Ever wondered why they keep making films and TV shows about Robin Hood?
There have been so many versions of the story – with Robin having been played by (among others) Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn, a fox, Sean Connery, Michael Praed, Patrick Berger, Kevin Costner, Cary Elwes, Jonas Armstrong, and now Russell Crowe!
I mean, he’s not the only interesting medieval character who ever existed. In fact, he might not even have existed! So what’s the deal?
Is it just that people really don’t know anything about medieval history? Possibly, but maybe if they made a film about an amazing medieval character like William Marshall or Edward IV, then people would know who they were. Did anyone outside Scotland know who William Wallace was before Braveheart?
I recently performed a comedy show asking these questions – and basically exposing Robin Hood for the overexposed, corporate whore he is. As part of my research I went to Nottingham, to research the Robin Hood legend. I chatted to locals about what they knew about Robin Hood, and medieval history (above), and even documented the visit in this film.
What do you think? Do we need to keep telling the Robin Hood story over and over again? Or are there any other medieval lives you think would make great films?
[...] Hood. In fact I did a whole comedy show about it once. I often feel disappointed that they just keep making films about Robin Hood, and not about any of the other exciting medieval figures who have a more factual basis in history, [...]