Truly Dreadful Film

The Worst Film Ever

Let's be realistic.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

I really thought that I was the only one who remembered this comedy, especially the theme song. Every so often I would sing it for someone to see if they remembered the show, with no luck. This was one of the funnier sitcoms on in the mid-seventies, and a bit before it's time, I think. There were a lot of sexual innuendos that today wouldn't even warrant a second thought, much less a gasp. (I had rather progressive parents who didn't really find anything wrong in letting me watch it.).The program was written by Mel Brooks; that should give you a good idea what the show was really like; full of pratfalls and slapstick, as Robin Hood(Dick Gauthier, who couldn't have been a better choice: Just handsome enough.)tried to get away from the sheriff of Nottingham. Each cast member had his or her own style and they were great.It was an ensemble cast,and they all played off each other perfectly "So when other legends are forgotten, we'll remember back when things were rotten....Hurray for Robin Hood!"

"When Things Were Rotten" was the brainchild of comic genius Mel Brooks. He dared to ask, what if the Legend of Robin Hood was overblown hype, and that all of the people involved were nothing more than buffoons? The result was a uproariously funny and engaging program, in which the great legend of Sherwood Forest went slapstick.The show was brilliantly cast, with each player an expert in comedy. Dick Gautier, who worked with Mel on NBC's "Get Smart" as Hymie The Robot, knew a great deal about timing and was perfect as the leader of this merry band. He was matched in nit-wit by Henry Polic II, who portrayed the equally dunderheaded Sheriff of Nottingham, and a young Ron Rifkin (eventually of "Alias") played the likewise dubious Prince John. Add in Dick Van Patten, Bernie Kopell (another "Smart" vet), and the former Hee-Haw Honey turned Maid Marian, Misty Rowe with her buxom talents and you had a well-rounded group.The production values for the program were very high, with costumes and sets that looked lavish and the show was shot on film, making it appear as exquisite as any Errol Flynn feature. And the sight gags were hilarious, and should not be described here... they are "sight gags," after all! Years later, Brooks returned to the Robin Hood legend with his film "Men In Tights," but he avoided a lot of the stuff that was used in this production, and that was a disappointment. All he needed to do was to take all of the elements of the series and distill the various episodes into one great movie! What we got was a watered down version that couldn't come close to the laughs this program offered.Perhaps the reason for the show's demise was either in the subject matter or the competition... Robin Hood might have sounded dull and uninteresting to some viewers and those that would have been willing to look possibly wanted an adventure series, not a schlocky comedy. Also, the program aired opposite NBC's powerhouse drama "Little House On The Prairie," and CBS's variety series "Tony Orlando & Dawn," so perhaps people didn't tune away from these programs to try it. They don't know what they missed.I live in hope that some day the complete series will arrive on DVD.

When I heard Mel Brooks was making a television show of Robin Hood, I couldn't wait to see it - and the wait was worthwhile. "When Things Were Rotten" was way ahead of its time.This was a really funny t.v. show and I am not sure why it was cancelled. It gave me many laughs and I wish there was a channel on television for failed TV shows and pilots etc. so we could relive some of our youth through laughter, and share my experience of this show with my children. I felt the cast was perfection but haven't seem much of them since. Dick Gautier as Robin Hood was superb. He seemed to have the right combination of good looks and dopey-ness. Richard Dimitri in his dual role of good guy/bad guy was priceless. Silliness is very appealing and this show was silly.

I don't know if the proper question is "Why do I remember this short-lived series so well, when nobody else has even HEARD of it?" or "With the writing & acting talent behind it, why didn't When Things Were Rotten make it big?"With Mel Brooks creating & writing the series and some of the top comedic directors of the 1970s behind the camera, it was a hilarious spoof of the Robin Hood legend. All I have seen of the show as an adult are three episodes on video, with guests Sid Ceasar, Dudley Moore and John Byner. These episodes, though, are as funny as I remember them being as a 12 & 13-year old.Start with the theme song. This is one of the classic 1960s-70s TV themes... "They laughed, they loved, they fought, they drank, they JUMPED a lot of FENCES... stole from the rich, gave to the poor -- except what they kept for EXPENSES!" :o)What about the cast? Well, Dick Van Patten (Friar Tuck) and Bernie Kopell need no introduction. Dick Gautier, who played Robin Hood, never quite made the big time. He did turn in good work as the robot Hymie on "Get Smart," though, and is solid as the straight man for countless bafoons in Sherwood Forest. Misty Rowe is an absolute sexkitten and quite funny at the same time, as the airheaded Maid Marian. Richard Dimitri, Hnry Polic, II and David Sabin are also great -- as are the guest stars.If you ever get a chance to rent or buy the video (or if Nick-at-Nite or one of the other cable channels comes to its senses & begins running these for the first time since 1975), be sure & give it a view! It's Mel Brooks humor at its best!