Popular Culture Review Vol. 3, No. 2, August 1992 | Page 46

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minister them. What say you. Friar?" And Tuck replies, "The Lord
shows him self in mysterious ways.
I accept."
Later,
characteristically, he thanks God for beer. But, when he ap>ologizes
to the Moor Azeem for not trusting him to deliver a baby properly.
Tuck declares, "Today the Lord has taught me a fine lesson that
though I think I am godly, I know I am not worldly."
In earlier film versions, the bishop, a negative character in
the legend, is seen, if seen at all, as intelligent and crafty, sometimes
as a man who casts his lot with King John apparently to make the
best of a bad time, perhaps to promote order in a chaotic situation.
But the bishop in Costner's film is a nuin of no moral fiber at all; he is
the Sheriff's henchman, neither particularly intelligent nor
threatening in himself and, as hinted strongly by his implied
dealings with the witch, a man of no Christian faith who uses his
office solely for personal worldly gain. Nevertheless, the film
emphasizes religiosity partly by showing the bishop saying Mass
twice. He is a coward, a traitor and a thief, yet Robin and
Nottingham first meet in the church and the churchman pleads, "On
your souls, do not shed blood in the house of God."
Finally, the bishop meets his death at the hands of the friar
after Tuck catches his superior gathering up gold to flee. "So, you sold
your soul to the devil. Your Grace; you accused innocent men of
witchcraft and let them die."
This emphasis on religion begins immediately after the
credits. The screen brightens to a muezzin on a minaret calling the
faithful to prayer. In a dungeon below, a prisoner is prodded to show
"the courage of Allah." Those are the script's first spoken words.
When Robin tries to part from the Moor, Azeem, whose life he has
saved, he says, "Farewell, my friend, God speed you away." But
Azeem replies, "Our way lies together with the speed of Allah."
And when Robin tries to release Azeem from the vow to save Robin's
life in return, the Moor responds, "Only Allah could do that."
Obviously, the writers are trying to establish a theme.
Back in England, Robin's father rejects the Sheriff's plea to
join with the barons in overthrowing the absent King Richard. Riding
against the Sheriff's men to his death, Locksley shouts "God and
King Richard."
In the next scene four month ́