Inkling Explorations Link-Up // February 2016

(Note: if you're interested in participating and new to the blog, you can find our link-up explanation/guidelines + more buttons here. :))

This month's selection is: A scene involving a disguise in book or film

My selection for this month comes from the episode My Brother's Keeper in the third season of the classic Adventures of Robin Hood tv series starring Richard Greene. Giving context for our disguise scene, I'll back up to give a quick screencap overview.

First, My Brother's Keeper is a Cain and Abel story, with an older brother disinherited for his sins and then vengefully killing his younger brother.

You know the Cain and Abel story...

And in this case there are two witnesses (though they were too far away when it suddenly happened to prevent the murder). Robin Hood (above) and Little John -- who then have a debate over what to do.

Robin argues for their moral obligation to see the murderer brought to justice, while Little John maintains that as outlaws they stand to be hung -- regardless of their witness -- while the murderer will still go free.

In the end, they decide to go to Friar Tuck --who happens to be superintending the production of the annual Shrovetide play recounting the opening scenes in Genesis (to be attended by all the county gentry, including the Sheriff). Long story short (and much to Little John's consternation) Robin decides they'll go on as the mummers reenacting Cain and Abel, thus trying to bring the murderer (also present) to a full confession. So come the disguises -- including dyeing Little John's hair and beard and adding a stage beard for Robin.

(Robin trying to coach Little John via the prompt book.) 

"Satan" bringing them their stage cue. 

Now they're on.

The father, Marian, and the Sheriff.

And it works -- bringing the murderer to his knees and a full confession.

 (There's actually a quick fight scene in here between this shot and the one above, with the murderer coming up onstage after Robin...)

This is probably the most somber and intense RH episode, yet throughout there are flitting moments of poignant hilarity -- thrown into even more vivid relief against the shadows. I'm always reminded of Lewis's quote: "It is apparently when terrors are over that they become too terrible to laugh at; while they are regnant they are too terrible to be taken with unrelieved gravity." 

(Incidentally, it's also unusual in being an episode where the Sheriff is doing his job and fully bent on justice.)

So there you have it! A rather serious entry (though again, with flashes of intense humor) and also, I think, unusual in how it involves donning disguises to explicitly surprise forth the truth. Altogether deeply thought-provoking and memorable...

Tell me! Have you seen this episode?

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Just leave your own link here in a comment and I'll add it to the post. :) As always, entries are open through the end of the month and I can't wait to see your selections!

Entrants:

Hamlette ~ The Count of Monte Cristo

Jenelle ~ The Scarlet Pimpernel

Kathy ~ A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle

Meredith ~ The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Naomi ~ Jubilee Trail by Gwen Bristow 

*How to do it*

1. Post the Inklings button on your sidebar.

2. Do a post on your own blog relating to the month's selection/subject (a literary excerpt as short or as long as you like AND/OR—if specified that month—a screencap from a film with an explanation of how the scene builds/develops the story). Link back here somewhere in your post.

3. Come back here and paste your link in the comments box and I'll add it to the post. Then enjoy visiting and reading everyone else's contributions!

That's all there is to it!

Up next month: A scene involving a letter, package, or post office in film