By the time director Richard Lester got his hands on Robin and Marian, he did cast those two actors—but in the other roles. Connery, with some recent high-profile movies had more box-office clout. Williamson might have been the better actor, but was better known for his stage work. More importantly, Connery seemed like a better fit for this Robin, virile and, though older, never admitting it to himself. Regal bearing. But, Williamson could play a peasant...tamped down on his evident intelligence and played John as a loyal companion and ...but his eyes. His eyes watched everything, even when he said nothing.
I'd love to have a video to display of this, because Williamson's performance is extremely open and full of tics, at turns incredulous, suspicious and shy, and he has one bit of business with an apple. It's late. He's on guard. Has to eat. Has an apple and he takes the time. That's when Marian shows up. Keeps eating, talking through apple. And to put a period on the discussion of his unrequited affection for Marian, he tosses the apple into the dark, done with it.
One of the things about this scene that's made it memorable is it's a call-back/reversal of something we've seen earlier in the film. John has been with Robin throughout the Crusades, loyal, always there, friend-protector-flunky. When Marian enters the picture, there's a cutaway of John happening to catch the two separated lovers kissing and looking sad and depressed. When I saw the film (in a theater at its release in 1976), I thought "Oh no. They're making Little John gay!" Lester had a predilection for making fun of gay characters in his movies and I thought that would destroy the work Williamson had done. This scene makes it clear that John is not jealous of Marian, but jealous of Robin, and for some reason that only adds to the character's loyalty despite his feelings. It's multi-layered, and the expressions going across the actor's face are multi-facted.
The Set-Up: Robin Hood (Sean Connery) and John Little (Nicol Williamson) have returned to England from the Crusades, but the more things change, the more they stay the same. The new King John (Ian Holm) and the Sheriff of Nottingham (Robert Shaw) are repressing again and Robin and crew have set up shop again in Sherwood. Now, the Sheriff has set up camp outside the forest waiting out Robin, but not attacking the forest where his troops would be at a disadvantage. He wants to draw Robin's troops out to the plane outside where they have the disadvantage. Robin has another plan and Marian knows he can't resist an attempt to "seize the day."
Action.
OUTSIDE SHERWOOD—OVERLOOKING KING'S CAMP-NIGHT
JOHN: What thing? -
MARIAN: Didn't he tell you?
Words by James Goldman
Pictures by David Watkin and Richard Lester
Robin and Marian is available on DVD and Blu-Ray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
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