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| The Legend of Robin Hood | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Robert Banks Stewart David Butler Alexander Baron Alistair Bell |
| Directed by | Eric Davidson |
| Starring | Martin Potter Diane Keen William Marlowe John Abineri David Dixon Michael-John Jackson Paul Darrow |
| Music by | Stanley Myers |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Producer | George Gallaccio |
| Editor | Peter Evans |
| Running time | 50 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC 1 |
| Release | 23 November (1975-11-23) – 28 December 1975 (1975-12-28) |
The Legend of Robin Hood was a 1975 BBC television serial that told the story of the life of Robin Hood.
Plot
Robin has been raised as the son of John Hood, a groundskeeper, but learns that he is in fact the long lost son of the Earl of Huntingdon. He comes into conflict with a plot to replace King Richard I by his brother Prince John involving the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisbourne.
Broadcast
The serial was broadcast by the BBC in the Sunday "tea time slot". The serial was also broadcast by PBS in the United States, alongside other BBC period dramas such as The Forsyte Saga and Elizabeth R.
Cast
- Martin Potter as Robin Hood
- Diane Keen as Lady Marion
- John Abineri as Sir Kenneth Neston
- William Marlowe as Sir Guy of Gisbourne
- Paul Darrow as Sheriff of Nottingham
- Michael-John Jackson as King Richard
- David Dixon as Prince John
Reception
Clive James praised The Legend of Robin Hood in The Observer, describing it as "a promising series. Neatly written, well acted, finely dressed and softly filmed like Akenfield."
Controversy
Mary Whitehouse and the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association attacked The Legend of Robin Hood, saying the programme displayed "extreme violence and sadism" and was not suitable for children. One shot in the programme - of a dead man with blood on his face - was singled out for particular criticism by the NVLA. The BBC defended the show by stating that it had been approved by senior BBC executives, and had also been promoted as a programme for parents and children to watch together. Discussing the controversy, television historian James Chapman stated: "Viewed today, The Legend of Robin Hood does not seem particularly violent, certainly not in comparison to Arthur of the Britons".
References
- ^ Chapman, James. Swashbucklers : the costume adventure series. Manchester University Press, Manchester, 2015. ISBN 9780719088810 (pg. 114-118).
External links
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- 1970s British drama television series
- BBC television dramas
- Robin Hood television series
- Period television series
- 1975 British television series debuts
- 1975 British television series endings
- 1970s British television miniseries
- British adventure television series
- British English-language television shows
- Cultural depictions of Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Films scored by Stanley Myers
- BBC Television show stubs
- Drama television series stubs