The Adventures of Robin Hood
Episode 15: The Wager
Introductory minstrel song: “When Robin makes a bet be sure, Normans are the losers; he proves to Friar Tuck that sometimes, beggars can be choosers!”
Regular Cast
Sir Robin of Locksley – Richard Greene
Maid Marian – Bernadette O’Farrell
The Sheriff of Nottingham – Alan Wheatley
Little John – Archie Duncan
Friar Tuck – Alexander Gauge
Victor Woolf and Willoughby Gray, who played a variety of roles throughout the series, also featured, this time playing false monks.
Yet again, no Sheriff of Nottingham or Maid Marian. Their presence certainly adds to the stories, so I felt something was lacking in this one. Little John didn’t appear either.
Original air date: 1 January 1956
Screenplay: Warren Howard
Director: Bernard Knowles
Plot: Robin bets Friar Tuck that he can obtain more money by begging than the Friar can by other means.
A story about false beggars and false monks. The false monks was a good idea, but I reckon a story about genuine beggars would have been more interesting.
Standout scene: Robin’s escape from the sheriff’s men, the main action sequence in this episode.
Sword fights – 0. Bow fights/bow skills – 1.
Running total: Sword fights – 13. Bow fights/bow skills – 13.
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Geoffrey Keen
In The Wager, Geoffrey Keen played a “blind” beggar. He is best remembered for his portrayal of Sir Frederick Gray in six James Bond films between 1977 and 1987: The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill and The Living Daylights. In a long and distinguished career he appeared in over 100 film and television productions.
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Coming soon, my Adventures of Maid Marian series
Hannah Howe 