Robin and Marian (1976).

The Scoop:
Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn, two sublime performers, star in this unique take on the Robin Hood legend. It is 20 years after the events of the original story, and Robin and Little John return to Sherwood Forest for the first time since their youth. There, they discover that Maid Marian has entered a convent and the Sheriff of Nottingham is still running things with an iron hand. So, the old Merry Men must reunite for one last battle to defend the oppressed.

It’s a great, touching take on encroaching middle age and lost youth told by a group of reliable veterans — the supporting cast includes Robert Shaw, Richard Harris, Nicol Williamson, Denholm Elliott and Ian Holm, and it was written by James Goldman and directed by Richard Lester. And their ruminations on aging are mixed with just the just the right amount of romance, humor and swashbuckling action that you’d expect from classic Hollywood.

For a medium that has traditionally gone out of its way to target adolescent viewers, this is a refreshing alternative for more mature audiences. This is the best film version of the Robin Hood story to date.

Best Bit:
Maid Marian: “You never wrote.”
Robin Hood: “I don’t know how.”

Side Note:
The apples used in the final scenes are actually Golden Delicious, which didn’t exist in the Middle Ages.

Companion Viewing:
“The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938) and “Excalibur” (1981).

Links:
IMDb.

Take a Look:
The trailer:

The final scene (very spoiler-y):

See the full film on Crackle.