I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

I discovered this absolute masterpiece several decades ago. I fell in love with it the minute I finished to watch it. So typical of the seventies and its sadness and its disenchantment. It's a true awesome poignant, moving love story, one of the best ever for me. And so millions miles away from the Hollywood films, especially the Kevin Costner's crap. But not the Errol Flynn's feature of course. This is really a sad story, especially where we see Robin Hood and his little army of rogues who train as if they prepared for the war, with straw dummies. You expect a big fight, fierce, bloody...But nothing of this kind happens. SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS. They are all eventually wiped out without fight. I highly recommend it. But I perfectly understand that most audiences, used to Hollywood films, don't appreciate this feature that much.

its beauty is real special. the atmosphere, the humor, the bitter nostalgia, the right actors for a story who propose a different Robin by the classic versions. something familiar defines this story about late state of love, courage, return to a different world, memories and the conquest of peace after long storm. one of the gifts - it seems be the only authentic story about Robin Hood. Sean Connery does more than a good job - it impose the essence of a character and put the end to the romantic version . Audrey Hepburn does that wise, vulnerable, delicate, courageous Marian who must be the perfect choice of Robin. a twilight story. touching and useful. beautiful for great scenes - the last desperate fight, the dialogues with the king Richard, the stories about hero to the crusader. the taste of black tea defines this superb film. and does it precious memory.

Robin Hood (Sean Connery) and Little John (Nicol Williamson) are searching for a treasure for King Richard the Lionheart (Richard Harris). The dictatorial and cruel Richard orders the castle, defended by one crazy old man, stormed killing all the women and children. Robin and Little John escapes after 20 years of crusade but Richard captures them for disobeying him. Richard dies and they go home to Sherwood. England is now ruled by mad King John (Ian Holm). Friar Tuck (Ronnie Barker) and Will Scarlett (Denholm Elliott) tells Robin that Maid Marian (Audrey Hepburn) is now running the nearby Abbey. The Sheriff of Nottingham (Robert Shaw) is as powerful as ever. He comes to arrest Marian in a spat with the Pope and Robin rescues her despite her wishes.It's an absurdist continuation of the Robin Hood tale. The jokes are oddly interesting but not funny. It's fascinating to see some of these classic actors trying to deadpan these jokes. It is probably more appropriate to keep the story totally serious. The great thing about this movie is the deeply felt chemistry between Connery and Hepburn. Their relationship projects a lifetime of world weariness and true love. They are able to keep the movie from completely collapsing. This is a romance no matter how hard the movie tries to inject comedy action scenes.

The original title for this movie was "The Death Of Robin Hood" but the studio wanted a more commercial title, and sent out all the wrong messages to cinema goers. Following on from what many consider to be his best role outside of James Bond, that of Daniel Dravot in "The Man Who Would Be King", Sean Connery plays Robin Hood (a balding, grey bearded, bruised, scarred and arthritic one, but still Robin Hood) opposite the still impossibly gorgeous Katherine Hepburn as Maid Marian. This is no swashbuckling agile Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn or Kevin Costner. This is a much bleaker, more realistic Robin. But still a Robin who could not resist a good fight, and was trying to regain his youth by reliving past exploits. Robert Shaw's arrogant but intelligent Sheriff of Nottingham was everything you'd expect from the hard drinking Irish man. It was a shame he would die only two years later, as for all his flaws he was one hell of an actor.The final fight between Robin and the Sheriff was brutal as two worn out old men (barely able to lift their swords towards the end) hacked away at each other. The mood of the movie is realistically bleak at times, yet since Richard Lester was director, we get some silly scenes with humour in that seem to be totally out of place and that almost belong in another movie!! I don't know why he insisted on doing this in his movies (see Superman 2, where during Superman battling the three Kriptonian Super Villains a load of awful comedy scenes (wigs flying off, ice cream hitting people in faces) are present that takes away from the intensity of it all!! Of the supporting cast Richard Harris has a cameo as Richard The Lionheart (same role Connery would cameo in Costner's "Prince Of Thieves") and Denholm Elliot is as reliable as ever.I think this movie is badly under appreciated by the critics. And maybe if they had stuck with the original title, and sold it differently it might have done differently.