We're men We're men in tights, Always on guard, Defending the people's rights! — The Merry Men
Really, it was only a matter of time before Mel Brooks turned his sights on the venerable legend of Robin Hood and completely shredded it (again - see When Things Were Rotten). This anachronistic, irreverent romp through one of the best-known tales of the Western world runs roughshod over classic and modern adaptations alike, aiming most of its quips at Kevin Costner's Prince of Thieves version but getting in a good many jabs at the classic Errol FlynnThe Adventures of Robin Hood as well.And unlike some other Robin Hoods, this one has an English accent! (Instead of an Australian, New Zealand, or American one, that is. It Will Never Catch On.)
Dick Van Patten (apart from being part of Mel Brooks' Production Posse) was likely cast as the Abbot as a Shout Out to his role as Friar Tuck in When Things Were Rotten, Mel's first Robin Hood parody.
Angrish: The Sheriff of Rottingham, numerous times. Normally he just transposes two words ("Over that boy hand"), or swaps syllables of words ("Struckey has loxed again") when mildly annoyed... watching Robin and Marian kiss at the ball causes him to rant out a sentence with every word out of order.
The Sheriff of Rottingham: KING ILLEGAL FOREST TO PIG WILD KILL IN IT A IS!!!
Also, literally. When the camera is dollying in towards maid Marian's bathroom during her bath tub song, it crashes through the window, interrupting her. She looks up, and you see the camera retreating.
Camera Abuse: The camera moving in on Marian singing in the bath crashes through a window before sheepishly retreating. Also, the Abbot's staff smashing into the camera lens.
Cardboard Prison: Parodied (as with everything else) in the intro, with the Robin and Ahsneeze escaping from prison within five minutes of Robin getting tossed in.
Celebrity Paradox: At one point, they pull out the script to see what happens next.
Or during the wedding:
Person in Crowd: Good morrow, Abbot. Abbot: Good morrow. Person in Crowd: Good morrow, Abbot. Abbot: Good morrow. Person in Crowd: Heeeeey Abbbboooot! Abbot: ...I hate that guy!
Cool and Unusual Punishment: As punishment for his treachery, King Richard names all the toilets in England after Prince John, then has him locked in the Tower of London and makes him part of the tour.
*Cough* Snark *Cough*: Yeah, we all believe that the misdeeds were totally the Sheriff's fault...
Robin Hood: Blinkin, listen to me. They've taken the castle! Blinkin: I thought it felt a bit drafty. Cor, this never would have happened if your father was alive. Robin Hood: He's dead? Blinkin: Yes. Robin Hood: And my mother? Blinkin: She died of pneumonia while... oh, you were away... Robin Hood: My brothers? Blinkin: There were all killed by the plague. Robin Hood: [sounding a little sadder] My dog, Pongo? Blinkin: Run over by a carriage. Robin Hood: [sounding a little more hopeful] My goldfish, Goldie? Blinkin: Eaten by the cat. Robin Hood: [on the verge of tears] My cat? Blinkin: Choked on the goldfish. [beat] Blinkin: Oh, it's good to be home, ain't it, Master Robin?
Sheriff of Rottingham: I challenge you... to a duel! (Sheriff slaps Robin Hood across the face with his glove. Robin then grabs a gauntlet from a suit of armor and slaps the Sheriff back, flooring him.) Robin Hood: I accept!
Achoo(extending his hand): What's up man? Blinkin: How do you do? (reaches out to shake Achoo's hand, but ends up hitting him in the happy spot) Achoo(in much pain): I've been better.
Another unintentional one when Robin "accidentally" finds Maid Marian's chastity belt.
Maid Marian: It's an Everlast. Robin: [in pain] I'll bet..
Home Guard: The Sheriff and his men. Robin takes a cheap shot at the Sheriff, who seized his family's property while Robin was fighting in the Crusades.
Incessant Music Madness: Prince John calls for the knights to stop Robin and his men. About 50 men in suits of armor start marching into the room from all sides, the clanging of their armor getting louder and louder and louder. After several minutes of this, Prince John, who has taken refuge under a table and is holding his ears, says, "I hope this is worth THE NOISE!!!"
Knighting: One of the few things played straight. Robin Hood gets knighted by King Richard after the climax.
Land In The Saddle: Marian leaps from a balcony onto her horse. When her large lady-in-waiting attempts to do the same, her horse dodges.
Large Ham: King Richard. This should come as no shock, though, being played by Patrick Stewart. Prior to him, the Sheriff handles the rest of the movie's hamminess; more than half his lines are either intensely sinister whispers or resounding shouts.
Last-Second Word Swap: Marian hopes someone will come along who has the key to her.... heart.
Rousing Speech: Subverted and played straight, in that order.
Running Gag: Robin lapsing into long-winded speeches, him and Maid Marian being prevented from kissing, people mistaking Achoo's name for a sneeze, the Sheriff's dyslexia, Prince John's mole moving around his face......
Shaggy Dog Story: Robin is revealed about midway through the film that he has the key to Maid Marian's chastity belt. By the end of the film, after defeating the Rottingham and marrying Maid Marian, when he and Marian finally prepare to do the deed it turns out his key isn't the right one after all... unless Rottingham's attempts to break the lock open messed it up. Or Marian just spent too long in the bath.
Shotgun Wedding: Marian volunteers for one with Rottingham to save Robin from the gallows. Later, Rabbi Tuckman seems to think that Robin's gotten Marian pregnant (it's actually to get Broomhilde to quit cockblocking):
"Married in a hurry! Please invite me to the bris."
Throwing Down the Gauntlet: Parodied: the Sheriff of Rottingham slaps Robin with a glove to challenge him to a duel, and Robin counters with an actual gauntlet by way of accepting the challenge. Rottingham then lays out the terms of the duel, which happen to include calling in a whole mess of guards.
Throw It In: The part where Achoo pumps up his sneakers during a fight came about because Dave Chapelle happened to be wearing the shoes on set along with his costume. At first Mel Brooks pointed out that they were somewhat anachronistic but decided to make a joke about it.
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