Robin Hood Week Tag

As part of the Robin Hood Week festivities, Olivia has kindly provided us with a tag.  I love tags, did you know that?  Yeah, if you've been reading my blogs for more than about two minutes, you probably did.  Anyway, here goes!

What was your first exposure to Robin Hood?  It was the little read-along book and vinyl record put out by Disney, retelling the 1973 animated film.  I got that when I was 2 or 3, and I listened to it over and over during my childhood.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how big a fan are you?  Can I say 11?  No, because I haven't seen/read every single version of Robin Hood ever.  Guess I'm just a 10.  Robin Hood is a very important character to me, and has been so for as long as I can remember.  I'm continually inspired by his dedication to helping others at expense of his own safety.

How many versions and spin-offs of the legend have you experienced?  Hmm.  I've watched The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952), Robin and the Seven Hoods (1964), Robin Hood (1973),  Robin Hood:  Prince of Thieves (1991), Robin Hood:  Men in Tights (1993), Princess of Thieves (2001), and Robin Hood (2010), so that's 8 movie versions.  I've also watched two different versions of Ivanhoe (1952 and 1982), and Robin Hood is a pretty important part of that story, so let's add those as well.  And I've watched scattered episodes of the BBC series, as well as part of the 1950s TV series starring Richard Greene.  And an ep of The Time Tunnel called "The Revenge of Robin Hood."  So I think that means I've watched thirteen versions.

As for books, I've read Henry Gilbert's Robin Hood and Howard Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood.  Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott.  Plus a few other young adult or junior fiction adaptations now and then too.  I'm working on Hood by Stephen Lawhead right now, and but I don't think I'm going to finish it in time to review it for this week's festivities.

So... lots.  That's my answer:  lots.

What is your favorite version of Robin Hood (can be book, movie, TV series, anything)?  Goodness me, how can I choose?  I think it's a toss-up between the animated 1973 movie and the Howard Pyle book.  So difficult to decide!  Let's just say those are my favorite movie and book versions, and leave it at that.

Are you one of the lads? (Meaning, have you watched/are you a fan of the BBC show?)  I've seen half a dozen episodes and would really like to see the rest.

Who is your favorite Merry Man?  You mean besides dear Robin himself?  Generally Little John or Will Scarlet.  Depends on the movie or book!

Do you have a favorite portrayal of Lady Marian?  Probably Olivia de Havilland in the 1938 Adventures of Robin Hood.  She is equal parts strength and grace and fervor and sweetness.  Everything I love in a female character!

Do you have any interest in or aptitude at archery?  Interest?  Yes!  Aptitude... I haven't shot a bow for years, so I don't know.  I'd like to take it up at some point, and with more than a toy bow and arrow set.

Fact or fiction -- which do you think?  I think there has to be some basis in fact, but that the real people who inspired it were probably not nearly as wonderful as the character we now know.

Do you think Robin Hood has been "done to death," or are there still new twists that can be found?  I think a character who has been explored in so many varied ways is definitely rich enough to be interpreted in more ways.  Robin Hood still has plenty to give us.  There's a version coming out next year with Ben Mendelsohn as the Sheriff of Nottingham that could be cool!

Don't forget to enter my Robin Hood giveaway over here, and to visit Meanwhile, in Rivendell... for the fun Olivia has planned, as well as links to other people's participatory posts.