MovieChat Forums > Robin and Marian (1976) Discussion > Nicol Wiliamson

Nicol Wiliamson

posted 14 years ago by hachmom-1
9 replies | jump to latest

He tends to get overlooked amongst all the other fine performers, but rank this movie right after Excalibur amongst his film roles. In previous versions I had never particularly cared for Little John as a charecter (no reflection on the actors portraying him) but here he is my favorite. You get a real feeling here to for the medival concept of male friendship. And i think Nicol brings that wonderfully to life. To me one of the most touching moments in the movie is when John rescues Robin after the big showdown and Robin says "Youre a stout lad, whats your name" and John resonds "they call me Little John", and Robin says "well lad, lets see how tall you are"....It says so much more than a thanks for rescuing speech would have.

It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices

[–] burgan6203 14 years ago

Nicol Williamson is a great Little John, and the rapport he has with Sean Connery's Robin really does add to the texture of the film. His devotion is quite touching and perfectly believable. The "you're a stout lad" exchange brings that out well, but I also like the subtle moment earlier in the film where the men first arrive at the abbey. Robin nervously says "John, you go in. I never really said goodbye, she might be angry" and John immediately starts to go in.

But there's also that great scene between John and Marian the night before the battle. I think its a great acting moment for both Nicol Williamson and Audrey Hepburn, how he reveals so offhandedly that he's always loved her too, but accepts that she's his friend's love.

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[–] kkuger 14 years ago

If you really want to see Nicol Williamson at his best, try to watch "The Wilby Conspiracy". Without giving away the plot, suffice it to say he steals the movie from Michael Caine and Sidney Poitier.

[–] TheLittleSongbird 13 years ago

Agreed. Nicol Williamson is a perfect Little John, I too loved the touching moment you speak of.

"Life after death is as improbable as sex after marriage"- Madeline Kahn(CLUE, 1985)

[–] david_colbourne 12 years ago

But why the hell was he playing John with a Scottish accent?

[–] BoultersCanary 12 years ago

It is a Yorkshire accent.

The church may shout but Darwin roars

[–] david_colbourne 12 years ago

I take it you've never been to Yorkshire, BoultersCanary. That is not a Yorkshire accent, I'm a Yorkshireman, so I do know what it sounds like. Nicol Williamson had a Scottish accent; I do know some Scots persons, so the accent is not unfamiliar!

[–] BoultersCanary 12 years ago

Well, I know some Scots and the accent he uses is nothing like Scottish. It sounds northern England to me and as Barnsdale is in Yorkshire, I naturally assumed that it was from there.

Perhaps it is just generic 'northern' like all West Country accents get subsumed by actors into 'BBC Mummerset'.

The church may shout but Darwin roars

[–] Druff (1446) 9 months ago

> But why the hell was he playing John with a Scottish accent?

Because, like Connery, he's from Scotland and naturally has a Scottish accent. And like Connery, when he was acting a role he didn't bother trying to fake an accent, he just used his real one. Duh.

[–] Wuchak (8075) 3 years ago

I agree: In other versions I too never much cared for Little John as a character, but he really comes alive in this version.