Into the Greenwood
Robin Hood is one of the most ubiquitous figures in the English-speaking world. He’s been the star of countless films, television shows, books, games, and branded merchandise from baking supplies to investment apps. Whether he’s wearing a dark shrouding hood or a jaunty pointed cap, there’s a distinct image that comes to mind when you hear the name. Our mission is to dissect that image. Through interviews with academics and experts we’ll be taking a focused look on what one would actually expect of a forest-dwelling outlaw in late 12th century England. How many Merry Men could comfortably dwell within Sherwood Forest? How extensive was the authority of a local Sheriff? Would those tights of Lincoln green be comfortable to wear? You know, the important stuff. Interview episodes will be interspersed with episodes delving into our pop-culture portrayals as we take a chronological look at Robin Hood’s extensive filmography one movie at a time. So string your bows, prepare a lusty laugh, and come join us in the greenwood. Support: patreon.com/intogreenwood Follow: @intogreenwood on Twitter and Facebook Contact: intogreenwood@gmail.com
Into the Greenwood
Episode 49: Splitting Arrows- Bringing Back the Ballads with The Arrows of Robin Hood in 1975
The 1970s was an interesting period for Robin Hood films. It saw the bouncy and raucous animated Disney film which remains a beloved classic for newer generations. There were the austere British productions like 'Wolfshead' and 'The Legend of Robin Hood' that sought to showcase the potential hardscrabble realities of what it would be like to live as an outlaw in the middle ages. Film buffs and historians also warmly recall 'Robin and Marian' with its big name stars and post Vietnam War sensibilities. In that mix we've also seen the often flamboyant and fun films that the Italian cinema houses were producing. So it was with a great deal of curiosity that I peeked over the iron current to see the sort of Robin Hood film that was being produced in the U.S.S.R. during that time.
What I found was 'Стрелы Робин Гуда/Strely Robin Guda' or 'The Arrows of Robin Hood' directed by Sergey Tarasov and starring Boris Khemlnitskiy. The film delves deeply into Robin Hood lore while being presented with thoroughly Russian sensibilities. And while the film certainly lacks the shine of a Hollywood production, it is easily one of the Robin Hood films that has left the deepest impacts upon me. This is in no small part due to the powerful compositions by singer and songwriter Vladimir Vysotsky. Vysotsky had a reputation for being an anti-authoritarian and was often in trouble with the Soviet government during the 60s and 70s and the censorship board removed his songs from the film's original release. Fortunately, upon the film's later rerelease, Vysotsky's moving ballads were reinstated with the film.
Along for this look at the soviet-era Robin Hood is Richard Hopkins-Lutz and Gemma Kerr.
For Gemma's folklore meets astronomy podcast, look for 'The Celestial Tales'.
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Into the Greenwood is produced by Thaddeus Papke
Theme music is by Plastic3
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