Movie Project Review - Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Originally posted to my movie review blog on 5 March 2012.

• Title:  Robin Hood Men in Tights
• Director:  Mel Brooks
• Date:  1993
• Studio:  Columbia / Tri-Star
• Genre:  Comedy
• Cast:  Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, Amy Yasbeck, Tracey Ullman, Megan Cavanagh
• Cameo Cast:  Patrick Stewart, Dom DeLuise, Dick Van Patten, Mel Brooks
• Format:  Color, Widescreen
• DVD Format:  R2, PAL

"Let me introduce you to my best friend, Will Scarlett." -- Little John
"Scarlett is my middle name.  My full name is Will Scarlett o'Hara. ... We're from Georgia." -- Will

"And why should the people listen to you?" -- Prince John
"Because, unlike some Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent."  -- Robin

"We're men, we're men in tights.  Tight, tights!
Always on guard, defending the people's rights.
When  you're in a fix, just call for the men in tights."  -- "Men in Tights", song and dance number (Cast)

Robin Hood:  Men in Tights came out as a parody of  Kevin Costner's Robin Hood:  Prince of  Thieves, but actually also parodies the classic 1938Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn.  There are also some references to the ITV series, Robin of  Sherwood (aka Robin Hood - the one starring Michael Praed and Jason Connery).  But with a new Robin Hood film in theaters (Starring Russell Crowe, and directed by Ridley Scott) and a new Robin Hood TV series (starring Jonas Armstrong and Richard Armitage) - this parody actually almost seems to work better now than when it was originally released.  Some references no longer really work, but Cary Elwes is the perfect Robin Hood.

In this version of the tale, Robin is captured in the Holy Land during the Crusades, and thrown in a dungeon.  There he meets Asneeze, who help him get free.  The two lead a revolt freeing all the prisoners.  Thankful to be freed, Robin promises to look up and help Asneeze's son, Achoo, when he arrives in England.  In England, Robin finds his family's castle being repossessed and the local villages being burned.  He vows to rescue England from tyranny.  Soon he's put together a merry band:  Achoo, Blinkin (Robin's family's blind servent), Little John, and Will Scarlett.  In a parody of  Flynn's Robin Hood, Elwes' Robin brings a wild boar (rather than deer) to Prince John's feast.  He sees Marion, and they fall for each other.  After a fight with John's men, Robin, rescued by his men returns to the forest and begins training the villagers.  Also, in a scene straight from The Adventures of  Robin Hood, John decides to lure Robin into a trap with an archery contest.  As in the Flynn film, Robin arrives at the archery contest, dressed as an old man.  But it is John's archer who splits Robin's arrow.  Shocked, Robin checks the script to see -- and discovers he gets another shot.  He uses a patriot target-seeking arrow, and blows up the another arrow.  Robin is captured and John threatens to hang Robin, if Marion doesn't marry him.  She's about to do it, when Achoo saves the day, shooting Robin loose from the hangman's noose.  King Richard (Patrick Stewart) arrives and knights Robin.  Robin and Marion are "quickly married" by Rabbi Tuckman (Mel Brooks), and start their new life.  Robin appoints Achoo the new sheriff of Rottingham.  At first the villagers protest, "A black sheriff?"  But Achoo responds, "Why not - it worked in Blazing Saddles," -- why do I get the feeling Brooks was waiting the entire film to use that line?

Elwes has a pencil mustache, like Flynn's from The Adventures of  Robin Hood, and the costumes are also vintage the 1938 movie.  Several scenes from the 1938 film are also parodied, notably Robin bringing the deer/boar into the Prince's feast, and the archery contest scene.  Also, Robin has a habit of starting long speeches - which quickly bore his audience.  In one, he starts, sounding like Flynn, and ends, sounding like Churchill.

From Robin of  Sherwood - we get the opening sequence of  the flaming arrows being shot from English longbows (in silhouette).  Also, the character of  Achoo, seems to be drawn from Nazzar, though he's a lot more chatty.

But, Robin's jibe that, "at least I can speak with an English accent," is aimed straight at Kevin Cosner - who's really awful accent (and inability to do one) was a major problem in Prince of  Theives.  Unfortunately, though Elwes does an English accent perfectly -- most of  the rest of  the cast is American and sounds it.  The worst is Richard Lewis, who just does a bad job as Prince John.  (What is it with Prince John, anyway?  Nobody seems to get him right!  I swear, Doctor Who had the best Prince John I've seen in the story "The King's Demons").  But yeah, Robin Hood should definitely not sound like he comes from Iowa, and that was the trouble with Cosner's film.

However, though funny in parts, and filled with some excellent honest-to-goodness sword-fighting scenes, this isn't the classic Mel Brooks of  The Producers, Blazing Saddles, or Young Frankenstein.  I did like that it drew on all the Robin Hoods to date, and, again, with two new Robin Hoods out there, it's worth watching again, but overall a bit disappointing for Mel Brooks.

There is a lot of  excellent music in the film -- the Robin Hood Rap is fun, the title number of  We're Men, We're Men in Tights, is hilarious, and evenMarion's Theme is quite sweet.

Yes, I do have an R2 version of  this film.  I couldn't find an US/ R1 / NTSC version anywhere when I bought it.  However, you can now find the film as part of  the boxed set of  Brook's films.

Recommendation: It's OK, but not stellar.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Next Film: Roman Holiday

Movie Project Review: Roman Holiday

• Title:  Roman Holiday
• Director:  William Wyler
• Date:  1953
• Studio:  Paramount
• Genre:  Romance, Comedy
• Cast:  Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert
• Format:  Standard, Black and White
• DVD Format:  R1, NTSC

"I could do some of  the things I've always wanted to do."  --Ann
"Like what?" --Joe
"Oh, you can't imagine.  I'd like to do just whatever I like, the whole day long."  --Ann
"Things like having your hair cut, eating gelato?" --Joe
"Yes, and I'd like to sit in a sidewalk cafe, and look in shop windows, walk in the rain!  Have fun - and maybe even some excitement." --Ann

"The news can wait until tomorrow." -- Ann

"She's fair game, Joe, it's always open season on princesses." -- Irving

Roman Holiday is Audrey Hepburn's first film.  It could have also been easily called, 'The Princess's Day Off', because that is what the film is really about.  Hepburn is Princess Ann, on a whirlwind tour of  European capital cities.  Her schedule is booked by the second, and everything is planned to the last detail - even the words she'll say when accepting or refusing gifts, giving good will speeches and addressing the press.  And young Ann is quite, quite sick of  it.

Upon her arrival in Rome, Ann falls into hysterics and is given a drug to calm her down.  But, instead of sleeping, she sneaks out to have some fun.  Ann collapses on a bench, completely limp and out of  it. She's discovered by Joe (Peck), a reporter, who doesn't recognize her.  He sees her as a drunk young lady in trouble.  He tries to get her into a cab, but she's so out of  it, she doesn't remember her own address. So he takes her home to his apartment.  He lends her pajamas, and offers his couch (she takes his bed).  No impropriety occurs, and the next day, Joe goes off to his job at the American News Service.  There he discovers the big news is that the Princess Ann has taken ill, and cancelled all her appointments - and Joe recognizes the girl in the papers as the girl in his apartment.

He talks to his boss, and promises an exclusive and personal interview with Princess Ann.  His boss offers $1000.00 for the story.  When he adds that he can provide candid pictures as well, the price jumps to $5000.

Joe returns to his apartment and finds a recovering Ann.  He lets her have a bath and change again, gives her some money, and sees her off.  Then he calls his friend, Irving (Albert), a photographer, and promises him a cut of the deal.  Irving agrees to find out what the story is, and will meet Joe later.  Meanwhile Joe, follows Ann, without letting her know.  He bumps into her, and promises her a holiday, then takes her to a sidewalk cafe, where Irving meets them.

Ann and Joe, with Irving in tow, tour the tourist spots of  Rome, and Ann has the time of  her life just being normal.  He even takes her to a dance on a barge in the river.  There, Ann, dances with the barber who cut her hair and invited her to the dance.  But her country has called in their secret service to look for Ann, and they find her on the barge.  A fight breaks out but Joe, Ann, and Irving all manage to escape.  Finally, Ann decides she must go back to her duties and after a couple of nice hugs with Joe, has him drop her off  within walking distance of  her hotel.

Joe decides he can't impose on Ann's privacy, or embarrass her, and tells his editor there's no story.  He tells Irving he can sell the pictures if he wants, though he wishes him not to do so.

The next morning, Ann, again in the beautiful white gown of  a princess, has her press conference.  She coldly gives her practiced answers.  Except once - when asked her favorite city on the tour, Ann replies, Rome.
She sees both Joe and Irving at the press conference.  During the receiving line, she shows nearly no emotion, using the same kind responds with them as with the rest of  the ladies and gentlemen of  the press.  Irving, hands her an envelope of  the pictures, saying they are commemorative pictures of Rome.  Ann leaves the press conference.  All in attendance left - and Joe is left, alone, walking out of  the hotel.

Roman Holiday is a fun picture, though a bit slow.  Audrey Hepburn is really good, expressing both emotion and lack of emotion, as she alternately experiences every day things for the first time, or does her princess act for the press.  Peck is a man who's caught - he feels something for Ann (though in my opinion he's much too old for her) but knows they are from different worlds.  In a way, the film is about isolation, Ann's behind the walls of a palace, and Joe's in the middle of a bustling city.  Though Joe has a friend in Irving, and his poker buddies seen at the beginning of  the film.  It's enjoyable to watch.

Recommendation:  See it.
Rating:  3.5
Next film:  Royal Wedding