Robin Hood and the Sorcerer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robin Hood and the Sorcerer (1983) was originally the 2 hour pilot episode of the popular 1980s adventure series Robin of Sherwood (1984-1986). Directed by Ian Sharp and written by Richard Carpenter, it was however also shown as an independent television film in many countries around the world and works as a complete movie in its own right.
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[edit] Cast and characters
- Robin Hood - Michael Praed
- The Sheriff of Nottingham - Nickolas Grace
- Lady Marian of Leaford - Judi Trott
- Baron Simon de Belleme - Anthony Valentine
- Much - Peter Llewellyn Williams
- Will Scarlet - Ray Winstone
- Little John - Clive Mantle
- Guy of Gisbourne - Robert Addie
- Friar Tuck - Phil Rose
- Nasir - Mark Ryan
- Dickon of Barnsley - Mark Audley
- Tom the Fletcher - Paul Duggan
- Herne the Hunter - John Abineri
- Abbot Hugo de Rainault- Philip Jackson
- Ailric of Loxley - Wayne Michaels
- Flambard - Thomas Henty
- The Old Prisoner - Stuart Linden
- Matthew the Miller - Geoffrey Greenhill
- The Miller's Wife - Betty Francis
- Young Robin - Toby Lee
[edit] Crew
- Directed by: Ian Sharp
- Produced by: Paul Knight
- Written by: Richard Carpenter
- Cinematography by: Roger Pearce
- Music composed by: Clannad
- Production design by: John Biggs
- Costume design by: Lynette Cummin
- Casting by: Esta Charkham
- Stunt co-ordination by: Terry Walsh
- Horsemaster: Steve Dent
[edit] Synopsis
The plot opens in the year of 1180, where a five-year-old Robin (Toby Lee) watches his home village of Loxley being plundered and burned to the ground by Norman soldiers. His father Ailric (played by leading man Michael Praed's stunt double Wayne Michaels), who openly has rebelled against the Norman rule in England, is soon after brutally murdered by the Sheriff of Nottingham (Nicolas Grace). Now an orphan, Robin is fostered by his father's friend, the local miller (Geoffrey Greenhill).
15 years later, the adult Robin (Michael Praed) is caught poaching in Sherwood Forest together with his young foster brother Much (Peter Llewellyn Williams) and brought to the dungeons of Nottingham Castle by the Sheriff's henchman Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Robert Addie). In the prison cell, they encounter fellow prisoners Dickon of Barnsley (Mark Audley) - imprisoned for herding goats off his own land and poaching, Tom the Fletcher (Paul Duggan) - in for poaching - and Will Scarlet (Ray Winstone) - in for murdering three of the Norman soldiers who raped and murdered his wife. Having nothing to lose, facing either death or mutilation, the five prisoners hatch a plan to escape the foul dungeon (with the help of a mad old prisoner (Stuart Linden) who wouldn't leave with them as he "couldn't leave Arthur" (his pet rat!)) and run into the depths of Sherwood Forest. The seemingly impossible plan is miraculously a success, after some unexpected aid from the Sheriff's brother's ward The Lady Marion of Leaford (Judi Trott).
Robin comes up across a bridge near a small waterfall, where a large man (Clive Mantle), bewitched by Baron Simon de Belleme (Anthony Valentine), appears with a quarterstaff. Robin battles with the man and defeats him, breaking the spell. The man comes around and takes a wash in the river, revealing that his name is "John Little". Laughing, Robin replies that Little John suits the large man more, which John agrees with.
Safe in the deepest parts of the forest, but outside all protection of the law because of his escape, Robin is reluctantly chosen by the heathen forest God Herne the Hunter (John Abineri) to help protect the weak and the helpless - taking on the role of "The Hooded Man", a champion long prophezised by the Anglo-Saxon people. He is given Albion, one of the Seven Swords of Wayland, a magical sword holding the powers of light and darkness within.
Meanwhile, Gisbourne is searching for the prisoners while escorting Lady Marion to Kirklees Abbey, and burns down the mill, before killing the miller. Much sees it all and runs into the forest sobbing to tell Robin the tragic news.
Robin and the men set up a trap for Gisbourne and his soldiers. They fall into it easily and Marion is taken from them. Gisbourne is tied to a horse and sent back to Nottingham. Meanwhile, in Nottingham Castle, the Sheriff and his brother, the Abbot Hugo (Philip Jackson), are discussing why the silver arrow is of importance to the "Hooded Man". They begin to set up a trap for him in the form of an archery contest.
Robin and Marion share a tender moment before she asks him to take her to Kirklees Abbey.
At the archery tournament, Robin and his men turn up heavily disguised. Baron de Belleme is also present, to watch his Saracen bodyguard Nasir (Mark Ryan). Robin wins the tournament and picks the silver arrow over the money. The men manage to make their escape, and Robin presents the arrow to Herne. He tells Robin the silver arrow is his protection from the forces of evil.
Baron de Belleme has a plan to drive the outlaws out of the forest where they can be captured. He has worked out that Robin's love for Marion will draw him to her if she is in danger, and his men will follow after he has gone forward alone. The Sheriff likes the plan, but his brother is more opposed, as he owns the lands of Leaford, of Marion's father who was "killed in the Crusades", and de Belleme is a master of the occult. He finally agrees to let Marion be taken from Kirklees if he keeps Leaford's lands.
Tuck overhears them and heads up to Kirklees to escape with Marion, but they are ambushed by the Baron's soldiers. Tuck is wounded and Marion is captured. Robin and his men find Tuck and attend to his injuries before Robin heads off to Belleme Castle to face the Baron alone.
At Belleme Castle, the Baron is preparing Marion for a sacrifice. He hears Robin and confronts him, setting his bow on fire and drawing a mystical dagger. As de Belleme cuts through the air, cuts appear on Robin's body, and appears to possess him. De Belleme seems to control Robin as he is drawn towards Marion. He holds the silver arrow high and as he is about to drive it into Marion, he turns and stabs de Belleme, who dies a Dracula-style death. Robin frees Marion, retrieves the arrow and runs into the corridor where he first faced de Belleme. But his path is blocked by Nasir, the former bodyguard of the Baron. After a brief fight, the Saracen senses Robin's power and withdraws his swords. Tom the Fletcher, Much and Little John appear at the door, and Robin and Marion join them.
Will and Dickon are on lookout, and see Gisbourne and his soldiers approaching the castle. They alert the others, and a fight ensues within the castle walls. Robin, Marion and Much escape on a horse, followed by Will and Little John. Tom and Dickon are killed in the battle.
Back in the safety of Sherwood, the band reflect on the battle, distraught at the loss of Tom and Dickon. Robin rallies them round, with a means to carry on fighting to protect the people. They gather by a lake and fire flaming arrows into the water in memory of fallen comrades, before Nasir fires a flaming arrow into the lake from behind them. He's one of them now.
The episode ends with Robin and Marion marrying under the trees by Herne the Hunter.
[edit] Date
The destruction of Loxley takes place in 1180, which should place the main story in April-May 1195; however, since The King's Fool takes place in 1194, the chronology at www.robinofsherwood.org suggests that we should consider Loxley to have been destroyed in 1178 and the main story to have occurred in 1193.
