A wonderful Robin Hood tale that takes place some 20 years after his earlier adventures in and around Sherwood Forrest. Robin is aging, naturally, along with the rest of the characters we've all come to know. Although getting older, Robin is still high spirited and out to get whom he deems enemies - he's still fit for battle.Robin finds Marion running a convent as a nun and a nurse. Marion has tried to forget Robin while he was away, she's done a pretty decent job of it but seeing Robin again and traveling with him she finds herself still deeply in-love with him.This movie has a surprise ending for first time viewers OR for those, like myself, who has not seen this movie in many, many years and has forgotten the ending. I won't give it away but I can say what happens leaves Robin looking like a hero in the eyes of his followers.Wonderful movie - well worth watching.9/10

ROBIN AND MARIAN is another comedy adventure from director Richard Lester, the man who brought us THE THREE MUSKETEERS and its sequel. As ever, the goofy direction is the worst thing about this, an otherwise engaging version of the Robin Hood story with a neat twist: all of the characters are now middle aged and suffering from the weight of the years upon them.That twist is the best thing about an otherwise bog-standard adventure which otherwise isn't all that funny; that, and that the producers have assembled an eclectic cast for this one. Sean Connery makes for a fine, gruff Hood, and it's nice to see Audrey Hepburn come out of retirement to play an ever-graceful Marian. And the supporting cast are particularly fine: Robert Shaw is the Sheriff, battling Connery again years on from From Russia with Love; Nicol Williamson is an imposing Little John; Denholm Elliott and Ronnie Barker make up the Merry Men; Richard Harris is Richard the Lionheart; Ian Holm Prince John, and there's a brief but wonderful cameo from Peter Butterworth in the opening scenes.The action scenes are over the top and rather silly, as in THE THREE MUSKETEERS, but the script is better. Scenes of the characters reminiscing about times past feel wistful and nostalgic, and the cinematography captures the autumnal landscapes very well. The twist ending is a choice reminder of just how dark and downbeat cinema in the 1970s really was.

A hugely enjoyable and surprisingly realistic treatment of the legend of Robin Hood. Usually, updated versions of traditional stories make me shudder and wish that I wasn't a teetotaler but this is an excellent example of how to do it right. The film maintains the traditional setting but explores the later lives of Robin and Marian as well as the difficulties associated with growing old. Well, by the standards of the time anyway! Sean Connery is excellent as the ageing hero Robin, a type of character that he would later revisit in the unofficial Bond film "Never Say Never Again", while Audrey Hepburn delivers a charming and wonderfully understated performance as Marian. In their only film together, they have great chemistry and you never doubt for a second that Robin and Marian are in love. The storyline is very strong and the supporting cast is excellent, particularly Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Richard Harris as Richard the Lionheart (who is depicted much more realistically than in any other Robin Hood film that I've seen) and Nicol Williamson as Little John. While the character does have plenty of comic moments, Ronnie Barker's performance as Friar Tuck is the straightest that I've ever seen him.

Ready for an analogy? "The Adventures of Robin Hood" starring Errol Flynn is to "The Road To Morocco" with Hope and Crosby, as "Robin And Marian" starring Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn is to the t.v. skit "The Road To Medicare" starring Hope and Crosby.It's certainly nice to see Sean Connery as an old Robin Hood with little swash left in his buckle and Audrey Hepburn as Maid Marian who has become a nun. But there are some problems with this film.First off, what do you think of when you think of Sherwood Forest? Lush England? Oops...the movie was filmed in Spain, so it's rather arid.I know Robin has just come from years fighting in the Crusades, but did he have to look old and scruffy like one of the homeless men who lives under a local bridge? Couldn't Marian have at least trimmed his beard? So, Robin and Little John sneak into the village...looking exactly the same as they did before. And of course, they are immediately recognized by the Sheriff Of Nottingham. Gee, that was bright of them.Now, don't get me wrong. This movie is worth watching. The acting is quite good. You've got Sean Connery, who is very good as an over-the-hill Robin Hood, and Audrey Hepburn is very good as an over-the-hill Lady Marian. Robert Shaw is nastiness personified as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Nicol Williamson is good as Little John. Richard Harris -- only in the opening scenes -- is good as Richard the Lion-Heart. And Denholm Elliott is around as Will Scarlet...although he is so young I didn't recognize him.And the story is quite good...to a point (more about that shortly). Robin once again rescues Marian from the Sheriff Of Nottingham. And all the while they reminisce about the good old days.However. I must condemn this film. SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT ****** How would you feel if at the end of the new Superman film if Lois Lane committed suicide and murdered (of course by using Krptonite) Superman? Well, Robin Hood was an early hero, and the idea that the love of his life -- Marian -- would commit suicide and murder him is just too much for me to swallow. Particularly when he has just intervened to save her from prison. Therefore, this film gets a "1" for me.