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Robin Hood: Men in Tights

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Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Company typeFilm
IndustryEntertainment
Founded1993
FounderMel Brooks (director and producer)
ProductsAdventure comedy film
ParentBrooksfilms, Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Gaumont

Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a 1993 adventure comedy that parodies the classic Robin Hood tale. Directed and produced by Mel Brooks, the screenplay was co-written by Brooks, Evan Chandler, and J.D. Shapiro, based on a story developed by Chandler and Shapiro. The cast includes Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, and features Dave Chappelle in his first film role. The movie humorously references earlier Robin Hood adaptations, notably Prince of Thieves and the 1938 Errol Flynn version The Adventures of Robin Hood. Prior to this, Brooks had also created the television series When Things Were Rotten, which similarly spoofed the Robin Hood mythos.

Brooks makes a brief appearance in the film, marking his first cameo without a starring role since Young Frankenstein. The ensemble also includes frequent Brooks collaborators such as Dom DeLuise and Dick Van Patten, with Rudy De Luca appearing in a cameo.

In keeping with its satirical tone, some characters retain their traditional names—Robin of Loxley and Maid Marian—while others are modified; for instance, Nottingham is renamed "Rottingham," and one of the Merry Men is called Will Scarlet O'Hara, an allusion to Gone with the Wind. Brooks altered his own cameo from Friar Tuck to "Rabbi Tuckman," reflecting his Jewish background.

Although critical reception was mixed, the movie achieved commercial success, earning $72 million against a $20 million production budget.

Plot

During the Crusades, Robin of Loxley is captured and imprisoned in Jerusalem. With assistance from fellow prisoner Asneeze, he escapes and liberates other captives. Upon returning to England, Robin discovers Asneeze’s son, Ahchoo, and learns that while King Richard is away fighting, Prince John has seized power. Unaware of John's misrule, Richard entrusts Robin with addressing the crisis.

Robin finds that Loxley Hall has been seized by John's forces. Blinkin, his family's blind servant, informs him that his family has perished and reveals that his father left behind a key to "the greatest treasure in all the land." To reclaim his estate and oppose Prince John’s regime, Robin enlists Little John and Will Scarlet O'Hara. Maid Marian of Bagelle joins them in search of the man holding the key to her Everlast chastity belt. Rabbi Tuckman also becomes an ally, offering sacramental wine and discounted circumcision services.

As Robin trains his band of tights-wearing Merry Men, they face danger from the Sheriff of Rottingham, who hires mafia hitman Don Giovanni to eliminate Robin during the Spring Festival’s archery contest. Maid Marian warns Robin while accompanied by her German attendant, Broomhilde.

Disguised at the tournament, Robin advances to the final round but loses when his arrow splits. Upon reviewing the script, he learns he is granted another attempt. Don Giovanni's assassin fires at Robin from the Royal Folio Depository using a scoped crossbow; however, Blinkin intercepts the shot. Robin then employs a special "PATRIOT arrow" to successfully hit the target. He is subsequently arrested, with Marian vowing to wed the Sheriff to secure his release.

Robin and his Merry Men interrupt the wedding between Marian and the Sheriff. The Sheriff kidnaps Marian intending to deflower her but fails to open her chastity belt. During their duel, Robin’s key accidentally falls into Marian’s lock. After defeating the Sheriff, Robin unintentionally kills him. The witch Latrine revives the Sheriff by giving him a magical Life Saver in exchange for marriage. Before unlocking Marian’s belt, Broomhilde insists on marrying first; Rabbi Tuckman officiates their ceremony.

Upon returning from the Crusades, King Richard orders Prince John imprisoned in the Tower of London and restores order to the kingdom. Robin weds Marian, and Ahchoo is appointed sheriff of Rottingham. That evening, despite possessing the key, they are unable to open Marian’s chastity belt. The film concludes with Robin calling for a locksmith.

Cast


Critical response

The film received a "B" rating from audiences surveyed by CinemaScore.

In his review for The New York Times, Vincent Canby pointed out that the movie lacked the tightly woven comedic script seen in Brooks' earlier works such as Young Frankenstein, describing it as inconsistent with some jokes requiring further polish. Caryn James remarked that although it did not reach the consistent wit of Brooks’ 1970s films, its funniest sequences reaffirmed his lasting irreverent style.

On the other hand, Gene Siskel from the Chicago Tribune awarded it just half a star, condemning its sluggish tempo and reliance on recycled humor. Rita Kempley of The Washington Post dismissed it as an irrelevant and pointless satire from a "creaky spoofmeister." Peter Rainer of the Los Angeles Times found its casual comedic approach amusing but sensed a disconnect between Brooks and his audience. Jay Boyar of the Orlando Sentinel labeled it "crashingly unfunny," implying that Brooks’ comedic edge had dulled with time. Conversely, Jack Shaheen praised the film in his book Reel Bad Arabs for its clever parody of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, employing harmless visual and verbal humor.

Box office

Robin Hood: Men in Tights premiered at the sixth position during its opening weekend in the U.S., generating $6.8 million and surpassing $10 million by the following Wednesday. Fox showed optimism regarding the film's initial results.

The movie accumulated $35.7 million across the United States and Canada, making it Mel Brooks' fifth most financially successful film domestically. On the international stage, it brought in $36.3 million, culminating in a global total of $72 million.

Mel Brooks has mentioned in a DVD interview that both Men in Tights and Spaceballs rank as his best-selling video releases.

Soundtrack

Title Artist Written by
"Men in Tights" The Merry Men Singers
(Steve Lively, Randy Crenshaw, Kerry Katz, Geoff Koch & Rick Logan)		 Mel Brooks
"Marian" Debbie James
"Sherwood Forest Rap" Kevin Dorsey & The Merry Men Singers
"The Night Is Young and You're So Beautiful" Arthur Rubin & the Merry Men Singers Billy Rose, Irving Kahal
"Marian" (end credit duet) Cathy Dennis & Lance Ellington Mel Brooks
"Row, Row, Row Your Boat" uncredited
"Hava Nagila"
"Bridal Chorus" Richard Wagner
"Rule, Britannia!" James Thomson, Thomas Arne

Home media

Fox Video released Robin Hood: Men in Tights on Laserdisc and VHS formats in 1994. A Region 1 DVD featuring a double feature with Spaceballs was issued on February 6, 2007. Internationally, Columbia TriStar handled distribution of DVDs, VHS tapes, and Laserdiscs from 1994 through 2002; later, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment re-released DVDs between 2006 and 2016. The film’s Blu-ray debut occurred on May 11, 2010, followed by additional DVD Combo Pack and Blu-ray editions issued across the United States, Europe, and Australia from 2018 to 2021.

See also

External links

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