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Wolfshead: The Legend of Robin Hood
UK 1969
produced by Bill Anderson for Hammer
directed by John Hough
starring David Warbeck, Kathleen Byron, Don Meaden, Ciaran Madden, Christopher Robbie, Peter Stephens, Roy Boyd, Will Knightley, Kenneth Gilbert, David Butler, Kim Braden, Joe Cook, Derrick Gilbert, Patrick O'Dwyer, Pamela Roland, Inigo Jackson, Sheraton Blount, Roy Evans, Nicholas Jones, Reg Lever, Shelagh Wilcocks
written by David Butler, music by Bernie Sharp, Jack Sprague
TV-pilot Robin Hood, Hammer's Robin Hood
review by Mike Haberfelner
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England, the 12th century: The ruling Normans have pretty much enslaved
the Saxons, and those who are free remain so only as long as they don't
break a law - like hunting for the king's deer. Robert Locksley (David
Warbeck) is a law-abiding Saxon, but also one who helps his fellow Saxons
against the Normans, but within the law, which means the Normans can't
touch him. Then though, Locksley somehow attracts the anger of Roger of
Doncaster (Christopher Robbie), mainly because Doncaster wants to marry
Locksley's girlfriend Maid Marian (Ciaran Madden), and thsu, Doncaster is
quick to convince the Abbott of St Mary's that Locksley is an outlaw (or
wolfshead, as outlaws are called in this movie) and supposed to be hanged. Locksley's
home is burnt down, many of his friends and family are killed, but he
manages to escape, and together with a few loyals he forms a group of
guerrilla soldiers to strike against the Normans whenever they see fit.
And since he's on their side, the Saxon populace is quick to show its
support ... Dan Meaden plays little John, Kenneth Gilbert can be seen as
Friar Tuck, David Butler as Will Scarlett. A failed TV-pilot,
and when watching it, it's easy to spot why: Basically this movie has
nothing new to add to the tried and true story of Robin Hood,
just tells the old story once again in an unimaginative manner. On top of
that, the low budget this film was produced on is painfully showing, and
the action is directed in a very sloppy and totally unexciting manner.
Sure, there are a few well-made elements here, like the positively creepy
secretary of the Abbott (Will Knightley) and the rapidly edited finale,
but that's not enough to carry a movie (let alone a series) by a longshot.
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