Scarsdale Congregational Church

It has been said that a person's core value system is set by age eight. I have no doubt that movies and television play a significant role in that development and I am deeply concerned that, in much of what Hollywood produces these days, that role is not good.

But hasn't it always been that way? Weren't the westerns, swashbucklers, war movies, and gangster movies that I watched as a child just as bad?

I decided to take a look.

One of the earliest movies I remember seeing was "The Adventures of Robin Hood" starring Errol Flynn and Olivia DeHavilland. Since the movie was released in 1938 when I was one year old, I'm guessing that I first saw it when it was reissued when I was about seven or eight.

This is a wonderful movie that is still highly watchable. At the time it was not considered simply a children's movie. It was nominated for an Academy Award as best picture and is considered the best of the swashbucklers and one of the best American films of all time.

We have all read about and heard about this story from many sources. It is not the product of a single author but is a classic English myth, now eight hundred years old. As such its themes and ideas reflect universal truths and universal values. I would like to examine those values and try to describe how they looked to me at the age of eight.

Don't worry. There is no sex, no nudity and no bad language.

It is 1191 and King Richard the Lion Heart has been captured in Austria on his return from the Crusades and is being held for ransom. This provides an opportunity for his brother, Prince John, and the Norman nobles to usurp the throne and impose a reign of terror on the Saxon peasantry. A Saxon noble, Robin of Locksley, remains loyal to Richard and organizes the peasants in resistance... these are the men of Sherwood Forest.

We first meet Robin Hood as he shoots a mace from the hand of Sir Guy of Gisbourne, chillingly played by Basil Rathbone. Sir Guy was about to strike a Saxon peasant who has just killed a deer in Sherwood Forest. The peasant has told Sir Guy that his choice was killing the deer or starving to death. Robin boldly says that it was he and not the peasant who shot the deer. Sir Guy reminds him that the penalty for killing the King's deer is death.

Here is value number one.. defend the weak and less fortunate.

That evening Prince John and the Norman nobles and their soldiers, all armed to the teeth, are feasting in Nottingham castle. With them is Maid Marian Fitzwalter, a ward of King Richard, who has been brought from London by Prince John. They discuss the impudence of Robin Hood and Sir Guy promises to have him hanged within a week.

There is a knock on the door. It is Robin with the dead deer slung over his shoulders. He boldly flings the deer down on the table in front of Prince John.

Value number two ... bravery

The Prince cynically invites Robin to sit down and join the feast. The Sheriff of Nottingham asks Robin if he feels he is overtaxed.

Robin replies "Overtaxed, overworked and paid off with a knife, a club or a rope."

Marian is shocked. "Why, you speak treason!"

"Fluently" Robin replies.

Value number three... cleverness and a quick wit

Robin calls Prince John a traitor and promises rebellion. The soldiers attack Robin. He heroically escapes. With bow and arrows he kills a half dozen or so of the pursuers.

Value (or perhaps anti-value) number four... violence and death.

There is death in this movie but very little violence, at least by today's standards. Killing is shown, but it isn't glorified. Robin kills to save his own life. There is no blood, nobody is wounded, and nobody seems to suffer. A clean arrow to the chest and the soldier instantly falls below the screen and out of the picture.

The next morning Robin comes to a stream in the forest and starts to cross over on a log. A giant of a man, soon to be dubbed Little John by Robin, starts to cross from the other side. They challenge each other with quarterstaffs. After a vigorous fight Robin falls off the log and into the stream.

When Little John finds that he has beaten the famous Robin Hood, he asks forgiveness. "I hope you won't hold it against me", he says.

Robin laughs. "On the contrary. I admire a man who can best me."

Value number five... good sportsmanship

At noon that day Robin gathers his men together and asks them to swear an oath.

"Swear to despoil the rich only to give to the poor, to shelter the old and helpless, to protect all women rich or poor, Norman or Saxon. Swear to fight for a free England. To protect her loyally until the return of our King and sovereign Richard the Lion-Heart. And swear to fight to the death against our oppressors."

Values number six through ten... compassion, charity, chivalry, patriotism, and sacrifice. Seldom has a movie spelled out its goals and ideals so clearly, although I'm not so sure about "despoiling the rich".

The Normans' reign of terror gets worse, but now each time a peasant is robbed, tortured or maimed, the perpetrator is killed by a Saxon arrow.

A well-armed caravan sets off with tax money to London. Robin's band ambushes the caravan and captures Sir Guy and the Sheriff of Nottingham. Maid Marian is also there.

Sir Guy tells Robin that he will hang for his insolent actions.

Robin says it would be worth the risk. "Hanging would be a small price to pay for the company of such a charming lady."

Value number eleven... gallantry

While his men feast in Sherwood Forest. Robin tries to explain his cause to Marian. He shows her the field hospital that he has set up for victims of the Norman terror..

Marian begins to soften but asks. "But it's made you an outlaw when you might have lived in comfort and security. What's your reward for all this?

Robin is surprised and disappointed, "Reward? You just don't understand, do you?"

Value number twelve... altruism

Robin sends Sir Guy and the Sheriff back to Nottingham penniless and in rags.

The Sheriff of Nottingham knows his enemy. He proposes an archery tournament knowing that Robin will be unable to resist. Of course Robin takes the bait.

Value number thirteen.... excessive pride and vanity. Another anti-value and one that will cost Robin dearly.

The elimination rounds of the tournament pass quickly until only Robin in disguise and one other man remain.

This was the high point of the movie for me and an example of how film makers develop excitement and maximize tension. First, Robin asks that the target be moved back twenty paces. Then his opponent makes a perfect shot. An arrow dead center in the bullseye. Impossible to beat.

Robin calmly takes aim and splits the shaft of his opponents arrow and wins the tournament.

It is for scenes like this that I go to so many movies.

Identified by his skill, Robin is captured and sentenced to be hanged the next day.

Marian meets with Robin's men with a plan for escape. They don't trust her until Friar Tuck asks, "Are you a good daughter of the Church?" Marian nods.

"Do you swear by Our Lady that you want to help Robin?"

"I swear, good Father."

Value number fourteen... trust and a little religion

The plan works and Robin is rescued.

In a balcony scene straight out of "Romeo and Juliet" Robin and Marian declare their love for each other. Robin tries to convince Marian to come away with him to Sherwood.

Value number sixteen... love and marriage, can't have one without the other.

Marian's involvement with Robin is soon discovered by Sir Guy and she is thrown in the dungeon. She will be sentenced to death immediately after Prince John's coronation which will take place in two days.

Meanwhile King Richard has secretly returned to England and joined with Robin and his men. They disguise themselves as monks and attend the coronation ceremonies at Nottingham castle. At the crucial moment they reveal themselves and quickly take over.

But not Sir Guy. He and Robin engage in one of the best swashbuckling sword fights ever put on screen.

The two men duel through the castle and down toward the dungeon, all the while taunting each other with superb dialogue:

Robin: "Did I upset your plans?"

Sir Guy: "You've come to Nottingham once too often."

Robin: "When this is over, my friend, there'll be no need for me to come again."

Value number seventeen... civility

Finally, of course, Robin wins and Sir Guy perishes. Robin releases Marian from her cell.

The King restores justice and brings peace to England. Robin is declared Baron of Locksley and receives the King's consent to marry Marian. And they live happily ever after.

Robin Hood was a role model for me at the age of eight. His is a simple story... all black and white, good triumphs over evil. To my mind this is just what an eight year old needs.