Top 5 merriest and roguish renditions of Robin Hood
5. Patrick Bergin – Robin Hood (1991 TV film)
Sadly overlooked within the pantheon of Merry Men movies, this film presents a Robin Hood who’s perhaps more authentic than most. Sir Robert Hode genuinely comes across as a lord or a knight, someone with the experience and education needed to understand the problems plaguing the land.
He’s well-spoken, and Bergin’s delivery carries a regality, intelligence, and conviction that makes him right at home among the highborn rulers and political maneuvering. This fits due to the tension of the encroaching Normans on Saxon land being a pivotal through-line of the film, and that alone makes it distinct from other Robin Hood stories.
At the same time, Bergin conveys a deep (almost homicidal) intensity through his eyes, as if he could easily kill you should his patience run thin. It’s the sense of danger you’d expect from a warrior or outlaw, and it allows him to coexist equally comfortably with the cutthroats in this dirty and unforgiving world.
Such a balanced duality provides a multifaceted hero. More to the point, it results in one of the more distinctive and unexpected renditions of this legendary figure.
4. Cary Elwes – Robin Hood: Men in Tights
You might think it’s cheating to put a parody version in here, but Robin Hood has dwelled in both light and dark tones before. On those grounds, as weird as it sounds, this still feels like a faithful adaptation. Of course, it helps that Elwes seems born to play this role, exuding that classic swashbuckler persona that made him so fun to watch in The Princess Bride.
His cocky smirk and overtly posh, tongue-in-cheek politeness not only suit the roguish character, but also contrast hilariously with the ridiculousness surrounding him. He could have easily played this role in a more serious project, but his comedic timing blends brilliantly with the farcical, sketch-esque style of Mel Brooks. How ironic that one of the best versions of Robin Hood isn’t even a straight-faced one?