robin hood: Robin Hood, the Sheriff of Nottingham & Guy of Gisborne : Duels to the Death.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Robin Hood, the Sheriff of Nottingham & Guy of Gisborne : Duels to the Death.

Left: Robin Hood (Errol Flynn) clashes swords with Guy of Gisborne (Basil Rathbone) in a sequence which would elevate Gisborne's status as a villian in the legend far higher than any of the original ballads or tales ever did. Right: Robin Hood's true enemy the Sheriff of Nottingham (Robert Shaw) in gory and gruelling battle against Robin (Sean Connery). For more pictures of their battles click here.

Labels: Guy of Gisbourne, robin hood

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: Name: robin hood; Location: nottingham, United Kingdom

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ROBIN HOOD is the most famous outlaw, and the most skilful archer the world has known; a natural leader of men in his fight to defend the oppressed people of England. Some say his strength came from a Pagan faith in the energies and spirits of the forest. Some say it came from a loyalty to absent King Richard. Some say he was a Nottingham teenager, outlawed when he killed (in self defence) a gang who failed to honour their wager on his long bow skills. One thing is certain. He will continue to inspire generations to come as he has for centuries past. ABOVE: Robin Hood picture gallery. Top to bottom: Errol Flynn, Richard Todd, Richard Greene, Sean Connery, Martin Potter, Patrick Troughton, Matthew Porretta, David Warbeck, Michael Praed, Jason Connery, Jason Armstrong, Kevin Costner.

LITTLE JOHN stood over seven feet tall, a gentle giant of a man. He was skilled with the sword and long bow, but favoured the long staff as his weapon of choice, at which no man could best him. He remained Robin Hood's loyal servant until the end, even burying his master where his final arrow fell. ABOVE: Top to bottom: Archie Duncan, Clive Mantle, Nicol Williamson, Nick Brimble, David Morrissey, Gordon Kennedy, Dan Meaden.

WILL SCARLET was a violent, tormented soul. It seems only his respect for Robin Hood kept him in line, although arguments were many. Will beat Robin in their first swordfight, but his temperament prevented him from being the leader the outlaws needed. Some films and TV shows depict him as a Scarlet Pimpernel type, a Dandy. Nothing could be further from the truth. ABOVE: Top to bottom: Miles Anderson, Ray Winstone, Denholm Elliott, Christian Slater, Bud Geary, Harry Lloyd, David Butler.

MAID MARIAN was the original English rose. Her beauty brought many male admirers, including the Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy of Gisborne, but her heart belonged to Robin Hood. Her greatest skill was as a spy, and many times she risked her life taking information from Nottingham Castle back into Sherwood Forest. Marian was also a very capable archer, and equally skilled with the sword. ABOVE: Top to bottom: Olivia de Havilland, Joan Rice, Patricia Driscoll, Diane Keen, Judi Trott, Uma Thurman, Anna Galvin, Ciaran Madden, Enid Bennett, Lucy Griffiths, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.

FRIAR TUCK's large appearance belies the excellent swordsman within. On occasion he even bested Robin Hood in playful fight. Friar Tuck loved his food and wine, but he was a spiritual man, an ideal counsellor for the outlaws' personal problems, and probably versed in basic medical techniques with which to attend their wounds. ABOVE: Top to bottom: Alexander Gauge, Niall MacGinnis, Phil Rose, David Harewood, Michael McShane.

The SHERIFF of NOTTINGHAM is the most famous of Robin's enemies. An evil scheming man of supreme intelligence, he cared little for either Saxon or Norman point of view as long as he stood to benefit from the chaotic situation the King's absence created. Although Robin regularly defeated the Sheriff he can rarely say he outwitted him. ABOVE: Top to bottom: Alan Wheatley, John Arnatt, Paul Darrow, Alan Rickman, Keith Allen, Lara Pulver.

GUY OF GISBORNE was originally an assassin dressed in animal skins, and only appears briefly in the early tales. But in the 1930's, Hollywood made his name legend. Robert Addie played the part in the 1980's "Robin of Sherwood", and many fans think this the definitive interpretation. But admirers of Richard Armitage (center) and Michael Wincott (bottom), will disagree.

ALAN A DALE was an invaluable member of Robin Hood's Outlaws. An excellent woodsman, but his real contribution was in raising the men's spirits around the camp fire with his ability to translate the events of the day into a humorous lyric. ABOVE: Top to bottom: Elton Hayes, Richard Coleman, John Schlesinger, Lloyd Talman, Joe Armstrong.

MUCH the Miller's Son, rescued by Robin Hood after being caught poaching the King's deer, then to join Robin's outlaws as a symbol of the oppressed common man whom Robin Hood fights to defend. ABOVE: Peter Llewellyn Williams, Danny Webb, Sam Troughton, Joe Cook.

The best interpretations of the Robin Hood legend acknowledge the superstitions and beliefs of his day. Geraldine MacEwan (above top) made an unforgetable witch Mortianna in "Robin Prince of Thieves". Anthony Valentine (above middle) also excelled as Sorcerer Baron De Belleme in "Robin of Sherwood". In 2008 Josie Lawrence played Matilda in the BBC's Robin Hood Series 2, a "witch" credited with raising Robin Hood as a boy.

NASIR in Robin of Sherwood (above top), introduced the concept of having a Muslim outlaw in Robin Hood's Men in. This hugely successful inovation continued with KEMAL (New Adventures of Robin Hood), DJAQ (Robin Hood 2006), and AZEEM (Robin Hood Prince of Thieves).

KING RICHARD in "Robin Prince of Thieves" (above top), was played by Sean Connery, the same actor who played Robin himself in "Robin and Marian". Walt Disney's "Story of Robin Hood" cast Patrick Barr in the role. Michael-John Jackson appeared in "The Legend of Robin Hood", Wallace Beery was King in the Douglas fairbanks silent 1922 version.

PRINCE JOHN plots how to take over the throne during King Richard's long absences from England. Above: David Dixon "(The Legend of Robin Hood"), Sam De Grasse (silent movie 1922), and Toby Stephens (BBCs Robin Hood Series 3).