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Loved The Portayal Of The Sheriff Of Nottingham

posted 15 years ago by babettegillette
8 replies | jump to latest

He was older, wiser, and less prone to unfair treatment. Even so, he informed the Baron early on that Nottingham was HIS county. However, his current reign is benevolent, not overly oppressive. He too has a limp, as well as a generally slower movement that comes with ageing.

He simply asks Robin not to interfere with the roundup of the clergy(including at that moment Marian), that he is a free man and to move along. At the final standoff at the edge of Sherwood Forest, he informs the Baron once again that he is in charge of the King's men while in Nottingham and that there would be no attack in the forest. He wants to wait Robin into a possible surrender(hoping to spare Robin's life in the process).

The Sheriff has developed a respect, a liking of Robin(and Robin of the Sheriff) and asks Robin to simply yield in their fight so as to end the bloodletting for good. But old pride is hard to overcome.

Robert Shaw, who in just a few years would be prematurely dead, gives an unforgettable,layered, and nuanced performance. Sean was also excellent, but for me this is Robert Shaw's movie! And Robin And Marian is a near-great movie.

[–] ScopeWatcher 14 years ago

Shaw's performance IS wonderful -- as was James Goldman's welcome, non-traditional characterization of the Sheriff.

But I generally miss the end of the time when dramas were heightened by antagonists who could prove sympathetic, or at least relatable. Today villains must always be vile and absolutely, inhumanly despicable; otherwise, the stupid audiences wouldn't know whom to hate.

[–] mstanley-1 14 years ago

Which is why the subtlety of this movie is lost on many. The same way people don't understand "dark comedy" anymore. It's a miracle Wes Anderson and the Cohen Brothers are as appreciated as they are with the intellegence level of Hollywood audiences these days.

[–] vpilutis 14 years ago

It was great to have Sean as the hero and Robert as the baddie again (recall From Russian with Love?)
Sad he died so young it would have been fun if they made another film where Robert was the hero and Sean the baddie.

Train facts:
Sean and Robert were on a train (the Orient Express) in "From Russian with Love"
Sean and Martin Balsam were on the same train in "Murder on the Orient Express"
Martin and Robert were on a train in "The taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3"
Robert's last film was "Avalanche Express" also on a train

See some stars here
http://www.vbphoto.biz/

[–] babettegillette 13 years ago

Not too many B Movies anymore. Don't believe this was a Ben-Hur level A movie. Mindless popcorn productions such as The Avengers rule the day. Too bad.

[–] bholly72 13 years ago

Absolutely! Couldn't agree more. I love it when he leans over the pommel of his saddle and says to Robin, who is trying to 'rescue' Marion, "Robin, we don't have to do this." His frustration with his inept soldiers, his barely concealed contempt for the titled jackasses he has to babysit -- Shaw was just magnificent in this role. And the virtues with which he endows his character make the horrific duel at the end doubly tragic. Today's filmmakers cannot make a fight scene that really matters, so they cover up the emptiness of their movies with fast cutting and absurd acrobatics.

[–] stevezodiacxl5 11 years ago

If you consider some of the underlying symbolic themes, the Sheriff is even more interesting. He's Robin's old nemesis, of course, but in this movie Robin is battling his own mortality, the ultimate foe, Death.

Try watching the movie with this in mind, and Shaw's entire performance takes on some really intriguing aspects. Couple hints: Robin notes how the Sheriff hasn't changed much since he last saw him years ago; the Sheriff never attacks Robin but just waits patiently and dispassionately for Robin to sacrifice himself. He's not really connected to the events, he's more like a force of nature...he just lets things play out.

He IS totally implacable and assured, though. When Renulf tries to take command, The Sheriff replies calmly but with utter certainty, "Not in MY county". Nobody gets out alive.

"As for the rest of them...take up their limbs and bury them."

[–] hachmom-1 10 years ago

Robert Shaw left a set of vivid characters to remember him by, among them Quint, Henry VIII, Doyle Lonnegan and this performance. He could carry a whole movie, or steal it in one 10 minute scene.
By giving Robin a suitable yet sympathetic antagonist he gives the film weight.

It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices

[–] Prismark10 10 years ago

Shaw's Sheriff was more nuanced.

Its that man again!!