Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1993) is a film parody of the story of Robin Hood, particularly parodying Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Other Robin Hood films, such as The Adventures of Robin Hood and Disney's Robin Hood, are also parodied. It was directed by Mel Brooks and stars Cary Elwes in the title role. The film is reminiscent of Brooks's 1975 Robin Hood based sitcom When Things Were Rotten.
| Robin Hood: Men In Tights | |
|---|---|
 Poster from the film | |
| Directed by | Mel Brooks |
| Produced by | Mel Brooks |
| Starring | Cary Elwes Richard Lewis Roger Rees Patrick Stewart Dave Chappelle Mark Blankfield Megan Cavanagh Amy Yasbeck Eric Allan Kramer Matthew Porretta Isaac Hayes Tracey Ullman |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century Fox |
Release dates | July 28, 1993 |
Running time | 104 min |
| Language | English |
| Budget | ? |
Plot
Template:Spoiler Robin Hood (played by Cary Elwes) is captured during the Crusades and is imprisoned. With the help of fellow inmate Asneeze (played by Isaac Hayes), he escapes and makes his way back to England. He is asked by Asneeze to find his son Achoo. When he arrives, he discovers that Prince John (played by Richard Lewis) has taken over England while King Richard (played by Patrick Stewart) is away fighting in the Crusades and unbeknownst to him, John is abusing his power. With the help of his bumbling blind servant Blinkin (played by Mark Blankfield), the big and strong (and rather dumb) Little John (played by Eric Allan Kramer), Little John's friend Will Scarlet O'Hara (played by Matthew Porretta), and exchange student Ahchoo (played by Dave Chappelle, in his first major role), he attempts to form a band of thieves to right the wrongs of the Prince. At the same time, he attracts the anger of the Sheriff of Rottingham (played by Roger Rees), as well as the love of Maid Marian (played by Amy Yasbeck). His band of thieves turns out to be a large contingent of village idiots, so he must train them for battle, with great difficulty.
Trivia
- Despite demand from fans, the film remained unavailable on Region 1 DVD until April 2006 when a Mel Brooks box set became available. The set includes Men in Tights as well as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, To Be or Not to Be, History of the World, Part I, The Twelve Chairs, and High Anxiety. The film is currently scheduled be released as a stand-alone Region 1 DVD on 2006-09-05. [1] A Region 2 version has been available for several years.
- The film makes references to Blazing Saddles (1974) and History of the World, Part I (1981), both previous works of Brooks. There are also references to White Men Can't Jump and Malcolm X.
- Matthew Porretta, who played Will Scarlet O'Hara in this film, later played Robin Hood in the television series The New Adventures of Robin Hood.
- Patrick Stewart, who plays King Richard, also previously assumed the role of Robin Hood as his character Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation, in the episode "Q-pid".
- Mel Brooks previously parodied Robin Hood in his critically acclaimed but short-lived 1975 TV series, When Things Were Rotten. Dick Van Patten co-starred in that series as Friar Tuck, and has a cameo in Men in Tights playing The Abbot.
- This film parodies Kevin Costner's performance as Robin Hood, in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, in the quote, "Because unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent." Since viewers who had seen both versions dubbed would not understand the joke, it was changed in various versions. In German, it was changed to "Because I, unlike some other Robin Hoods, do not cost the producers 5 million". (The German word "kosten" (cost) was also pronounced to sound a little bit like Costner.) In the French dubbed version, it is translated as, "Because unlike other Robin Hoods, I do not dance with the wolves", referring to another Kevin Costner movie (Dances with Wolves).
- Instead of having a Friar Tuck, as is usual in the legend, because of Mel Brooks' Jewish heritage, Mel Brooks plays the rabbinical counterpart, Rabbi Tuckman.
- The "Men in Tights" song uses the same musical score as the "Jews in Space" song from History of the World, Part I.
- While most of the film parodies Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the archery contest parodies the 1973 Disney film.
- There are a few instances where the Sheriff points out that Prince John's mole was on the other side of his face before. This is a clear reference to Brooks' Young Frankenstein, where Igor's hump frequently switches sides, but he insists it was always on that side. (John's response to the Sheriff's observation was, "I have a mole?!")
- A wedding guest shouts out, "Hey, Abbot!" in an imitation of Lou Costello. This is a gag based on comedians Abbott and Costello, where Costello's catchphrase was "Hey, Abbott!", in reference to Bud Abbott.
- Mel Brooks' character Rabbi Tuckman utters the words, "It's Good to be the King" when King Richard kisses Maid Marian before Robin Hood marries her. Tuckman's line is taken from the various times Brooks said the same line in the movie History of the World, Part I.
- The hangman in this movie is the same one from Blazing Saddles.
- The closing rap briefly mentions Robin Hood 2. Other Mel Brooks movies that refer to their own sequels include History of the World, Part I and Spaceballs.
- This was Dave Chappelle's debut as a feature film actor, in the role of Ahchoo, who had to pump up his sneakers before engaging in the first fight scene alongside Robin Hood, a parody of the Reebok Pump line of sneakers that were popular at the time. This film would be his breakout role, and he would go on to international stardom.
Technical data
- sound: Dolby Analog SR
- aspect ratio: 1.85 : 1
- total gross (USA): $35,699,287
- MPAA rating: PG-13