Rob Price
In these retrospective articles, I often talk about how the series or movies I saw as a child helped to mold me into the person I am today. Robin Hood is no different. It has always been one of the stories that guided me and it became a symbol of who I wanted to be. The hooded hero who fought the inequality of a tiered class structure in society. Robin Hood isn’t just stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. He is fighting the rich who try to keep their power by keeping the poor poorer by excessive taxing.
Thought to be one of the earliest versions of a “superhero”, the basic legend in most renditions remain constant. Robin of Locksley, an outlaw, and his band of men, fight the wrongdoings brought against the common folk of England. The late 14th century legend mainly told through ballads were popular with the peasants as it reflected the discontentment the ordinary people of the day had with those in political power, especially the nobility who had claimed much of the land and restricted hunting.
With such a rich and long history, the legend would be retold both on the big screen and on the small. This article looks at the different television series versions that have been produced over the years.
The first series was appropriately produced by the BBC in 1953. Robin Hood stared Patrick Troughton (most famous for playing the second Doctor in Doctor Who). I honestly had no idea that this six episode series existed until I started doing research for this article. But, as a fan of both classic Doctor Who and Robin Hood, I feel I need to find this and see it.
The more famous, The Adventures of Robin Hood, aired from 1955 to 1959 and stared Richard Greene in the role. This series was aimed and children and was more lighthearted, using his humor and wit and swashbuckling daring dos to outsmart and defeat the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.
In 1975, Mel Brooks gave us When Things Were Rotten, a Robin Hood Parody, staring Dick Gautier. This sitcom was done in pure “Brooks” fashion with one-liners, sight gags and literal humor. Where the previously mentioned, The Adventures of Robin Hood, was lighthearted, but still done with a certain amount of believability, When Things Were Rotten, was farcical in nature. Example: villagers complaining are told to “Hold their tongues”, so of course, they reach up and literally take hold of their own tongues.
Robin of Sherwood is my favorite of all the televised versions. First staring Michael Praed and later Jason Connery as the “Hooded One”. This version added a bit of fantasy and magic to the storyline and took a much more dramatic approach. Robin of Loxley is the chosen son of Herne the Hunter, the human incarnation of the forest god. There was plenty of fighting, romance and a bit of magic all done with a grittier darker tone than the light hearted versions the preceded it. Running from 1984 to 1986, this is the series that really cemented my love of the character.
In 2006, the BBC once again revisited the legend producing a series starting Jonas Armstrong. The series ran for several seasons ending in 2009. Also taking the more serious tone, Robin returns home from the crusades to find his home being oppressed by the Sheriff of Nottingham and tries to rekindle his relationship with Marian, who he was betrothed to before he left for the Crusades.
There have been other series as well, most notably, The New Adventures of Robin Hood, a French and American co-produced series in the vein of Xena and Hercules ran for four seasons, the first two on TNT and the rest syndicated and starred Matthew Porretta and a British children’s show called Maid Marian and her Merry Men which was a re-imagined version that placed Maid Marian as the hero of the story aired from 1989 to 1994.
The popularity of Robin Hood, I believe, comes from our need as humans to see justice done. Robin is the symbol of the good in us that is willing to give up everything he has to make sure the poorest amongst us have a fighting chance to survive, live and be happy. A symbol for the fight against the oligarchy of a class system which actively works to keep the poor in their proper place, and the rich in power.
When Things Were Rotten Theme
Once upon a time when things were rotten.
Not just food, but also kings were rotten
Everybody kicked the peasants.
Things were bad and that ain’t good
Then came Robin Hood…!
Soon the band of merry men begotten.
They wore outfits made of plain green cotton.
Helping victims was their business.
Boy oh boy was business good.
Good for Robin Hood!
They laughed, they loved.
They fought, they drank.
They jumped a lot of fences.
They robbed the rich, gave to the poor,
except what they kept for expenses.
So when other legends are forgotten
we’ll remember back when things were rotten.
Yay for Robin Hood!
They laughed, they loved.
They fought, they drank.
They jumped a lot of fences.
They robbed the rich, gave to the poor,
except what they kept for expenses.
So when other legends are forgotten
we’ll remember back when things were rotten.
Yay for Robin Hood!
