Will and Derwent spot “Duncan” sitting by the water, they decide to have a little fun at his expense.  Will sneaks up from behind and pushes “Duncan” into the water, and then reacts with horror when he realizes it’s not Duncan, and immediately jumps in to rescue the “lassie” he so rudely shoved in the water.  To his amazement he discovers that the “lassie” is “ Duncan’s Lassie”, Jessie, who has arrived from the Highlands in search of Duncan.  Will and Derwent are delighted to escort Jessie to camp, hoping she will entice Duncan out of Sherwood and back to the Highlands.

“A gift from Heaven”, is Little John’s exclamation of Jessie – but from the expression on Duncan’s face at finding that Jessie has surfaced in Sherwood, he’s not viewing a “gift” but a nightmare. 

Just when Robin thinks his “problem” will be heading with his “own true love” back to Scotland, reality is about to set in when the “nightmare” and his “lassie” appear to be settling into Sherwood and now the “sparks” will fly as Marian comes to visit….

When Marian arrives for a visit and Jessie catches the “spark” in Duncan’s eyes as he looks at Marian, a whole new perspective is about to emerge and a battleground is about to be set.  Now, we must remember that these are the Adventures of Robin Hood, and our able and skillful hero is fearless in battle, be it with sword or longbow.  He’s fought in the Crusades, he fights tyranny and treachery, but he now finds himself in a different kind of battle.  And the tone of the battle has been set by Will, advising Robin to make both Duncan and Marian jealous, pay attention to Jessie and the battle will be won – Duncan will take his lassie back to Scotland and Robin will have his “lassie” back.

Unfortunately for Robin, Will’s advice doesn’t seem to be going the way it was planned and sparks (or should I say punches) do fly, not between Robin and Duncan, but between Marian and Jessie, which is a signal that each girl really does know who their “own true love” is.  Robin intercedes in the fight and a new battle plan is born.  The only real way to Duncan’s heart is with money and wager is set – Marian and Jessie are to have a shooting competition. Duncan is counting the 5 crown wager in his head as he is backing Marian, and Robin – who has been coaxing Jessie on how to shoot a longbow – is backing Jessie.  Now Robin’s honesty has never come into question – but when dealing with a rogue such as Duncan there are certain liberties that have to be taken – and Robin takes one by “fixing” the flight of an arrow.  Marian’s skillful eye realizes the flight is crooked and Robin is “caught” – their eyes meet and Robin is “stricken” by what he perceives as the “hurt” in Marian’s eyes.  The clever lady that Marian is, she “loses” the competition and before the “goodbyes” could be said Duncan is whisking Jessie and “his winnings” back to the Highlands.  Sheepishly Robin approaches Marian and expresses sympathy for what has taken place, apologizes for attempting to trick her.  Marian just smiles and confesses that she “lost” on purpose, that she knew there was a “reason” behind Robin’s actions.  Indeed Robin had “his own true love” back…

How much fun has this been, not for our “favorite” outlaws, but for the viewers! It was very entertaining, and I hope everyone has enjoyed “The Scottish Episodes”.  And if you haven’t viewed them all – take the time. The episodes have everything in them, suspense, intrigue, deceit, greed and love, but not necessarily in that order.  We must now say good-bye to Duncan as he takes Jessie and his bagpipes back to Scotland to continue the “good fight” in the Highlands, and hopefully he has gained some wisdom from time spent with Robin…

Lucy Carpenter

Dear Readers, we would like to introduce ourselves: we are the Ladies of Sherwood; we go by the pen names Suzette, Elsbeth, Lady of Locksley and Marian.  We became acquainted - and became friends - through the Robin Hood Appreciation Society.  We have been viewing the episodes in their original order and each week we have a discussion, expressing our thoughts, observations, memories of the episodes that we viewed as children, and reflecting on these timeless stories, the wonderfully talented and creative writers, the very talented group of actors who helped to bring these stories to life, but most of all our hero – Richard Greene, the talented and skilled actor who became the  “definitive” Robin Hood for a whole generation of fans.  We hope you will enjoy our exchanges.

The first episode, “The Coming of Robin Hood”, was the most pivotal - it defined who Robin of Locksley was, and now we shall see how he became “Robin Hood”…

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Suzette: I saw” The Coming” for the first time only about a year ago, but I always knew that Robin came back from the crusade (from “The Crusaders”, of course).  And as long as I can remember, his “secret past” fascinated me.  I tried to imagine what it was like, and what he looked like as a knight… The opening scene is the timeless “desert warrior” image – whoever thought of the idea for that scene, was a genius!  Have you noticed that no other returning crusader looked like that, and there are quite a few of them in “The Adventures”?  And have you noticed that we never saw that cloak again? 

The dialogue in “The Coming” is very interesting – the conversation with Martha and Tom.  It could reveal something of Robin’s “mysterious past”.  Have you ever wondered why the pilgrim was sent to look for him?  (“You came back!  The pilgrim found you!”)  It could mean that there was no news of him, and no one knew where he was.  Or perhaps the pilgrim was sent to deliver some important news to Robin?  What was it?

And another thing: when he said:  “At the very gates of Jerusalem; but it was months before I could start home” – have you ever asked yourselves, why months?  There are no “right” answers, of course, but I’m interested to know if your answers are the same as mine...

Marian: I saw  “The Coming” about a year ago for the first time and re-watched it over the weekend.  The dramatic scene of him in the cloak, and you only see his gorgeous eyes - I found it amazing; the eyes just set the tone…  I also felt badly that he didn't take the painting of his father – especially where he said you could see the resemblance.  I wished we had a better view of the painting, and that we knew more about his past. I got the impression that he was indeed tired of war and killing and just wanted to be home.

Elsbeth: I saw “The Coming” when I was a kid, and then again back in the 80’s when I first bought a VCR.  I never thought much about the Crusades or Robin taking part in them.  I always picture him in the forest on a sunny day with birds singing.  I guess I have a totally different picture of him than everyone else does.

Just like Marian, I wonder about the painting too.  It looks like a man on horseback, and it’s a shame if it was burned.  I thought the message the pilgrim was sent to give Robin was that his father had died.

My favorite part was when Robin took the time to help Edgar, even though he had enough problems of his own.  Even before he became the outlaw he was helping people.

Ring Lardner said he chose this series so he could satirize America during Eisenhower’s era, which is interesting.  Does Lardner think of himself as Robin and the outlaws as the blacklisted writers?  It’s another way of looking at everything.

Lady of Locksley: I too loved the opening of “The Coming”.  When Robin is first glimpsed wearing his hood and the cloak wrapped around him, all you really see is those eyes.  Very dramatic too, like the clouds parting and the moon shining through.  I also loved the short scene where he is on horseback riding by the river.

So why was that pilgrim sent to find Robin?  I wonder if it was to tell him what was happening at home.  How the Sheriff had “stolen” his lands.  What did take him so long to return?

Why were only a few members of the cast named?  Other characters were Lady de Lisle, Hubert (Sir Roger’s servant), William (the bowman) and Will (the outlaw).

Suzette: Back to Robin of Locksley the knight.  Elsbeth, your answer to my first question is the same as mine - the message the pilgrim delivered was that Sir Edward had died.  If that were the news he received, wouldn’t King Richard let him go home?  What was so important that delayed him for months?  I have a strong suspicion that things were really bad for poor Robin of Locksley…. And I had that suspicious long before I saw “The Coming” – many years before… It’s impossible to explain why.  I think he made an impression (on me, at least) of someone who has experienced a lot, and knows more than he ever tells anyone.  What I’d like to know, and I hope you can tell me – is there something in it, or was it just my imagination?

Marian: No Suzette, I don’t think it was your imagination – Robin was very weary from war and what he saw, but kept it inside – maybe one day he shared it with Marian.  I can’t imagine having spent four years fighting in the Crusades to come to find you have no home and to have to continue to fight for survival….

Now, dear Ladies, we will all watch “The Moneylender” and see how Robin Hood became the leader of the outlaws…

Suzette: Forgive me, but before we go on to “The Moneylender”, I just have a few more things to say.  “The Coming” is a very important episode!

About Robin’s past, and why he didn’t go home for months – well, he could have been on a special mission for King Richard…  There is one more possibility, and that’s the one I imagined. And I think he told us about it himself.  Let’s go back to “The Coming”, to the feast at the manor house.  Sir Roger de Lisle says, “Robin of Locksley is dead, and I’ve got a paper to prove it.”  At that moment Robin comes in, strides across the hall, and says, “And I’ve come to disprove it, my lord.”  What did he say next?

Marian: ”It’s true I’ve been wounded in the service of the King” - those were the next words.  So it was most likely his wounds that kept him from returning home immediately.  One thing that puzzled me was why he didn’t show Sir Roger de Lisle the document from King Richard, when Sir Roger said he had a paper which stated that Robin of Locksley was dead?

Yes, Suzette, I totally agree with you, “The Coming” is the most important of all the episodes.  It sets the tone of what Robin of Locksley/Robin Hood was all about - the man, the warrior, the human being; his strengths, his loyalties, his kindness, his honesty.  If you don’t view “The Coming”, you don’t truly understand the man and all he was trying to achieve.  The legend was “he robbed from the rich and gave to the poor”, but he represented so much more; I think he represented what people should be – he cared about his fellow man and he fought injustice.  He fought beside a legendary King, but he could walk with the ordinary people.

The dark atmosphere was a reflection of what was happening, a very dark time.

Suzette: Our Robin was very different from all the other Robin Hood characters, in all the other films.  The script writers deserve praise for that, but, of course, it wouldn’t be the same without Richard.  It was his acting ability and his personality that turned Robin Hood, the legendary hero, into a very real person.

And not just the weary warrior, either.  I think we all remember him the way Elsbeth does – “in the forest on a sunny day, with birds singing’; we remember that smile, the warmth, humour, exuberant energy…. But somehow he managed to convey the impression of “hidden depths” of emotion, experience… Yes, those eyes…