Robin and Marian

"Love is the greatest adventure of all."

1976 1h 46m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 281

AdventureRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Robin Hood, aging none too gracefully, returns exhausted from the Crusades to woo and win Maid Marian one last time.

“Love is the greatest adventure of all.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Sean Connery
Robin Hood
Audrey Hepburn
Lady Marian
Robert Shaw
Sheriff of Nottingham
Richard Harris
Richard the Lionheart / King Richard
Nicol Williamson
Little John
Denholm Elliott
Will Scarlet
Ronnie Barker
Friar Tuck
Ian Holm
King John

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Richard Lester
Writers: James Goldman
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

50 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Richard Lester, shot by David Watkin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by John Barry. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor John Victor-Smith shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn and Robert Shaw carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Love is the greatest adventure of all.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0075147 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Richard Lester directs. David Watkin behind the camera. John Barry scores. John Victor-Smith cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

150 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Richard Lester, shot by David Watkin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by John Barry. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor John Victor-Smith shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn and Robert Shaw carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Love is the greatest adventure of all.".
7IMDB entry: tt0075147 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Released under 27 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: David Watkin
Original score: John Barry
Editing: John Victor-Smith
Production design: Michael Stringer
Costume design: Yvonne Blake
Makeup / hair: José Antonio Sánchez
Stunt coordinator: Joaquín Parra
Runtime: 106 min · 1h 46m
Status: Released
Budget: $5,000,000
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Robin and Marian (1976)

Also by

Richard Lester

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2021-08-14
★ 7/10
Robin Hood returns to England in his grey years Coming back from the Crusades, Robin Hood and Little John (Sean Connery and Nicol Williamson) are still serving under King Richard the Lionhearted (Richard Harris) in France before finally making it back to England and reuniting with Marian (Audrey Hepburn) and their old nemesis the Sheriff of Nottingham (Robert Shaw). Directed by Richard Lester, "Robin and Marian" (1976) has an odd tone, combining the brutal realities of Medieval Europe with subtle humor and nobility. The fun element is low-key and meshed with melancholy, but such ‘dark comedy’ is lost on many today (even I had to acclimate). However, if you think about it, the blockbuster “Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves” (1991) had a similar mixed tone. In any case, the movie emphasizes the betrayal of aging; how the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Past glories and past loves are yearned for, but the passing decades have changed everything forever. On top of this, you get real-life castles, authentic Medieval garb and a great, realistic swordfight between two aging men before the controversial close (controversial to others, not me). Pompous King Richard’s shocking atrocities in the opening act are contrasted by the Sheriff of Nottingham (Shaw), who has mellowed with age and has leaned something of compassion and respect. He’s older and wiser now, less disposed to unfair treatment. His present reign seems to be rather benign and not overly oppressive. He has a limp along with the generally slower movement that comes with age. When he comes to the edge of Sherwood Forest with his small army his strategy is to wait Robin Hood out for surrender, presumably to spare Robin's life and allow his followers to simply go back to their farms or what have you. This is a welcome surprise and shows that this is not just Sean Connery’s movie, but Shaw’s as well. Notice how, after a prayer in the field before their mano a mano duel, Robin assists the Sheriff to his feet before they begin. Concerning King Richard, his fate in the movie is similar to the way it went down in real life, except that it was by a vengeful boy using a crossbow and, like in the film, he was using a frying pan for a shield. The kid’s name was Pierre Basile and the incident happened at the siege of Châlus-Charbrol in central France on March 26, 1199. Although Richard generously forgave him and set him free, he was flayed alive the day Richard passed away on April 6, 1199 at the order of Richard’s infamous mercenary captain Mercadier. This rendition of Robin Hood features perhaps the best depiction of Little John by Nicol Williamson, at least as far as getting to know the character and caring about him. You’ll note that he too loves Marian, albeit secretly. Speaking of Marian, this was Hepburn’s first film in almost a decade after taking a break to raise her family. If you appreciate “Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves” or “Robin Hood” (2010), be sure to check this one out as it’s a quality interpretation of Robin in his older years. True, Connery was only 45 years-old during shooting and Russell Crowe was the same age when he did his version, but 45 was fairly old in Medieval times. The only negatives are the aforementioned curious tone, which you have to get used to, and the lack of lushness in the locales, which betrays that the flick was not shot in England. The film runs 1 hour, 46 minutes, and was shot in the Navarra region of northeastern Spain and Villalonso, Zamora, Castilla y León in northwestern Spain. GRADE: B+
CinemaSerf2025-06-19
★ 7/10
I didn’t really appreciate this film when I was younger. I much preferred the colourful flourishing of Errol Flynn and Michael Curtiz’s take on the Robin Hood legend and found this a bit slow. Now, though, I actually rather like this interpretation of just how this folk legend might have aged after his return from the crusades. It’s on those travels that the impetuous and frequently boozed-up King Richard (Richard Harris) falls foul of a rogue arrow and so when Robin (Sean Connery) returns to an England in the hands of King John, he finds that the Sheriff of Nottingham (Robert Shaw) is still ruling the roost and the Maid Marian (Audrey Hepburn) has taken her vows. With the Sheriff bent on arresting her, Robin arrives just in the nick of time to rescue her from his clutches and so reinvigorate their old rivalry. Marian isn’t best pleased with her erstwhile Romeo, so some prickly antics ensue between the pair as he starts to reassemble what’s left of his brigade of Lincoln green-clad warrior-pensioners before the sheriff and his equally aged men force battle upon them. There’s quite an entertaining sarcasm to some of the script, a stocism that quite nicely sums up the drawbacks of the ageing process and the denouement shows that both Connery and Shaw seem quite enthusiastic about portraying characters in need of as many surgical supports as 12th century medicine could provide. Despite it’s sometimes almost slapstick approach, it has a certain grace to it as these rivals acknowledge a grudging respect for each other and as Hepburn’s feisty nun looks more like a role her namesake Katharine might have delivered. There’s a solid supporting cast to help keep it moving along and there’s enough geriatric swash and buckle - with the emphasis more on the latter, to keep this entertaining. Growing old graciously is over-rated, clearly!