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*The Legend of Robin Hood*
The Legend of Robin Hood
Written by	Robert Banks Stewart; David Butler; Alexander Baron; Alistair Bell
Directed by	Eric Davidson
Starring	Martin Potter; Diane Keen; William Marlowe; John Abineri; David Dixon; Michael-John Jackson; Paul Darrow
Music by	Stanley Myers
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	6
Production
Producer	George Gallaccio
Editor	Peter Evans
Running time	50 minutes
Original release
Network	BBC 1
Release	23 November –; 28 December 1975

The Legend of Robin Hood was a 1975 BBC television serial that told the story of the life of Robin Hood.^[1]

Plot

Robin has been raised as the son of John Hood, a groundskeeper, but learns that he is in fact the long lost son of the Earl of Huntingdon. He comes into conflict with a plot to replace King Richard I by his brother Prince John involving the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisbourne.

Broadcast

The serial was broadcast by the BBC in the Sunday "tea time slot".^[1] The serial was also broadcast by PBS in the United States, alongside other BBC period dramas such as The Forsyte Saga and Elizabeth R.^[1]

Cast

Reception

Clive James praised The Legend of Robin Hood in The Observer, describing it as "a promising series. Neatly written, well acted, finely dressed and softly filmed like Akenfield."^[1]

Controversy

Mary Whitehouse and the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association attacked The Legend of Robin Hood, saying the programme displayed "extreme violence and sadism" and was not suitable for children. One shot in the programme - of a dead man with blood on his face - was singled out for particular criticism by the NVLA.^[1] The BBC defended the show by stating that it had been approved by senior BBC executives, and had also been promoted as a programme for parents and children to watch together. Discussing the controversy, television historian James Chapman stated: "Viewed today, The Legend of Robin Hood does not seem particularly violent, certainly not in comparison to Arthur of the Britons".^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Chapman, James. Swashbucklers : the costume adventure series. Manchester University Press, Manchester, 2015. ISBN 9780719088810 (pg. 114-118).